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. 

The Wye Valley Walk – Quick Facts

Trail name: The Wye Valley Walk 
Location: Wales–England border region, UK (from Plynlimon to Chepstow)  
Total distance: ~219 km / ~136 miles  
Typical duration: ~10 days end‑to‑end  
Start: Plynlimon (river source)  
Finish: Chepstow (near the river’s estuary)  
Route type: Long‑distance riverside walking trail in 17 stages  
Difficulty: Moderate; suitable for most reasonably fit walkers  
Terrain: Riverside paths, rolling hills, wooded valleys and scenic landscapes  
Navigation: Detailed stage descriptions, 1:50 000 OS maps and GPX files included  
Highlights: Forest of Dean, Tintern Abbey, Symonds Yat, historic market towns & riverside views

Author Highlights

“The Wye Valley Walk is one of the most admired river trails in the UK, with walkers travelling from around the world to enjoy this classic long-distance source-to-sea route. The path doesn’t stick faithfully to the river, for no matter how gorgeous the river may be, walking beside it reveals only one side of its character. You have to climb up the valley sides, gain height and distance, to really appreciate a river in its landscape."

- Ruth Waycott, of the Wye Valley Partnership and author of the official guidebook to the Wye Valley Walk

 

 

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

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

Although the route is waymarked you should carry a map. This guidebook includes Ordnance Survey map extracts showing a narrow corridor either side of the official route. If you prefer the real thing, which allows you to see things further off the route, these are the relevant Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale maps: Explorer 214 – Llanidloes & Newtown Explorer 200 – Llandrindod Wells & Elan Valley Explorer 188 – Builth Wells Explorer OL13 – Brecon Beacons National Park (Eastern Area) Explorer 201 – Knighton & Presteigne Explorer 202 – Leominster & Bromyard Explorer 189 – Hereford and Ross-on-Wye Explorer OL14 – Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Alternatively, you can download the OS Maps app which also allows you to see where you actually are on the map, which can be very useful in bad weather on high ground.

October 2025

Stage 14 diversion

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