Forestry Tourism Consultants – Forest Recreation & Visitor Experience Planning

We have an established track record delivering forest tourism and recreation planning across the UK, working with forestry agencies, landed estates and visitor attraction operators, from Afan Forest Park to Dalby Forest and the Hermitage, exploring recreation uses, visitor accommodation uses and visitor capacity management.

Working in forests is complex.  There’s a careful balance to achieve between timber production, the commercial needs of visitors, environmental sustainability and the interests of local communities.  Done well, forest recreation also delivers real health and wellbeing benefits for visitors and host communities alike.  As forestry tourism consultants, we help clients navigate that balance with plans that are commercially realistic and deliverable, not just aspirational.

We carry out site and market assessments, produce development and feasibility studies, masterplanning, and business plans needed to secure development funding.  We also draw on a trusted network of specialists, from landscape architects and masterplanners to ecologists and architects, to bring projects together.

What Sets Us Apart

Through our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited, we have direct, hands-on experience operating tourism and leisure businesses, including CONKERS Discovery Centre in the National Forest and Kent Life Heritage Farm Park.

This isn’t theoretical consultancy. Having run visitor attractions ourselves, we understand what actually makes a forest recreation business work commercially, and we bring that realism to every options appraisal, masterplan and business plan we prepare.

Find out more about our forest tourism and recreation projects here.

Forest Tourism & Recreation Projects

Site and market assessments for Forest Holidays

We have worked with Forest Holidays for over 20 years, carrying out site evaluations, market assessments and supporting business plans at sites including Blackwood Forest, Beddgelert, Delamere Forest, Thorpe Forest, Sherwood Forest and the Forest of Dean.

Visitor centre management review, Natural Resources Wales

We reviewed the options, opportunities and risks associated with managing and taking on operational responsibility for a visitor centre for Natural Resources Wales.

Forest visitor accommodation feasibility study, Natural Resources Wales

We assessed multiple forest blocks across Wales for their suitability for new visitor accommodation, supporting the development of walking and mountain biking tourism. For the preferred site, we prepared a financial model and development options covering different forms of sustainable visitor accommodation.

Aerial walkway visitor forecasting, CONKERS

We worked closely with the CONKERS operations team, carrying out a dedicated research module to forecast visitor numbers for a proposed aerial walkway.

Visitor carrying capacity, The Hermitage, The National Trust for Scotland

Developed a visitor carrying capacity model for  The Hermitage can generate up to approximately 500,000 visits per annum. The Hermitage in Perthshire, which includes the Black Linn Falls, Ossian’s Hall (Category B listed) and changing of the colours during autumn. 

Visitor transformation masterplan, Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Working with Hampshire County Council, we prepared the visitor transformation masterplan for Queen Elizabeth Country Park (some 600 hectares), along with masterplans for four further country parks and a National Nature Reserve managed by the Council. Our work supported an £19m transformation programme.

Feasibility study for a forest recreation destination, Bedgebury Pinetum

Working with the Forestry Commission project team, we carried out a feasibility study to support the transformation of Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest into a leading forest recreation destination.  More recently, we worked with landscape architects to prepare a landscape spatial plan for the National Pinetum.

Visitor experience masterplan, Afan Forest Park

Working with Natural Resources Wales, we prepared a visitor experience masterplan for Afan Forest Park, a leading mountain biking destination.

Tree top walk feasibility study, Forestry Commission

We examined the potential to introduce a major tree top walk in Wales, a new visitor attraction concept for the UK, identifying development options with the potential to act as a long-term catalyst for growth.

Luxury forest lodges business plan, Rempstone Estate

We carried out a feasibility study for luxury forest lodges alongside an existing campsite for the Rempstone Estate, supporting a successful development project.

CONKERS – a gateway to the National Forest

CONKERS is a £19 million visitor attraction developed in two phases, including three cafes/restaurants, specialist retail, an education centre, two lakes, woodland and all-ability trails, interactive exhibits, a narrow gauge railway, high ropes, a covered amphitheatre, an adventure play area, indoor play areas and a major viewing platform. We worked with KPMG to prepare the business plan that secured development funding.

Find out more about the forest tourism and recreation projects we have worked on.

What Our Clients Say

“Planning Solutions Consulting Limited were contracted by Natural Resources Wales to undertake a short exercise examining the potential, opportunities and risks around running visitor centres. We found Planning Solutions Consulting to be efficient and thorough, applying their expertise in a professional manner throughout. They were able to add value for us to the contract, by suggesting new elements. The draft and final reports were of an excellent standard and addressed all aspects of our brief well. Communications throughout – and since – the contract have been great – the team were approachable, reachable and able to answer queries and address new points well.” Roz Owen, Recreation and Access Manager, Natural Resources Wales

“PSC worked with the Forestry Commission to evaluate potential uses within one of our popular forest recreation sites in England. The objective was to set out the strategic development direction in terms of leisure and other uses which could be complementary to the existing recreation activities. The work involved a detailed market assessment, consulting with our onsite staff and producing a scoring matrix to identify the preferred end uses. We built a very positive working relationship with PSC. They had a very hands-on approach to the work and Kevin and Richard’s wealth of experience and operational knowledge was very beneficial. We would be very pleased to work with PSC in the future.” David Chalmers MRICS, Central England Forest District, Forestry Commission

Here are some other testimonials from clients.

Clients We’ve Worked With

• Forest Holidays
• Forestry Commission
• Natural Resources Wales
• Hampshire County Council
• Rempstone Estate
• The National Trust for Scotland

Talk to us about your project

Every forest estate and forestry site is different; the right approach depends on your objectives, the scale of the opportunity, and how recreation and tourism fit alongside ongoing forestry operations. Whether you’re exploring a new visitor accommodation concept, need a market assessment to support a funding bid, or want an experienced pair of eyes on a masterplan, we’d welcome the chance to discuss it.

There’s no obligation, just a conversation about what you’re trying to achieve and whether we’re the right fit to help.

Call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk to talk through your project.