The Wye Valley Walk

Trace the winding course of the Wye Valley, one of Britain’s most picturesque river landscapes, on

The Wye Valley Walk

, a 222km (138-mile) long-distance trail from the river’s source in the Welsh hills to the historic port of Chepstow. Along the way, walkers will pass through rolling hills, ancient woodlands, limestone gorges, and charming riverside towns, discovering iconic landscapes such as the Forest of Dean, Tintern Abbey, and the cliffs of Symonds Yat.

This official guidebook, authored by the Wye Valley Partnership, simplifies every stage of your journey, making the Wye Valley Walk accessible to most reasonably fit walkers, and equips you with the tools to plan, navigate, and fully appreciate this historic river trail. It provides step-by-step navigation for the full north-to-south route, with 1:50,000 OS maps, stage facilities tables and public transport details for flexible planning.

The Wye Valley Walk is divided into 17 stages with detailed route descriptions, 1:50,000 OS mapping and the distance, terrain, and elevation you can expect each day
A stage facilities planner presents refreshment, public transport and accommodation options at key locations along the route, including Rhayader, Hay-on-Wye, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth
Suggested itineraries of 8, 11, 13 and 18 days are included, perfect for tailoring this long-distance trail through the Welsh-English border to your available time and experience
Downloadable GPX files for digital navigation, ensuring walkers can follow the route alongside the River Wye confidently on smartphones or GPS devices
Explore the history and architecture of landmarks like Goodrich Castle, Hereford Cathedral, and Tintern Abbey as you walk


Plan your Wye Valley Walk from the river's source at Plynlimon to the dramatic estuary at Chepstow. Follow riverside paths, explore historic towns, and enjoy the natural beauty and cultural heritage with precise directions, maps, and stage-by-stage advice from this official guide.

Seasons

Accessible at all times of the year but spring is best for watching birdlife and spring flowers, autumn shows the woods at their best and winter widens the views. The walk can be muddy during rainy spells and the river can flood, making certain stretches impassable.

Centres

Rhayader, Builth Wells, Hay on Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth, Chepstow

Difficulty

The Wye Valley Walk has some hilly sections but is suitable for any reasonably fit walker.

Must See

Plynlimon, Hafren Forest, Hay on Wye, Hereford Cathedral, Goodrich Castle, Symonds Yat, Tintern Abbey, Angidy Valley, Chepstow Castle

Introduction The Wye Valley Walk History of the Wye Valley Walk The route About the Wye Valley Landscape and history The Welsh language The River Wye Wildlife and nature recovery Planning your trip When to walk Which way to walk? Planning the walk Preparing for the walk Getting to and from the route Transport along the route Where to stay What to take Food and drink Planning day by day Using this guide Maps Waymarking The rights of way network Walking with dogs The Countryside Code Phones and emergencies Wye Valley Walk passport Report a problem The Wye Valley Walk Prologue Reaching the start of the walk Stage 1 Rhyd-y benwch to Llangurig Stage 2 Llangurig to Rhayader Stage 3 Rhayader to Newbridge Stage 4 Newbridge to Builth Wells Stage 5 Builth Wells to Erwood Stage 6 Erwood to Glasbury Stage 7 Glasbury to Hay-on-Wye Stage 8 Hay-on-Wye to Bredwardine Stage 9 Bredwardine to Byford Stage 10 Byford to Hereford Stage 11 Hereford to Fownhope Stage 12 Fownhope to Ross-on-Wye Stage 13 Ross-on-Wye to Kerne Bridge Stage 14 Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat Stage 15 Symonds Yat to Monmouth Stage 16 Monmouth to Tintern Stage 17 Tintern to Chepstow Appendix A Tourist information and useful contacts Appendix B Walking holiday companies and baggage transfer Appendix C Where to collect your passport stamps Appendix D Reporting a problem on a right of way Appendix E Further reading Appendix F Selected accommodation options