Looking for a retreat to help you unwind?

Then look no further than the Forest of Dean.

Offering some stunning scenery in a quiet and tranquil woodland setting, you will be hard pressed to find a more relaxing getaway.

The best part?

It’s only a stone's throw away from the Gwent border.

Forest Holidays have nine cabin sites across England and Scotland, set within Forestry Commission estates in woodland and loch side locations.

The company prides itself on offering maximum comfort in minimal surroundings.

There is method in the business plan too - with research suggesting a short nature stay provides various therapeutic benefits.

Dubbed ‘forest bathing’, the act of figuratively cleansing yourself in the wild is said to help fend off numerous mental and physical conditions, including depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

There is a quote on the Forest Holidays website from Benjamin Rush, one of the founding father’s of America, and a physician among his many other pursuits.

It says: “It would seem…that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the woods, he is never happy in his natural state, 'till he returns to them again."

With that in mind, my family and I recently headed off to the Gloucestershire-set Forest of Dean for some quality time together.

The drive was just 45 minutes from Newport, but it felt like we were a million miles from home as soon as we arrived.

The luxury of the log cabin we were staying in was a welcome surprise – as was the sight of a hot tub brimming with bubbles on the deck outside.

The children wasted no time making the most of it, and as I joined them, the mixture of cold night air and hot water did feel good for the soul.

The cabin itself was spacious but cosy at the same time, and a log burner by the kitchen was well used throughout our stay.

Monmouthshire obviously offers vast swathes of rolling rural countryside, but the acres and acres of woodland literally on its doorstep was quite a shock.

Taking a step back from urban living was, as I quickly realised, not an idea to be scoffed at.

That is not to say that the brave new world we live in is not available in the forest. There is wifi in the cabins and an entertainment package offers all the comforts of home, from Sky to the latest movies.

But I had no hesitation in switching off my phone and disconnecting myself from the city life we had left behind only hours ago.

The next morning we decided to venture out and away from the hot tub, to some protest from the children.

But it didn’t last long - as we discovered numerous on-site activities from bike hire for those wishing to explore the maze of forest walks, trails and meadow around the site, to forest ranger activities, offering night time excursions and essential survival skills.

We put this to the test by building our very own log den in the area behind our cabin.

I have to say I was every bit as proud of it as the children by the time we had finished.

There is just as much to do nearby.

Step back 4,500 years at Clearwell Caves; visit one of the four market towns in the area; steam back to the golden age with the Dean Forest Railway; or climb Symonds Yat rock, a 500 foot high limestone outcrop, for spectacular views of the river Wye below.

Our children were particularly fond of the popular Puzzlewood, just ten minutes from the cabin site.

It’s 14 acres of ancient woodland, reputed to have been the inspiration for regular visitor J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

It’s not hard to see why – it is truly enchanting, and again we enjoyed it every bit as much as the children.

There are strange moss covered rock formations, twisted tree roots and untamed scenery.

It’s a natural wonder and probably why Hollywood blockbusters from Star Wars to Harry Potter have filmed there.

Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy called it "the most magical forest on the face of the earth". I couldn’t disagree.

Of course don’t just take my word for any of this about our stay.

But Forest Holidays has a 2015 trip Advisor Excellence Award - doled out to just ten per cent of businesses listed on the travel website; and a Green Tourism: Gold honour for high standards of sustainability.

If nature and quiet comfort sound like your kind of holiday, then you won’t be disappointed at the Forest of Dean.

For more information see www.forestholidays.co.uk, call 03330 110 495 or email info@forestholidays.co.uk