The Valleys Hundred Route Description s1

Offa’s Twisted Wye Kanter Sunday 28th January 2018 16 mile route description This route description is designed to be used in conjunction with a map & compass.

Key: T JCN – T Junction, TR – Turn Right, TL – Turn Left, BR – Bear Right, BL – Bear Left, SO – Straight On, RD – RD, TK – TK, X – Cross, FB – Footbridge, ST – Stile, LMG – Large Metal Gate, LWG – Large Wooden Gate SWG – Small Wooden Gate, KGT – Kissing Gate, MCB – Magnetic Compass Bearing, FLD – Field, YDS – Yards, LHS – Left hand Side, RHS – Right Hand Side, FPS – Footpath Sign, WMS – Waymarker Sign, ODP (Offa’s Dyke Path) WVW (Wye Valley Walk) GW (Gloucestershire Way)

1. Leave hall & TR to reach RD. X to pavement opposite & TR. BL up steps to War Memorial & TR. Down cobbled narrow RD to reach ‘The Five Alls’ pub. SO downhill & remain on LH pavement. Pavement bends to L. X river on Wye Bridge. At end of bridge, X RD CAREFULLY & up enclosed path to reach RD. X RD CAREFULLY towards bin opposite & SO to reach lane. After 140 YDS arrive at KGT on LHS. Thru KGT & uphill following RH fence / hedge line. When fence turns R after 2nd white house, SO to reach KGT in furthest corner of FLD. TR thru KGT & follow LH FLD edge to reach KGT. TL thru KGT & along enclosed path. At end TR on driveway to reach KGT in LH hedge line. Thru & SO to pass tree & X FLD to reach KGT. Thru & TR on enclosed path to reach green KGT. Thru to RD. X RD CAREFULLY to pavement opposite & TL. After 50 YDS arrive at: CLUE BB (ST 54169 95584) 2. Uphill on RH pavement to reach RD JCN on RHS. (Ignore Woodcroft Lane) & BR & follow RD to end. Immediately before black gates BL along enclosed path to arrive at KGT. Thru to Bristol gate & thru. SO & follow LH FLD edge to arrive at KGT next to LMG. Thru and up TK that will become tarmac to arrive at RD (B4228) & TR. Pass bus shelter & white gate to arrive at stone ST on RHS. X ST & SO to follow RH FLD edge to arrive at KGT. Thru & follow ODP thru woods to arrive at KGT. Thru & follow RH FLD edge to arrive at KGT in hedge. Thru & SO uphill to arrive at KGT. Thru & up steps to arrive at RD (FPS). TR (FACE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SINGLE FILE ON RHS. NO VERGE. BE CAREFUL) to reach RD JCN. SO along intermittent verge that becomes pavement. Immediately before pavement becomes grass verge arrive at white fence: CLUE II (ST 55152 97629) 3. SO on grass verge. When opposite KGT, cross RD CAREFULLY to reach KGT. Thru and along enclosed path to arrive at KGT. Thru & TR & after 20 YDS (FPS) BR (ODP). Thru woods & after 0.5 ml arrive at wide area with green fence & gates on LHS. BL & pass wooden barrier. SO & remain on forestry TK ignoring all paths to L&R (including ODP) downhill. After 0.9 ml arrive at forestry TK JCN. TL downhill to arrive at RH hairpin bend & WMS. CLUE JJ (ST 54017 98225) 4. BR downhill around hairpin bend & remain on main TK. At bottom of hill as TK turns sharp L (wooden barrier on LHS) SO. (Now following old railway line from Chepstow to Tintern) After 1.3 ml arrive at wooden barrier (SO 53568 00145). SO & follow path (ignoring paths to RHS) that will bend to L to reach bridge. X bridge to reach RD. TL & remain on LH pavement. Immediately after ‘Tintern Surgery’ X RD CAREFULLY & walk up lane to arrive at RD JCN. SO along lane (DO NOT TL downhill) to reach cattle grid. After 15 YDS TL up enclosed path to reach SWG. Thru, TR & after 15 YDS reach KGT. Thru & SO (260 °) & X FLD to reach KGT. Thru, SO & pass thru 2nd KGT. SO (200°) uphill to reach KGT: CLUE CC (ST 53147 99338) 5. Thru & SO (230°) to reach KGT. Thru & SO (240°) to arrive at ST. X ST & follow RH FLD edge to reach ST in RH hedge. X ST & X TK to ST. X ST & uphill to reach ST. X ST & X concrete TK to ST. X ST & uphill following RH FLD edge to reach ST & LWG. X ST & slight L (255°) uphill to reach hedge corner with church on LHS. TL to reach KGT. Thru & SO to reach bench: CLUE DD (ST 51943 98696) 6. SO to KGT. Thru to FLD & SO (200°) to reach 2 STs in corner. X RH ST to reach RD. TL & after 20 YDS arrive at:

1 David Morgan - 10.01.18 CLUE H (ST 51842 98508) 7. TR along driveway. As driveway BR downhill towards house, SO along enclosed path to reach SWG. Thru & SO along forestry TK to reach TK JCN. TL & follow TK. As TK bends to R & downhill TL leaving TK (WMS). Uphill to reach ST: CLUE G (ST 51233 98176) 8. X ST & BR to pass underneath electricity wires. SO (220°) to reach LMG. Thru & follow LH FLD edge to reach wooden pivot ST next to LMG. Thru to reach RD. X RD CAREFULLY & TL. (FACE ONCOMING TRAFFIC) After 90 YDS TR & ignoring all turnings to L&R follow TK that becomes stony. After 0.4 ml SO (farm on LHS) as path becomes enclosed to reach 2 wooden seats: CLUE F (ST 50149 97392) 9. SO to reach forestry TK & BL. Follow TK for 1.3 ml to reach TK JCN. BL downhill to pass green & white barrier to reach RD & metal FPS: CLUE E (ST 48787 96410) 10. TL & follow RD to its end & reach ST & LMG. X ST & slight R across FLD (60°) to reach RH FLD edge. Follow to X stream & reach ST. X ST & follow RH FLD edge uphill to reach ST. X ST & TL. Follow LH FLD edge to reach LMG. BR away from fence (90°) & downhill to X small stream & reach ST. X ST & SO uphill following RH FLD edge to reach ST. X ST & SO (90°) to reach LMG in bottom RH corner of FLD. Thru & follow RH FLD edge ignoring gates that enter woodland to reach LMG next to RD. Thru & down RD to reach house on RHS: CLUE D (ST 50640 96712) 11. SO & after 100 YDS reach RD JCN. TL & follow RD for 0.6 ml to reach RD JCN by St Arvans Parish Church. TR & follow RD as it BL to reach notice board: CLUE C (ST 51668 96504) 12. SO to reach RD JCN. X RD CAREFULLY to pavement opposite & TR. Follow to reach RD JCN. TL & follow pavement uphill for 330 YDS. X RD VERY CAREFULLY (CK Autos) & SO. After 15 YDS arrive at 2 white signs: CLUE B (ST 52023 96701) 13. SO passing wide tarmac area to reach KGT & LMG. Thru & TL uphill to reach KGT. Thru & after 10 YDS TR (WMS) Follow path for 0.4 ml & descend steps to reach path T JCN & TR (WVW). After 0.4 ml reach path JCN (WMS). Turn sharp R uphill to reach ST. X ST & follow RH fence line to reach the ruined Piercefield House. SO (200°) & across grass to reach wide TK. TL & follow TK for 560 YDS to reach 2 LWGs & KGT. Thru & uphill to reach sign on tree on LHS (Faces away from you): CLUE A (ST 52625 94852) 14. SO & remain on main path ignoring paths to L&R to pass thru gap in wall to reach RD. TL & remain on LH pavement for 0.6 ml to arrive at T JCN. TL thru arch & immediately X RD & SO to return to Palmer Community Centre & Finish.

(Total Distance 16.4 miles)

2 David Morgan - 10.01.18 3 David Morgan - 10.01.18