Walk 1 Wednesday 15th April
Monmouthshire Way Stage 1 - Trellech to Chepstow
Distance: 13.5 miles (linear with transport to start via the No.65 bus)
Duration: Allow 6-7 hours Difficulty: Strenuous Bring: A picnic, drinks and a camera Meeting Point: 8:30am at Chepstow Bus Station, Thomas Street, Chepstow NP16 5DH Bus departs 8:45am fare included in ticket (if required - Welsh bus pass accepted). Parking: Castle Dell car park, Bridge Street, Chepstow NP16 5EY ST535942 (all-day parking voucher provided which must be displayed in the vehicle). Please allow time to collect the car park ticket and make your way to the meeting point. This walk is not suitable for dogs |
From Trellech we head via Catbrook and the 17th century Fountains Inn to Ravensnest. Continuing south we follow a beautiful route through Chepstow Great Wood, Itton and St Arvans, then pick up the Wye Valley Walk before the final stage into Chepstow via Piercefield House.
Distance: 10 miles (linear with transport to start included)
Duration: Allow 5 hours Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous Bring: A picnic, drinks and a camera Meeting Point: 9:30am at Chepstow Tourist Information Centre, Bridge Street, Chepstow NP16 5EY. Transport to start included. Parking: Castle Dell car park, Bridge Street, Chepstow NP16 5EY ST535942 (all-day parking voucher provided which must be displayed in the vehicle). This walk is not suitable for dogs |
A Festival regular, this enjoyable walk uses sections of the Offa’s Dyke Path and Wye Valley Walk with beautiful views. The route passes through Tintern where there will be a lunch stop and talk from Matt Newell (Wye Valley Meadery and Countryfile), before continuing to Chepstow Castle via viewpoints and the racecourse. On our return to Chepstow there will be an opportunity to purchase Wye Valley Meadery products at the Tourist Information Centre.
Distance: 6.2 miles (circular)
Duration: Allow 3 hours Difficulty: moderate Bring: Snacks, drinks and a camera Meeting Point: 10:30am by the entrance to Aust Church, Aust Parking: Roadside parking near to Aust Church, Aust BS35 4BA ST572890 (please park considerately) This walk is suitable for well-behaved dogs |
Leaving the pretty village of Aust, this walk heads over bridleways and fields to Littleton-Upon-Severn before joining the Severn Way, with lovely views across to Chepstow. The return loop tracks the shore of the estuary back to Severn View Services and the Severn Bridge, where we cross over the footbridge to make our way back to Aust.
Walk 4 Wednesday 15th April
Bridge over the River Usk with the Living Levels Landscape Partnership
Distance: 5 miles (linear with return transport included)
Duration: Allow 2-3 hours Difficulty: Moderate Bring: Snacks, drinks, a camera and binoculars Meeting Point: 10:30am at Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre Parking: Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre car park, West Nash Road, Nash, Newport NP18 2YH ST334834 (free for RSPB members, all-day parking included in ticket for non-members) This walk is not suitable for dogs |
Back by popular demand, this walk explores the juxtaposition between the industrial heritage and the natural environment of this unique landscape. Includes optional high-level crossing of the Newport Transporter Bridge (weather permitting).
Walk 5 Wednesday 15th April
Roman Caerwent and Slade Wood
Distance: 6 miles (circular)
Duration: Allow 4 hours Difficulty: Moderate Bring: A picnic, drinks and a camera Meeting Point & Parking: 10:30am Caerwent Roman Town car park, Caerwent NP26 5AU ST463906 Public Transport: The 10:05 No.73 Chepstow to Newport bus drops at Caerwent Church at 10:17, returning hourly at 38 minutes past the hour. This walk is not suitable for dogs |
We start with a walk around Venta Silurum (modern day Caerwent) to visit the extensive Roman remains of this important settlement. We then head up through Slade Wood for picturesque views across the valley before dropping back to our start point
Walk 6 Wednesday 15th April
Cefn Ila and Usk
Walking through fields and woods, this walk explores the rich history of Usk and the surrounding area covering 900 years from the establishment of the Priory Church to the battlefield of Pwll Melyn in 1405 and the role of Usk Castle. We then arrive in the nineteenth century with the building of the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway, exploring along the way the changing fortunes of the Cefn Ila Estate.