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We’re heading to the Wye Valley National Landscape for a four night trip!

Straddling the England/Wales border (most of the planned walks include at least one border crossing), this is where the River Wye reaches the sea, finishing its journey from mid-Wales, through a spectacular valley marked by many tight meanders. The woodland-shrouded sides of the valley shadow the paths up to a series of spectacular viewpoints.

Although it felt like the sleepiest possible place to grow up, it has also managed to be at the centre of quite a bit of history. We’ll be visiting Trellech, a sleepy village today but once the second largest town of medieval Wales, passing the ruins of Tintern Abbey, and seeing the landscape that led to the birth of modern tourism and inspired the poet William Wordsworth!

Due to insurance purposes, all attendees must be Ramblers members at the time of the trip.

Please sign up to attend using the form.

Provisional programme for the weekend, subject to change:

Thursday 2nd July: travel to Monmouth.

Friday 3rd July: Trellech circuit (9 miles, 360m ascent) (bus from Monmouth). We’ll start the trip in the historic village of Trellech, in medieval times the second largest town in Wales.

Saturday 4th July, morning: Tintern “English” circuit via the Devil’s Pulpit and Brockweir (6 miles, 283m ascent) (bus from Monmouth). Starting from outside the famous ruined Abbey, we’ll head across the old railway bridge into England, climb up the valley side to reach the Devil’s Pulpit viewpoint, follow Offa’s Dyke Path to Brockweir, before crossing back to Wales for the return along the river to Tintern.

Saturday 4th July, afternoon: Tintern “Welsh” circuit via the Wyndcliffe and the Angidy Valley (6.5 miles, 352m ascent) (bus from Monmouth). We’ll head out of Tintern again on the Welsh side of the valley, climbing towards the Wyndcliffe viewpoint which overlooks a spectacular meander and offers views towards the Severn estuary, before returning to Tintern via the ancient industry and ponds in the Angidy Valley.

(Everyone can choose whether to do both Saturday walks for a combined 12.5 mile walk, or one only combined with a visit to Tintern Abbey or exploring Tintern village)

Sunday 5th July: Monmouth circular to Symonds Yat and back (13 miles, 544m ascent). First climbing out of Monmouth through the woods, the target of this walk is Yat Rock, where the Wye makes almost a complete circle around a rocky outcrop. After descending steeply into Symonds Yat village and stopping at the pub, we’ll follow the river back to Monmouth.

Monday 6th July, morning: Monmouth circular to the Kymin and Redbrook and back (7 miles, 312m). It will be one last climb out of Monmouth to start this walk, up to the Kymin, with its views across Monmouth towards the Brecon Beacons and its Naval Temple maintained by the National Trust. From there, we’ll descend into the village of Redbrook. Crossing the old railway viaduct we’ll stop at the Boat Inn - a delightful riverside pub with the possibly unique situation of the pub car park being in England while the pub itself is in Wales - before heading along the river back to Monmouth.

Monday 6th July, afternoon: travel home.

Accommodation
If you plan to come on the trip by public transport, it is recommended that you base yourself in Monmouth - this has bus links to and from Newport (served by fast trains from Reading, see below) and to Trellech and Tintern for the walks.
Hotels

Campsite

Socials
There will be an organised group meal in Monmouth on one night.

Travel
If travelling by public transport from Reading, the recommended route is to take the train from Reading to Newport (journey time around 1 hour 15 minutes), followed by the 60 bus route from Newport to Monmouth (journey time around 1 hour). Reading to Monmouth is 112 miles to drive, with a journey time of approximately 2 hours.

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