Region: Tintern, Wye Valley, Monmouthshire, Wales
Places To Stay: Stay in Chepstow or Monmouth for pubs, cafés and quick access to the Wye Valley. If you want something quieter and closer, Tintern has some options. Looking for more Welsh walks? Head to my ‘Wales Hiking Guides‘ page to see all regions and routes.
Below are a few ideas for day tours in the Wye Valley. GetYourGuide makes it easy to book + see more here.
For a bigger selection of Mid Wales accommodation, Booking.com has plenty of cottages, lodges and hotels to browse.
This walk has so much history and incredible views it is going to be difficult to keep the post from not being a mile long, I was considering breaking it up into different pages, but I’m going to go for it, and show as much as I can and explain what you will learn and see. It is a long walk, it’s not easy, and I think there is no chance of being able to do this hike without using the GPX file I have included below, or the route on the app, it’s just way to complicated, and so many hidden paths, that can be easily missed, as we found out.
The Wye Valley is such a beautiful area. This route starts at Lower Wyndcliff car park, heads to the Eagle’s nest via the 365 steps, then along the Wye Valley Walk to Tintern Abbey, you will see the industrial history of the Anghidi Valley & Tintern Abbey Furnace, the ancient iron foundry & returning through woodlands to St Arvans & back to Wyndcliff.
Getting There: Directions, GPX and Map
- Start/Finish: Lower Wyndcliff Car Park.
- GPX: Download the GPX file here.
- Route Finder: Follow this route on my Outdooractive profile.
Travel Data: I use eSIMs to stay connected — quick setup and no roaming faff. Sim Local has been solid in Italy/Europe with good prices and coverage.
Hike Profile
- Distance: ~15 km / ~9 miles
- Duration: ~4-5 hours
- Ascent/Descent: ~214 m / 705ft
- Highest Point: ~240 m / 797 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate (steep short climbs), sometimes difficult terrain through the woods.
- Terrain: Well-worn pathways all around, roads and farmland also which can be boggy in bad weather.
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Hike Description
Best place to start is the ‘Lower Wyndcliff Car Park‘ car park, the postcode is NP16 6HD, and it’s between Chepstow and Tintern on the A466. The car park is on the opposite side to the 365 steps, so you will need to cross a road, and head towards the right through the woods.
There is a path but it’s not very clear in places, but you will start to see steps in different places and hand rails, so as you venture on you will find your way. Walk to the top of the 365 steps, turn right and follow the Wye Valley path to Tintern.
After a mile or so of walking through a lovely woods, you will start to drop down a little and reach a gate to an open field, go through and head to the left to find the next yellow arrow badge, and keep following those as you are now heading to Tintern. Again you will keep dropping down, but you will need to keep looking on your left for a big clearing that will take you to the first historic part of this walk, the birthpace of modern industry: Abbey Tintern Furnace, first active in 1590.
After the furnace stop, it’s then a short walk carrying on in the same direction you where before you leave the woods and come out facing Tintern Abbey. There is a visitor centre you can look around, and or have some food in the pub nearby, or do what we did and have a coffee in the little cafe on the roadside called ‘The Filling Station Cafe’, great coffee and cakes.
After our little coffee break, we doubled back on ourselves a little bit by crossing the road and heading up the lane to the right of the ice cream shop, which will take us to our next historic building St Mary’s Church on Chapel Hill. The history books say that it was probably once a retreat for the Tintern Abbey monks, it has a really interesting graveyard and you can walk around it to feel the place from the inside. We stopped there for a little while, looking around and then continued up the path to the left after you leave the church walls.
This next section of walk is walking up and down through thick woods, and you pass by a little cottage selling their own Honey, Rich tried it out and said it was very nice. This is this where the route can get tricky without guidance, there are a lot of little left and right turns to carry on through the woods, but you do get to see a little waterfall feeding a great looking pond, and then all of a sudden you will arrive at the next historical location Abbey Tintern Furnace.
The rest of the walk is following the righ paths up through the beautiful woods, and you will eventually reach the top where you will need to jump over a style which then opens up into farmland. You have now left the woods behind. The journey will take you through beautiful fields with crops growing, and some of the best views around, and you will start dropping down through a little animal farm, and then eventually come out onto a road, and if you head to the left this will take you to St Arvans village. This is now not far from your starting point to complete the circular.
Once you walk through St Arvans, you can then turn left on the main road and head back towards Lower Wyndcliffe car park.
Places to Stay in Monmouth
For a wider choice of accommodation in the Wye Valley, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.
Recommended Stays
The Royal George in Tintern is housed in a historic building, offering a unique and charming atmosphere. You have a short walk to see Tintern Abbey.
The Bees Knees @ Redhill Grange
Set in 50-acre grounds The Lake Country House Hotel & Spa lies in the heart of the Welsh countryside. With en suite bathrooms it also boasts a swimming pool and sauna.
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Practicalities
- Season: All year. Stunning in winter frost or autumn colours.
- Footwear: Any comfy walking shoes; the paths are easy-going, boots in winter as it can get muddy.
- Water & food: Cafe’s and Country Pubs in Tintern.
- Parking: Free parking at Lower Wyndcliff Car Park.
- Dogs: Yes, but keep on a lead around livestock.
- Good for: Families, photographers, relaxed days out, short winter walks.
Elan Valley Circular FAQs
How long is the walk?
This one is about 10 miles, but at any point you can turn back to the car.
Is it easy?
Mostly it’s easy because of wide paths and gentle gradients, but the 365 steps can be demanding, and also there are some climbs leaving Tintern. This is a circular walk but in the winter you may find difficult areas on the farmland and through the wooded areas.
Can you bring dogs?
Yes, but keep on a lead around livestock.
Is it family friendly?
Very — suitable for most ages.
Best viewpoint?
The Wye Valley and Severn Estuary view from Eagles Nest.
Where do I park?
Any steep bits?
The 365 steps are steep, and there are steep areas leaving Tintern up through the woods.
Can I cycle it?
No not really, the 365 steps are not bicycle friendly and over the farmland might be difficult in winter.
Are there toilets?
There are public in Tintern, but expect to buy a coffee in the pubs or cafes.
Is it good in winter?
Yes — frosty mornings are best. But maybe when wet there could be muddy sections through the farmland and when returning through the wooded area.
Walk this route yourself in 3D!
The video is a 3D walkthrough of this route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the mountain.
I’ve created 3D videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.
Chepstow 365 Steps, Tintern Abbey & Local Industrial History, St Arvans Circular – 3D Video
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