A GROUP of 10 keen walkers joined William from Penarth and District Ramblers for an adventure in the stunning Wye Valley on a linear walk that would take them from Monmouth back to Chepstow – completing 17 miles.
After their bus ride, a stroll through Monmouth town brought them to the banks of the River Wye and heading downstream to cross the old railway bridge onto the western side of the river and passing through a path strewn with the invasive Himalayan Balsam, they stopped for morning break by a fishing lodge. A steep climb through the Whitebrook valley led them into pretty woodland at Cuckoo Wood and on past Cleddon Falls, where the brook tumbles over the hillside to the village of Llandogo below.
In rising heat, the shade of the woodland in full leaf made a difference as they made their way through Bargain Wood, with a pause at a viewpoint above the shimmering Wye, before descending through Coed Beddick and and taking a lunch break at Tintern Old Railway Station, now a visitor centre. Scoffing ice creams, then joining the riverbank once more led them on to Tintern with its hordes of visitors and the remains of the impressive Tintern Abbey.
Another climb up through Black Cliff Wood led them along a wooded path to the Eagle’s Nest, a viewpoint perched on the cliff high above the Piercefield Estate with its fantastic views towards the Severn Estuary and the ruined Chepstow Castle. A descent to Chepstow Racecourse and past the majestic remains of Piercefield House, originally owned by Valentine Morris, whose son created the renowned Piercefield Walks, brought them out onto pavements for the return to their cars parked at Chepstow Leisure Centre.
Black Mountains
In contrast, Robin and Biggles plus his 17 companions and two other dogs made their way to enjoy a 9.5-mile walk in the Grwyne Fawr Valley in the Black Mountains on a rather overcast and cool day. Meeting at the Mynydd Du car park they set off, beginning their climb uphill towards the ridgeway. This beautiful but isolated location changed when in 1912 work started on building the Gwyne Fawr reservoir high up in the valley.
A village named Blaen-y-cwm housed the many workers and their families and because of lack of manual labour during World War One and because of its location, work was slow, and the reservoir finally opened in 1928, after which the village was demolished. After stopping for morning break at the reservoir, another climb led them out onto the ridgeway and a well-earned break for lunch.
They went along the ridge to Pen y Manllwyn for the long climb to Waun Fach, the highest peak of the Black Mountains, on a new gravel pathway to reach the summit at 811 metres and enjoy the glorious, if hazy, views in all directions, including towards Pen y Fan. Following a short descent, another climb to Pen y Gadair finally meant it was time to descend on steep pathways, often obscured with thick bracken, which made the going fairly hard. Reaching the valley bottom and crossing a stream and two troublesome stiles brought them back to their cars for the journey home.
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Joy Strangward
- Penarth ramblers enjoy their weekend in Sussex
- Ramblers explore Sully Island
- Ramblers celebrate with a picnic in the park
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