Tintern Abbey to Chepstow

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Our view

"Along the valley of the River Wye from Tintern Abbey to Chepstow Castle."

Walk directions

The best way to join the Wye Valley Walk (WVW) from the abbey is to head out of the car park and keep straight ahead alongside the river bank on a drive that runs between houses, and then bear left past a converted church. This leads up to the main A466, where you’ll see two small lanes heading uphill opposite you. Take the left lane (as you look at them) and follow this uphill until it ends and you bear right up a stony track. Keep heading up through a canopy of beech trees until, after 0.5 miles (800m), you see a waymarker that directs you across a small stream on the left. Cross this and follow the narrow path up to a gate that leads on to an open hillside. Cross the field to another gate that takes you back into the wood.

Turn immediately right and the path now steepens and carries you up on to a narrow wooded ridge above Black Cliff. Bear left when it levels to climb steeply again, then continue for another 0.75 miles (1.2km) to a crossroads of paths. Keep straight ahead to continue above Wyndcliff to a fingerpost that directs you to the airy viewpoint of Eagle’s Nest. The river curls in a series of meanders and you should be able to see the limestone cliffs of Wintour’s Leap on the far bank. These are popular rock climbing crags and also mark the route of the Offa’s Dyke footpath, which runs along their tops. Head back up to the main path and continue to a car parking area, where you turn sharp left to go downhill, via a series of zig-zags, to the A466. Cross the road to another car parking area.

Keep right, parallel to the road, and locate the path, which at this stage is gravel and runs down into the wood next to a Wye Valley Walk information board. The gravel soon gives way to leaf litter and beechnuts and the noise of the road is quickly left behind as you delve deeper into the wood. After a short and particularly rough section of path, you’ll find yourself heading long a narrow terrace above the steep-sided valley. In common with most deciduous woods, there’s plenty to capture the imagination at any time of the year, but it’s certainly at its best when bathed in the rustic colours of autumn, or in spring when the forest floor is carpeted with flowers and the trees ring with the sound of birdsong. You’ll pass behind Piercefield Park and duck into a short, claustrophobic tunnel cut into the rock. Ignore the path off to the right shortly afterwards and continue to a junction with another track, where you turn right then drop to the left of this.

viewpoint by a bench marks the end of the woodland section of the walk and from here, a set of steps leads up to a gap in a wall. Go through and follow the path as it leads behind a leisure centre and out to a car park. Turn left on to the main road and follow it downhill to a narrow park opposite a turning called St Kingsmark Avenue. Turn left on to the waymarked footpath and pass the castle on your left. The Great Tower Keep was built by the Normans in 1067, just one year after the Battle of Hastings. Take time to have a look around and then turn right by the tourist information centre to emerge on Bridge Street.

Turn right to climb up through the High Street to the bus station, from where you can catch a bus back to the start. The number 69 bus runs roughly once an hour on weekdays between Chepstow and Tintern.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Excellent, waymarked forest tracks and paths

Landscape - Steep-sided wooded valleys

Dog friendliness - Care needed on main roads; dogs not allowed in abbey or castle

Parking - Pay-and-display car park at Tintern Abbey

Toilets en route - Car park at start of walk and near Chepstow Castle

Walks in Monmouthshire

About the walk

The Wye Valley Walk is a 136-mile (218km) waymarked recreational trail that follows the course of the River Wye as it meanders its way between Plynlimon in mid-Wales to Chepstow on the banks of the River Severn. This walk takes in one of the most beautiful sections, full of historic interest,...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

In their bid to control the borderlands of Monmouthshire – also known as the Marches – the Normans built a triangle of castles: Grosmont, Skenfrith and White. At first, they were simple wooden structures strengthened by earthworks, but when the lively Welsh refused to stop attacking them, it was decided more permanent fortresses were needed.