Wye Valley Cliffs, Caves, Castle, Abbey and the 69 Bus
13 people attending
3 places left
Please read important information in the Kit List and Food and Drink sections.Those of us with private transport will leave the Tintern Abbey car park (it was £3 including a coupon for £3 redeemable at the nearby pub) at 11:25 to get the 11:40 bus (it was £2:65; exact change only) to Chepstow Bus station, where we will meet those arriving by public transport at 11:55. We will then explore Chepstow going through the town centre to view the 1816 Regency cast iron Wye Bridge, then up by the river to Chepstow castle. Then we follow the Wye Valley walk, trying to spot the severely decayed remnants of the Alcove, the Platform, the Grotto the Double View and the Druids Temple and small cave as we head towards the Giants Cave. Then we will pass through the Giant’s cave and the Cold Bath to get to the Lower Wyndcliff. From here we will waft our way up the cliff via the 365 steps and on to the Eagles Nest view point to see the Wye valley, Chepstow, both Severn Bridges and England (described by Coleridge as “the whole world imaged in its vast circumference”). Then along the top of the cliff, followed by a steep, rocky, tree root infested descent to Tintern Abbey, with time to spare, for those using public transport to get 17:40 bus back to Chepstow.
What to bring
Please review the Outdoorlads kit lists for a general guide. The route is likely to be muddy and slippery, sometimes rocky and sometimes steep and root infested, but sometimes fairly good paths. Hiking boots, waterproofs, sun protection, a small rucksack and food and drink are recommended. If you wear trainers, they need to have a deep tread pattern and you will very likely end up with wet and muddy feet. In the forest it will be dark towards the end of the walk, therefore a head torch is required.
Food & drink
Bring enough food and drink for the event. We will stop a few times for snacks during the walk and may visit a pub adjacent to Tintern Abbey at the end of the walk. We WILL NOT be stopping for food or drink in Chepstow in the early stages of the walk; I suggest you have some lunch before we meet for the event.