Walk 1272 - printer friendly version

Tintern, Devil's Pulpit & Brockweir Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.5 miles / 12.2 km

Ascent - 1300 feet / 394 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SO532001
Lat 51.697684 + Long -2.6785445
Postcode NP16 6TE (approx. location only)

The Wye Valley is varied and full of interest. This walk starts from near the ruins of Tintern Abbey located alongside the A466 Chepstow to Monmouth road on the Welsh side of the river. Parking is limited in Tintern and you will probably be better avoiding busy periods of the year. For this walk a start from the Abbey (Grid ref. SO532001) is assumed.

Follow the signed path and head upstream with the Wye to your right. The path leads out onto the A466. Turn north for a short way before crossing a substantial footbridge (Grid ref. 530003) to reach the other side of the river. Turn south soon reaching the old railway with a disused tunnel on your left. Continue on the old railway for approximately three kilometres with glimpses through the trees of Tintern Abbey on your right.

At a fork in the path (Grid ref. 540982) left climbing to a further path junction. Turn sharp left here and continue on a track uphill to a T-junction. Ignore the tracks left and right, instead taking the path opposite. This climbs steeply through the woodland to reach another track. Turn right and after a few yards locate a waymark (which recent reports suggest has been removed) on your left and follow this narrow path to reach the Offa's Dyke Path.

Turn left along this National Trail to reach the Devil's Pulpit from where there is an excellent view down to Tintern Abbey and the Wye Valley. Continue on the Offa's Dyke Path, ignoring short cuts signed left back to Tintern. Eventually you leave the woodland (Grid ref. 546010) to descend across to reach a green lane. Turn left here to follow the green lane past stables into the village of Brockweir.

Cross the river using the road bridge to regain Wales turning left down some steps onto a path that follows a further section of the old railway. This leads through a visitor centre located in the old Tintern Station where a number of wood sculptures are on view.

Stay on the old railway heading south to reach the point where the railway once crossed the River Wye. Descend steps on your right to join a pleasant riverside path that leads via Tintern Parish Church onto the main road. All that remains is to follow the road back to the start perhaps taking the opportunity to visit Tintern Abbey.

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