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The Wye Valley Walk follows the River Wye for 219km (136 miles) through the beautiful and varied landscape of the Welsh borders. Typically taking 10 days to walk, the route starts at the river's source on Plynlimon and follows the Wye valley to Chepstow. The Wye Valley Walk is a perfect mix of river and hill walking, suitable for any reasonably fit walker.
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
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The official guidebook to walking the Wye Valley Walk, from the river’s source on the slopes of Plynlimon through the countryside of the Wales–England border region to Chepstow. Covering 219km (136 miles), this straightforward trail takes around 10 days to hike.
The route is described from north to south in 17 stages of between 8 and 20km (5–12 miles). An extra stage from Llanidloes to the start of the trail is also included.
Overview map
Overview profile
Map key
Route summary table
Stage facilities table
Preface by Kate Humble
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
Getting to and from the route
Transport along the route
Where to stay
Food and drink
Preparing for the Walk
What to take
Planning day by day
Using this guide
Maps
Waymarking
The rights of way network
Walking with dogs
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
The Walk is separated into 17 convenient stages covered by individual maps. Route-finding information is included as well as information about features of interest along the way. Although the route is waymarked in both directions, this guidebook describes the walk from south to north.
A great deal of effort has been made by Rights of Way officers on the Wye Valley Walk in waymarking, providing stiles, gates and signs. However, signs can be casualties of weather or vandalism and their absence may create confusion. The route is as detailed as possible, and for most of the way walkers should find it easy to navigate using the book and map as occasional reference. Please go properly prepared with the appropriate Ordnance Survey maps and refer to the section on safe walking below.
Large-scale maps of each stage of the Walk are based on the 1:25,000 scale Ordnance Survey Explorer series. Please use the relevant ones to accompany the guide when you are walking.
The full list of current OS Explorer (1:25,000) and Landranger (1:50,000) maps covering the route is as follows:
Explorer OL14 Wye Valley & Forest of Dean
Explorer 189 Hereford & Ross-on-Wye
Explorer 202 Leominster & Bromyard
Explorer 201 Knighton & Presteigne
Explorer OL13 Brecon Beacons National Park
Explorer 188 Builth Wells
Explorer 200 Llandrindod Wells & Elan Valley
Explorer 214 Llanidloes & Newtown
Landranger 162 Gloucester & Forest of Dean
Landranger 149 Hereford & Leominster
Landranger 147 Elan Valley & Builth Wells
Landranger 136 Newtown & Llanidloes
We do not yet have any updates available for this book
We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).
The Wye Valley Walk Partnership works to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area by promoting its economic and social development and its suitability for quiet and informal enjoyment to the public. The team work hard to maintain the area's beauty for future generations. Ruth Waycott, who wrote the guide to the Wye Valley Walk on behalf of the Partnership, was born in Kenya but has lived in the Wye Valley and walked the paths beside the Wye for nearly forty years. After two decades working in the tourism and interpretation sector on both sides of the Wales/England border, she now works in the protected landscapes sector for the Wye Valley National Landscape team. Ruth often leads walks for refugees and minority groups, as well as for Chepstow, Ross and Hereford Walking Festivals. She loves introducing visitors to the stories and special places of the Wye Valley. She has written a handful of books, including 'Overlooking the Wye' for the Wye Valley National Landscape, and has authored many walking leaflets and trail guides.
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