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Walking in the Wye Valley

30 varied walks throughout the valley between Chepstow and Plynlimon

By Mike Dunn

ISBN

9781852847241

Availability

Published

11 Feb 2015

Reprinted

1 Jun 2022

Edition

First

Pages

176

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm

Weight

210g

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More information...

Guidebook to 30 varied walks of 3 - 10 miles, in the valley of the Wye, the most scenic river in England and Wales, between Chepstow in the south and Plynlimon. Landscape ranges from open moorland to wooded gorges and is dotted with the sites of Iron Age hillforts and castles. Centres include Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Hay-on-Wye and Rhayader.

Seasons

all walks can be enjoyed in any season, although care needs to be taken on the mountain and moorland walks in the upper valley in winter; risk of winter flooding between Hereford and Monmouth

Centres

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

Difficulty

a number of the walks, especially in the upper valley, require good navigational skills and (in one or two cases) a degree of stamina

Must See

spectacular river scenery, with huge meanders and a classic limestone gorge; soaring moorlands in the 'green desert' of md-Wales; ancient routes including part of the iconic Monks' Trod; Palaeolithic bone caves and Neolithic burial chambers; and border castles, Tintern Abbey and industrial archaeology

ISBN

9781852847241

Availability

Published

11 Feb 2015

Reprinted

1 Jun 2022

Edition

First

Pages

176

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm

Weight

210g

Overview

This guidebook describes 30 day walks set across the valley of the Wye river, the fourth-largest river in England and Wales, and certainly the most scenic.

The circular walks are centred around Chepstow, Monmouth, Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Hay-on-Wye, Builth Wells and Rhayader. Every route description is accompanied by an annotated OS map, and range in length between 3 and 9 miles. The walks explore limestone gorges and soaring moorlands, ancient routes, border castles and Tintern Abbey.

Practical details such as the amount of ascent and timings information are included for every walk, as are details on public transport and parking facilities. Other useful information on the river's history, geology and wildlife ensure that this is an ideal companion to exploring the impressive range of walking the Wye Valley offers.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Geology and landscape

Plants and wildlife

The impact of man

Getting to and around the Wye Valley

Accommodation

When to go

What to take

Maps and waymarking

Using this guide

The Lower Wye: Chepstow to Ross-on-Wye

Walk 1 The Lancaut Peninsula

Walk 2 The Wyndcliff

Walk 3 The Devil’s Pulpit from the east

Walk 4 Tintern and the Angidy Valley

Walk 5 Trellech and Beacon Hill

Walk 6 The Kymin

Walk 7 King Arthur’s Cave and the Seven Sisters

Walk 8 Coppet Hill and Goodrich

The Middle Wye: Ross-on-Wye to Hay-on-Wye

Walk 9 Sellack and Hoarwithy

Walk 10 Capler Camp from Fownhope

Walk 11 Haugh Wood

Walk 12 Aconbury Hill

Walk 13 Breinton Springs

Walk 14 Black and White Weobley

Walk 15 Arthur’s Stone and Merbach Common

Walk 16 Kilvert’s Clyro

Upper Middle Wye: Hay-on-Wye to Newbridge-on-Wye

Walk 17 Talgarth and Llanelieu

Walk 18 The Begwns

Walk 19 Brechfa Pool

Walk 20 Llewellyn’s Cave and Aberedw Rocks

Walk 21 Llandeilo Hill and Twm Tobacco’s Grave

Walk 22 Builth and Banc-y-Celyn

Walk 23 Cors y Llyn

Walk 24 Shaky Bridge

The Upper Wye: Newbridge-on-Wye to Plynlimon

Walk 25 Above the Elan Valley reservoirs

Walk 26 Drygarn Fawr

Walk 27 Gilfach Farm

Walk 28 The Monks’ Trod

Walk 29 Llangurig to Llanidloes

Walk 30 Plynlimon and the source of the Wye

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Maps

Maps and waymarking

Walkers are encouraged to use the relevant 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey map to supplement the 1:50,000 map extracts (reproduced at 1:40,000 in the printed book and 1:50,000 in digital format). The whole of the valley is covered by nine 1:25,000 maps:

Outdoor Leisure 13 (Brecon Beacons National Park – Eastern Area) Outdoor Leisure 14 (Wye Valley & Forest of Dean) Explorer 188 (Builth Wells) Explorer 189 (Hereford & Ross-on-Wye) Explorer 200 (Llandrindod Wells & Elan Valley) Explorer 201 (Knighton & Presteigne) Explorer 202 (Leominster & Bromyard) Explorer 213 (Aberystwyth & Cwm Rheidol) Explorer 214 (Llanidloes & Newtown)

The Glanusk boundary stone and the summit escarpment of Aberedw Rocks (Walk 20)

Waymarking is generally good – especially in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from Hereford southwards – although there are some areas where improvement is needed, both to waymarking and to footpath furniture such as stiles and gates. Path problems can be reported online at the relevant county council website (see Appendix B). Where there are ambiguities or obstacles, a more detailed description of how to overcome the difficulties is provided in the text.

Updates

July 2020

Walk 15

Page 93 Paragraph 3

The tall and rickety stile at the top of the second field above Finestreet Farm has now been replaced by a galvanised gate

Page 96 Paragraph 1

There is a typo in line 5 – the red sandstone river-cliff is Brobury Scar (not Bosbury Scar)

July 2015

Route updates

Page 36 (Walk 3)

The northings and eastings for the grid reference for the start and finish of this walk were inadvertently transposed. The correct grid reference is ST 558 993.

Page 110 (Walk 19)

The path from the A470 to the edge of the woodland south-west of Boughrood Bridge has been extensively repaired by Powys County Council, with significant drainage works and improvements to the surfacing of the path. One suggestion is to use this path for the initial ascent at the start of the walk, and to descend through the buttercup fields at the end.

Page 42 (Walk 4) paragraph 4 in the printed edition.
States "....When this reaches a forest road ignore the path straight ahead..." and suggests a detour because the path " peters out". This is incorrect. Our reader walked that path on 14 February 2017 [today] and it is quite clear emerging at a farm by the bridge at Tintern Cross where the route continues straight ahead along the lane.

Reviews

"Alongside detailed route descriptions for every walk, are annotated OS maps, as well as key information on timing, distance, ascent, where to park and public transport access. In addition, the guidebook provides a range of advice on getting to and around the Wye Valley, where to stay and what to take to make the most out of your walks. The information on the geology, history and points of interest along the way are designed to enhance any walk, whether its a full day in the Upper Wye’s Cambrians or a leisurely valley wander. The result is an ideal companion to exploring the impressive range of walking the Wye Valley can offer."

Read the full review on the Tintern Village site.

Downloads

Mike Dunn

Mike Dunn was born and bred in Leicester but has now lived in Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan for over 30 years. He worked for the Welsh Assembly Government, latterly specialising in environmental and conservation issues, and has also written widely on landscape, walking, pubs and real ale. His books includeThe Penguin Guide to Real Draught Beer, Walking through the Lake District, Walking Ancient Trackways and Real Heritage Pubs of Wales (with Mick Slaughter). He is married and has two daughters, and his interests include playing and organising tennis (he's a former member of the Tennis Wales Board), birdwatching, cricket and real ale. Mike's favourite locations for walking are the Welsh borders, the Hebridean Islands and the Lake District.

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