Cleddon Falls Circular Walk from Old Station Tintern

Region: Tintern and the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire and the England–Wales border

Walk summary: This 10.9-mile Cleddon Falls circular walk begins at Old Station Tintern. Follow the anti-clockwise circuit through woodland past Botany Bay and Cleddon Falls, descend towards Whitebrook and return along the River Wye via Bigsweir Bridge and Brockweir. There is 978ft of ascent; allow around 4½ hours with stops.

This is a full day’s Wye Valley walk, combining a waterfall visit with wooded hillsides, valley views and a long riverside return. It is considerably longer than the short walks to Cleddon Falls from nearby woodland parking areas, so check that you are downloading the right route.

We began in fog and climbed above it into a beautiful clear day. The woodland viewpoints, waterfall and river made the circuit feel varied throughout, with coffee and cake back at Old Station Tintern giving us a lovely finish.

Conditions: I last walked this circuit around two years ago. The GPX remains the route I recommend, but this is not a recent access inspection. Woodland paths can become muddy and slippery, and the River Wye sections can flood after heavy rain.

Cleddon Falls circular walk map, GPX and parking

• Start and parking: Old Station Tintern, NP16 7NX.
• Parking: Paid parking. The official visitor listing currently gives an all-day charge of £4.40. Check the tariff and access signs on arrival; the lower car park is listed as closing at 4:30pm.
• GPX: Download my Cleddon Falls circular walk GPX.
• Route app: View this route on Outdooractive and Komoot profiles.
• Facilities: Tea room, toilets and heritage carriages at Old Station Tintern, subject to seasonal opening. Check the current visitor information before planning your finish.
• Navigation: Download the route before you arrive. Read my GPX guide if you are unfamiliar with using a route file.

Use the GPX together with a suitable map. The description below explains the main stages, rather than every junction. A downloaded track does not show current closures, flooding or whether a particular path is safe on the day.

Old Station Tintern to the Brockweir area

Begin at the old railway station and follow the path away from the station towards Brockweir Bridge. The restored carriages and riverside grounds make an interesting start, although we saved most of our exploring for the return.

Near the bridge, the route reaches steps up to the road before joining the woodland paths of the Wye Valley Walk. Take care at the road crossing and follow the GPX onto the correct path: the river and road are useful landmarks, but there are several trails heading into the trees.

Climbing into the woodland and passing Botany Bay

The path climbs away from the valley floor. On our visit we passed through the fog and emerged above it, looking back across the Wye Valley with the mist still lying below us. It was one of the highlights of the day.

Continue along the wooded hillside towards Botany Bay Scout campsite. Our original walk passed this area before continuing through the woods. Stay on the recognised walking route and respect any access signs; the campsite itself should not be treated as a public attraction or refreshment stop.

Further along, a bench beside a gap in the trees gave us another beautiful valley view and a useful place to pause. The distance makes these occasional stops worthwhile, particularly before the descent later in the walk.

Visiting Cleddon Falls

Cleddon Falls is the main waterfall stop on this circuit. The falls lie in woodland, and their appearance depends on recent rainfall. They can be much more dramatic after rain, but wet conditions also make the surrounding paths slippery.

Enjoy the view from the established path rather than scrambling onto wet rocks for a photograph. This guide follows the full circular route onward towards Whitebrook; it does not descend to Llandogo as a shorter return option.

Descending towards Whitebrook and the River Wye

After the falls, continue along the mapped woodland route before descending towards Whitebrook and river level. Some downhill sections were slippery even on our visit, so take your time on leaf-covered ground and muddy cut-throughs.

At the lower paths and road sections, use the GPX to locate the riverside leg towards Bigsweir Bridge. The change from wooded hillside to the river makes this part feel quite different from the outward journey.

Bigsweir Bridge and the riverside return

Continue towards Bigsweir Bridge, then follow the mapped crossing and return leg on the other side of the River Wye. Keep close control of children and dogs wherever the track meets a road or bridge, and be alert to traffic.

The return takes you south beside the river towards Brockweir. There are lovely views across the water and back to the wooded slopes, but low-lying ground can be muddy or flooded. Never follow the GPX into floodwater simply because the line continues.

Brockweir to Old Station Tintern

Cross back at Brockweir Bridge and follow the route to Old Station Tintern. By this point we were ready for our coffee and cake, having enjoyed a long walk with plenty of changing scenery.

If the facilities are open, allow time to look around the restored railway carriages and visitor displays. We enjoyed finishing with the station’s local history after spending the day exploring the surrounding valley.

Cleddon Falls walk practicalities

• Time: My moving time was 3hr 37min, which is a brisk pace over this distance. We took around 4½ hours with stops; allow longer if needed and leave enough time to return before the parking area closes.
• Footwear: Walking boots or sturdy walking shoes with good grip are useful on muddy woodland paths and slippery descents.
• Weather and river conditions: Avoid the riverside route when it is flooded. Heavy rain can make the woods and waterfall surroundings slippery as well as raising river levels.
• Navigation: Carry the downloaded GPX and a suitable map. Woodland junctions and road transitions need more attention than the broad riverside sections.
• Food and water: Carry enough for the whole walk; do not depend on refreshments along the route. The station tea room is an optional finish, subject to opening.
• Dogs and children: Suitable for fit dogs and capable older children familiar with long walks. Supervise them near traffic, bridges, the waterfall and river.
• Beginners: Reasonable for beginners with good fitness in suitable conditions, but almost 11 miles is a substantial outing.
• Access: I do not recall livestock or whether there were stiles. Do not interpret that as a guarantee of an obstacle-free route; follow current signs and close gates behind you.

Preview the route in 3D

See how the woodland outward section connects with the River Wye return before setting out.

Watch my Old Station Tintern and Cleddon Falls 3D route video

Cleddon Falls circular walk FAQs

This is a rewarding longer walk if you enjoy woodland, river scenery and a waterfall along the way. Download the route, choose appropriate conditions and give yourself time to enjoy the finish at Old Station Tintern.