Visit to Puzzlewood with a difference
We were on our way to The Forest of Dean to stay at Speech House Hotel for a couple of days. It was our intention on the next day to visit Puzzlewood and Clearwell Caves.
In The Forest of Dean I took a wrong turning and being stubborn would not turn round as Mr P wanted me to. I found myself driving past Puzzlewood and when I looked in my mirror there was the fluorescent yellow 'M' and 'M loc', yes you've guessed it pointing to a field right next to Puzzlewood. So they were filming in Puzzlewood (see stubbornness got rewarded ). I turned immediate left to take a breath, as my heart had started to race, and to gather my thoughts. When I stopped there in front of me was their catering lorry with a few knights wandering round close by. I knew that I ought not be there and my mind went blank for what felt like a minute. I've never been lost for thoughts before - first time for everything. It was such a strange feeling.
I parked returned and parked officially at Puzzlewood and asked the people in the ticket office where were they filming. The directions we got were very good - I'll share them at the end of this, I wrote them down as I walked along.
As we arrived close to the location I thought I heard Bradley shout out 'Look out' ( but after watching the ep I now know different ) apparently the shout was because of a rockfall - but they'd filmed that bit before we arrived. There were some forest steps infront of us which led up to their location and to Marie the 3rd assistant.
We were standing in a kind of dip and a family of five came and stood with us but got fed up and walked up the steps with rocky banks on either side, to see if they could see more. I couldn't move up with them, I actually froze.
Eventually I moved only to hear Marie shout out my name. Shit !! I thought she's remembered me. I'm really worried she thinks I'm a hanger on for Bradley, if only she knew that I was actually interested in how they film - it's another world to me one I would like to understand a little more of. After going up the steps to greet her I returned back down to the dip and that's where I stayed.
Suddenly various members of the crew came down and put some of that red and white 'no entry' tape - oh yes keeping us right away I thought.
Then into the dip no more than two yards from me ( I was a couple of feet from the tape) came the camera, lights and crew. Bradley, Colin and Eoin were at the top of the rocky bank on the left of the steps. Click, click we took loads of photo's. I was sooo interested because Jeremy Webb and Dale McCready came and stood by the camera and did what they had to with it. I was sooo surprised to see them as I know one of the livejournalers loves them, I just stood and watch them all. Rather surprisingly I wasn't turned away - yes I did expect Marie to shoo me away ( see I lack confidence ). Anyway, the assistant location manager stood with me. I still wonder if he was sent to make sure I kept my distance and caused no trouble. He was everso nice and explained a little of what they were doing. Colin, Bradley and Eoin had to come down the bank. On Bradley's first attempt of leaping down over the rocks the call went up to him 'no not that way come down the girlie way', a statement I doubt I'll ever forget. On the way down Colin had to briefly look to his right as though he was looking at something. They took this several times and I was good but once I took a photo and my camera clicked - shit!! Sure they didn't hear it.
I was asked if I'd seen the cave. When I said no, I was taken back a few feet and pointed out an opening in the bank.
'That's the cave and see that beam above it's false'.
'But there's ivy growing on it'.
'Can't you see the ivy's false?'
I couldn't see it but - Wow another location pointed out to me.
The next day we went for our 'official' trip into Puzzlewood but not before we revisited the location. We went in under the beam. Yes you could see the ivy was false but surprise surprise so was the beam. We took loads of photos showing the 'white' unpainted side of the beam. I collected bits of ivy that had fallen to the ground ( on my desk as I type this ).
Up the steps we made our way to the top of Bradleys bank and took our photos and then took some more of where we think the shout of 'look out' was made. Once we'd done this we had our walk round Puzzlewood.
What a fantastic place it is. No signs around pointing to the way out you just have to ask other people you eet if they know how to get out. Mind you the lady at the ticket office told us to listen for the traffic and walk towards it as that would eventually lead to the exit.
Wonderful walk round, truly magical place.
A must place to return to.
Directions as I wrote them down:
Go into Puzzlewood and take the first main path on your right
Down steps
Up steps
With a gully infront bear right
Steps in front of you leading up
At the first step look right and this is where they made the cave
Continue up and bear left to the narrows for the rockfall. ENJOY
I've put all my photo's etc on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EmZc4m2MNI
Excuse any mistakes and black borders as it's the first real one I've made.
In The Forest of Dean I took a wrong turning and being stubborn would not turn round as Mr P wanted me to. I found myself driving past Puzzlewood and when I looked in my mirror there was the fluorescent yellow 'M' and 'M loc', yes you've guessed it pointing to a field right next to Puzzlewood. So they were filming in Puzzlewood (see stubbornness got rewarded ). I turned immediate left to take a breath, as my heart had started to race, and to gather my thoughts. When I stopped there in front of me was their catering lorry with a few knights wandering round close by. I knew that I ought not be there and my mind went blank for what felt like a minute. I've never been lost for thoughts before - first time for everything. It was such a strange feeling.
I parked returned and parked officially at Puzzlewood and asked the people in the ticket office where were they filming. The directions we got were very good - I'll share them at the end of this, I wrote them down as I walked along.
As we arrived close to the location I thought I heard Bradley shout out 'Look out' ( but after watching the ep I now know different ) apparently the shout was because of a rockfall - but they'd filmed that bit before we arrived. There were some forest steps infront of us which led up to their location and to Marie the 3rd assistant.
We were standing in a kind of dip and a family of five came and stood with us but got fed up and walked up the steps with rocky banks on either side, to see if they could see more. I couldn't move up with them, I actually froze.
Eventually I moved only to hear Marie shout out my name. Shit !! I thought she's remembered me. I'm really worried she thinks I'm a hanger on for Bradley, if only she knew that I was actually interested in how they film - it's another world to me one I would like to understand a little more of. After going up the steps to greet her I returned back down to the dip and that's where I stayed.
Suddenly various members of the crew came down and put some of that red and white 'no entry' tape - oh yes keeping us right away I thought.
Then into the dip no more than two yards from me ( I was a couple of feet from the tape) came the camera, lights and crew. Bradley, Colin and Eoin were at the top of the rocky bank on the left of the steps. Click, click we took loads of photo's. I was sooo interested because Jeremy Webb and Dale McCready came and stood by the camera and did what they had to with it. I was sooo surprised to see them as I know one of the livejournalers loves them, I just stood and watch them all. Rather surprisingly I wasn't turned away - yes I did expect Marie to shoo me away ( see I lack confidence ). Anyway, the assistant location manager stood with me. I still wonder if he was sent to make sure I kept my distance and caused no trouble. He was everso nice and explained a little of what they were doing. Colin, Bradley and Eoin had to come down the bank. On Bradley's first attempt of leaping down over the rocks the call went up to him 'no not that way come down the girlie way', a statement I doubt I'll ever forget. On the way down Colin had to briefly look to his right as though he was looking at something. They took this several times and I was good but once I took a photo and my camera clicked - shit!! Sure they didn't hear it.
I was asked if I'd seen the cave. When I said no, I was taken back a few feet and pointed out an opening in the bank.
'That's the cave and see that beam above it's false'.
'But there's ivy growing on it'.
'Can't you see the ivy's false?'
I couldn't see it but - Wow another location pointed out to me.
The next day we went for our 'official' trip into Puzzlewood but not before we revisited the location. We went in under the beam. Yes you could see the ivy was false but surprise surprise so was the beam. We took loads of photos showing the 'white' unpainted side of the beam. I collected bits of ivy that had fallen to the ground ( on my desk as I type this ).
Up the steps we made our way to the top of Bradleys bank and took our photos and then took some more of where we think the shout of 'look out' was made. Once we'd done this we had our walk round Puzzlewood.
What a fantastic place it is. No signs around pointing to the way out you just have to ask other people you eet if they know how to get out. Mind you the lady at the ticket office told us to listen for the traffic and walk towards it as that would eventually lead to the exit.
Wonderful walk round, truly magical place.
A must place to return to.
Directions as I wrote them down:
Go into Puzzlewood and take the first main path on your right
Down steps
Up steps
With a gully infront bear right
Steps in front of you leading up
At the first step look right and this is where they made the cave
Continue up and bear left to the narrows for the rockfall. ENJOY
I've put all my photo's etc on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EmZc4m2MNI
Excuse any mistakes and black borders as it's the first real one I've made.