Castle Bromwich Ramblers WYE VALLEY WALKING WEEKEND 21st – 24th September 2018 Itinerary Introduction The River Wye is the 5th longest river in the UK, flowing for 134 miles from Plynlimmon in mid Wales to the Severn Estuary at Chepstow. It is renowned for its salmon fishing and for canoeing and kayaking. We will be staying in the lower end of its valley, where the river forms the boundary between England and Wales. We will be staying at Bells Hotel, Lords Hill, Coleford GL6 8BE – www.bells-hotel.co.uk, Tel. 01594 832583 A brief description of the walks follows. Travel directions are included in this document Friday 21st September Symonds Yat Walk – 3.5 miles; Leader Maz Eggitt 07951 128692 Travelling from home to Symonds Yat West, we will park at Ye Olde Ferrie Inn, which is over 600 years old, meeting there at 12 Noon. From the pub we will walk along the west side of the river to Biblins Bridge on the Welsh border. We will cross this footbridge to the east side and continue to walk alongside the river and the disused railway line towards the Royal Lodge Hotel. Here we will take a sharp right up the stairs to the Yat Rock for wonderful views (reputedly one of the 7 best in England) across the River Wye and to the cliffs where peregrine falcons nest. The RSPB have a bird spotting telescope and information here. Light refreshments can be obtained from the nearby visitor centre café, before descending back to the river bank and taking Britain’s last surviving rope ferry (approx. £2 each) back to the parking place. We then continue on our journey to the hotel. ROUTE to SYMONDS YAT (HR9 6BL) (Friday 21st September) Distance: 80 miles Journey time: 1 hour 40 minutes Suggested departure time – 10.15 a.m. M42 South, after Jc.1 take the centre lane for M5South M5 to Junction 8 Take slip to roundabout and 2nd exit to join M50 towards South Wales At Jc.4 take 1st exit – A449 South towards South Wales At roundabout take 3rd exit – A40 towards South Wales Stay on A40 for 7 miles Turn left - B4164 towards Symonds Yat West At roundabout take 1st exit - B4164 towards Symonds Yat West After about 1 mile park at Ye Olde Ferrie Inn car park …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ROUTE from Symonds Yat (HR9 6BL) to HOTEL (GL16 8BE) (Friday 21st September) Distance: 11 miles Journey time: 25 minutes Ferry Road – B4146 towards Ross-on-Wye At roundabout take 1st exit and join A40 towards Monmouth At 1st roundabout take 2nd exit – A40 After 1 mile turn left across the river – A446 Redbrook Road At roundabout continue straight – A4136 towards Forest of Dean About a mile after passing through Staunton take right fork – B4228 Coleford Road towards Coleford. After 1.3 miles, in Coleford, take slight left – Lord’s Hill Bells Hotel & Country Club is on the right. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Route from Bells Hotel (GL16 8BE) to CHEPSTOW (NP16 5HD) (Saturday 22nd September) Distance: 13 miles Journey time: 30 minutes As you leave the hotel turn left along Lord’s Hill After 0.1 miles at the T junction turn left onto the B4228 (Old Station Way). Stay on B4228 towards Chepstow, passing through St.Briavels and Woodcroft In Tutshill, at roundabout take 1st exit – B4228 At T-junction turn right – A48 to Chepstow After 1 mile, having crossed over the river, turn right into Beaufort Square Beaufort Square turns slightly right and becomes Middle Street, continue into Bridge Street. Car park is on the left. Fee is £4.40 all day Saturday 23rd September There will be 2 short walks today, both starting at the castle car park in the town centre, so you can choose to do one or the other, or both. “Chepstow” means a significant place with a market. The large castle dates from Norman times and there are a number of places of interest in this old town. It is about 2 miles from where the River Wye enters the Severn Estuary, which has the 2nd highest tidal range in the world. MORNING: Chepstow, Piercefield walk - 3.5 miles Leader: Ron Dowdeswell 07823 489819 The first part of the walk follows the Wye Valley Walk. We will start by going through the castle grounds before following a road for a short way. After crossing the Leisure Centre car park we will enter the woods, which formed part of the Piercefield Estate. The path was one established by the owner in the 1750s, giving views across the river valley below. Glimpses of the valley can be gained through the trees which have grown up over the succeeding years. Passing a Viewing Platform and a grotto, once encrusted with precious stones, we will come to the Double View. From here we walk through parkland designed by Capability Brown. Passing the ruins of Piercefield House, whose owner was the son of a slave, we can then enjoy views over Chepstow and to the Severn Bridge across the estuary, before heading down alongside the racecourse back to the town. There will then be time to have some lunch and/or do some sightseeing. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… AFTERNOON: Chepstow, Offa’s Dyke walk – 3.5 miles Leader: Ron Dowdeswell 07823 489819 The walk will start from the Castle car park Crossing over the tidal River Wye into England, we will follow the Offa’s Dyke Path, with the river below us and views of Chepstow Castle beyond. Passing Wintour’s Leap and a a Lookout Tower we will skirt around the village of Woodcroft, before heading away from the river down field paths to a lane. Here we will join the Gloucestershire Way and follow it along lanes and paths, to the edge of Tutshill before re-crossing the river back into Wales and to the cast Sunday 22nd September Tintern Abbey Walk – 3.5 miles, plus 4 miles (Figure of 8); Leader: Allan Witherington 07582 328583 Tintern Abbey was only the second Cistercian monastery in Britain and the first in Wales. The present-day remains cover a 400-year period between 1131 and 1536.The abbey fell into ruin after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century. Its remains have been celebrated in poetry and painting from the 18th century onwards. This is a figure of 8 walk. The morning session is an easy approx. 3.5 mile walk from Tintern Abbey to Brockweir and return. From the abbey we will traverse the Wye on the Wireworks Bridge which takes us across the border into England. We will head in a northerly direction through woodland and along the river bank to the now peaceful village of Brockweir. In the 18th and 19th centuries this was a busy quay for shipbuilding and transshipping of goods from coastal boats to small barges able to go further upstream. After crossing the Wye again, we return along the route of a disused railway, stopping for refreshment at The Old Station Café. We then follow riverside paths and the main road back to Tintern where there are several cafes, pubs and shops. We will take our lunch break here. The second leg of the walk is a 4 mile journey along the Angidy Trail. Most of the walk follows the picturesque valley of the River Angidy, a fast flowing tributary of the Wye. It is quite easy going but there is then a steady climb to the top of the hillside for our return journey. We will see evidence of the valley’s industrial past including the site of the wireworks and will be able to explore the ruins of an excavated and partly conserved 17th century blast furnace. Finally, after walking through woodland on the hill overlooking the abbey we will find the ruins of St. Mary’s Church which was destroyed by fire in 1977. After the walk we can take refreshment at The Anchor Inn (pub/café) and there should be time for those who wish to go inside the abbey. Entrance is normally £6.90 (£5.50 for seniors) but this is an ‘Open Door’ weekend when entrance is free because they are hosting a multicultural peace festival. Last entrance 4.30 pm. Route from Bell’s Hotel (GL16 8BE) to TINTERN ABBEY (NP16 6SE) (Sunday 23rd September) Distance: 10 miles Journey time: 25 minutes As you leave the hotel turn left along Lord’s Hill After 0.1 miles at the T junction turn left onto the B4228 (Old Station Way). After about 2 miles you pass the Orepool Inn on the left – then take the next right (Shophouse Rd) signed to Stowe/Mork/Bigsweir/Wye Valley After 0.3 miles at a T junction turn right (signed Clearwell/Newland/Redbrook) then immediately left following the sign to Bigsweir/Wye Valley. Stay on this road for about 3.1 miles until it merges with the A446 where you go left towards Tintern/Chepstow Cross the River Wye on the Bigsweir Bridge and stay on the A446 for about 4.8 miles After passing through Tintern village, turn left towards the Abbey ruins and use the car park on your left. The fee is £3 for the day but this is refunded if you spend £3+ at The Anchor Inn (pub or café). Monday 24th September Ross-on-Wye walk – 4 miles; Leader: Marion Stowe 07929 566395 This walk will take place on the journey home. From the riverside car park we will follow the Wye Valley Walk alongside the river out of the town. Heading away from the river we will take the dismantled Gloucester and Hereford railway before heading gently up through fields to Brampton Abbotts.