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Outdoor Pursuits |
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There is plenty of opportunity for walking in the
area around Chepstow. Two long distance paths, Offa's Dyke Path, and the Wye Valley Walk, start (or finish) at Chepstow. There are also many other shorter paths. Purchase of the Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Map for the area is recommended. Geocaching There are more being added all the time but local caches include: Steganocache (Wye Valley), A Day at the Races, Severn Thunder Above n Below, St.James around the Bend (Wye Valley), BLACK ROCK (Monmouthshire), Where Eagles Dare (Wye Valley), Severn view, Alianore and the Swan, Devil's Pulpit (Wye Valley), The Devil's Congregation, Wye Rapids, Off The Beat'n Yat, Skirrid Fawr, The Lake in the Forest (Glocs), The Cathedral in the Forest (Glocs), The Kiwi and The Fox, A Place to Relax, Usk For Fun, Sweet Mountain, The First in Wales, Roamin' Roman Ruins. Caving - Very near Chepstow is an enormous cave with stalagmites and stalactites called the Otter Hole (or Otter's Hole) which extends under the Racecourse from the Wye and lies beneath The Piercefield in the village of St Arvans. It was discovered as recently as 1971 by George Gardener, when he was a boy, with John Elliot of the Forest of Dean Caving Club. Only experienced cavers may enter. There is another cave near Chepstow at Miss Graces Lane. See the Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club web site. There are a number of websites providing information about the Offa's Dyke Long Distance Path, which starts (or ends) at Chepstow: Offa's Dyke Path National Trail The Ramblers Association  A
stone, brought from Plynlimon, in mid Wales, near the source of the River Wye,
has been placed at the lower end of the Dell, adjacent to Chepstow Castle, to
mark the southern end of the 136 mile
Wye Valley Walk. The spectacular viewpoint known as the Eagle's Nest at the Wyndcliffe, is a fine
place to stop for a rest. The 365 Steps nearby, have now been re-opened after
maintenance, and provide an interesting alternative descent to the Lower
Wyndcliffe car park.
I particularly enjoyed the riverside walk from Monmouth to Tintern, through scenery of outstanding natural beauty. The last part, from Tintern to Chepstow, has to be walked at high level taking either the Wye Valley Walk on the west bank of the Wye, via the Wyndcliffe, or the Offa's Dyke Path, past the Devil's Pulpit, following the the east bank of the Wye. Chepstow is also one of the finishing points of the Lôn Las Cymru Cycle Route (the other being Cardiff) which spans the length of Wales to Holyhead on Anglesey, providing 128 miles of cycle route on roads and traffic-free paths.  A guide can be obtained from Sustrans, 35 King Street, Bristol, BS1 4DZ. Canoes can be hired from from Wye Pursuits or Wyedean Canoe and Adventure Centre some way upstream at Kerne Bridge near Ross-on-Wye. Suggestions include longer trips, which include overnight stays, including finishing at Chepstow, but with a caution that the last ten miles of the river Wye below Bigsweir Bridge is tidal and not suitable for the inexperienced. Looking for somewhere to stay?The George Hotel, Chepstow, suggests that you contact them direct for the best deal.A Hotel and Guest House Directory for Chepstow is available on-line. Some self-catering accomodation in or near Tintern is listed on the Tintern Village web site. The Offa's Dyke Association maintains a list of accommodation (along with much other useful information for walking the path). The Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales) have 230 hostels throughout England and Wales. Local groups can be found here. |
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