Techniquest
Veteran Member
Evening all,
As I type this, I'm laid up indoors with an injury, following a low-speed collision on the bike on Sunday. Nothing major, primarily some serious bruising to the thighs which make walking a challenge at the moment. I've finally set up an album for photos, and today I have got the photos from my trip to the Wye Valley Greenway online.
An ultra-quick introduction of the Greenway is in order. This runs from the outskirts of Chepstow to Tintern via Tidenham. I had been introduced to the route by the honourable gentleman better known as @Kite159 and I found a day for it on 28th April 2021 where I could go and walk it, but still do the journey to/from Chepstow on Stagecoach West buses for the low price of £7. More details on the Greenway can be found on its website:
www.wyevalleygreenway.org
This is going to be a photo-heavy trip report, and at the end of it will be a YouTube video of the walk through the tunnel. A pure, unedited, video of the walk through Tidenham Tunnel which goes on for 10 minutes, and it should demonstrate exactly what it feels like to walk through the tunnel.
So then, without further delay, let's get going:
Once I finally made it to Chepstow, the countdown had begun until I had to head back to Hereford. By some good fortune, a local bus took me through the suburbs, and a local made sure I got off near Wyedean School. That was where the website had told me to go where a footpath would lead me to the main part of the Wye Valley Greenway. Not a soul seemed to know where I needed to go, and it was deemed wiser to go towards Sedbury Lane. Which is what I did, fortunately said road was nice and quiet, allowing me to get a proper good pace going.
Those who know me at all will know I walk fast, my average is about 4.2mph. The fastest I've ever set for a significant length of time is 5.1mph, although I would seriously advise against that as it is extremely tough on the muscles. Not as rough as a 5km run last month was mind, that was awful! Which is why I love tarmac surfaces, much better for speed walking! So I made it to the Greenway in the end, and found a much improved map here compared to the one on the website:
flic.kr
flic.kr
flic.kr
It didn't take long to find the first bit of the railway past:
flic.kr
That was just one part of the massive collection of railway equipment dumped all along the route, and some more of it features in more photos as this trip report goes on. Passing the National Diving & Activity Centre, just off the A48, it was finally onto the former railway properly:
flic.kr
Soon enough I was at the highlight of the walk, Tidenham Tunnel. I believe this is 1,080 metres long, so not long by any standard. It is recommended to allow 20 minutes for the tunnel, and I knew full well I'd do it in less than that. 10 minutes less, and that was going at a reasonable pace, at my normal pace it would have been much less! The tunnel is also home to a population of bats, so the lighting is not very high at all. Every handful of metres, there are lights with panels indicating which end was the nearest exit and how far away it was. Below are a few photos:
flic.kr
flic.kr
flic.kr
flic.kr
So what did I think, bearing in mind this was my first tunnel experience? Honestly, I was creeped out! That will have been a lot to do with the knowledge there were bats in the tunnel too, and there must have been an irrational fear they'd attack at any moment. I couldn't get out of there quick enough, which is a shame as I had looked forward to the tunnel section all day!
flic.kr
Further on after the tunnel, and by now we were a decent height above the river, there was more dumping of railway sleepers, rails and even a bufferstop in a few places. See below for photos:
flic.kr
Soon enough, we re-joined the diversionary route which is used when the tunnel is closed. The tunnel is open April to September, outside those months the route that goes up, out and around it is required. It adds quite some time to a walk, going by the signs. From here onwards, the surface changes. It becomes far less smooth, the land changes ownership to Forestry England. I include two photos of the path 'quality' below:
flic.kr
flic.kr
For an urban walker like myself, such pathing is incredibly unwelcome! Fortunately, my pace didn't drop as much as expected, but it's fair to say my walks will stay in urban areas where possible from now on!
Eventually the route reached Tintern, the best part of 6 miles walked since Sedbury Lane. I wasn't expecting such a beautiful little place, definitely a highlight of the walk. Below are a few photos of the rather nice end of the route:
flic.kr
flic.kr
flic.kr
"Tintern," I hear you query, "why does that sound familiar?" Well, it is home to an Abbey you may have heard of or seen on a map. I'd encourage visiting Tintern just to feast the eyes upon the magnificent architecture that is Tintern Abbey. Don't just take my word for it though, here's a handful of photos from various viewpoints:
flic.kr
flic.kr
flic.kr
Like I say, Tintern itself is a nice place to visit, and it was worth the walk on its own. The £4.30 single on the bus back to Chepstow was not as welcome, it must be said. Phil Anslow Coaches run route 69 between Monmouth and Chepstow, and in normal times an hourly service runs. I don't know if that has now been restored, but it was only 2-hourly on my visit. The prospect of another hour waiting to head north to Monmouth, and thus a MUCH quicker way back to Hereford by around 2 hours, should have been my winning option. I chose to go back via Chepstow though, which did lead to delays and almost missing a connection to get me home.
Anyway, that was the Wye Valley Greenway and my experience of it. Overall, if the tunnel doesn't creep you out, and you've got a good pair of boots, I would recommend the walk. If, like me, you like tarmac'd routes and powering along, then it probably isn't for you.
Now the walk from Nailsworth to Stonehouse, along a former railway route, that one was good! It may well feature on a trip report very soon...
Finally, the video:
As I type this, I'm laid up indoors with an injury, following a low-speed collision on the bike on Sunday. Nothing major, primarily some serious bruising to the thighs which make walking a challenge at the moment. I've finally set up an album for photos, and today I have got the photos from my trip to the Wye Valley Greenway online.
An ultra-quick introduction of the Greenway is in order. This runs from the outskirts of Chepstow to Tintern via Tidenham. I had been introduced to the route by the honourable gentleman better known as @Kite159 and I found a day for it on 28th April 2021 where I could go and walk it, but still do the journey to/from Chepstow on Stagecoach West buses for the low price of £7. More details on the Greenway can be found on its website:
Wye Valley Greenway
www.wyevalleygreenway.org
This is going to be a photo-heavy trip report, and at the end of it will be a YouTube video of the walk through the tunnel. A pure, unedited, video of the walk through Tidenham Tunnel which goes on for 10 minutes, and it should demonstrate exactly what it feels like to walk through the tunnel.
So then, without further delay, let's get going:
Once I finally made it to Chepstow, the countdown had begun until I had to head back to Hereford. By some good fortune, a local bus took me through the suburbs, and a local made sure I got off near Wyedean School. That was where the website had told me to go where a footpath would lead me to the main part of the Wye Valley Greenway. Not a soul seemed to know where I needed to go, and it was deemed wiser to go towards Sedbury Lane. Which is what I did, fortunately said road was nice and quiet, allowing me to get a proper good pace going.
Those who know me at all will know I walk fast, my average is about 4.2mph. The fastest I've ever set for a significant length of time is 5.1mph, although I would seriously advise against that as it is extremely tough on the muscles. Not as rough as a 5km run last month was mind, that was awful! Which is why I love tarmac surfaces, much better for speed walking! So I made it to the Greenway in the end, and found a much improved map here compared to the one on the website:
Approaching the Wye Valley Greenway from Snipehill Bridge, Chepstow
At the time of doing the walk, the map on the website was terribly inaccurate, don't bother trying to access the footpath from the school and just start on Sedbury Lane. Be warned you will need to share the lane with other road users. This view was taken on Snipehill Bridge
flic.kr
The most accurate map I found for the southern end of the route (THIS should have been on the website!)
Why this map could exist on the post but not the website (that may have changed in the last few weeks) I just don't know, but this map was at least accurate
flic.kr
The beginning of the Wye Valley Greenway, at the Sedbury Lane end
This is how the Wye Valley Greenway begins at the Sedbury Lane (Chepstow) end. The surface seen here is typical of what you will find for much of the route too
flic.kr
It didn't take long to find the first bit of the railway past:
At the top of the ramp from Sedbury Lane
Once you ascend the ramp from Sedbury Lane, as in many other places on the route, you'll find plenty of evidence of the former railway
flic.kr
That was just one part of the massive collection of railway equipment dumped all along the route, and some more of it features in more photos as this trip report goes on. Passing the National Diving & Activity Centre, just off the A48, it was finally onto the former railway properly:
Leaving the National Diving & Activity Centre
The National Diving & Activity Centre (NDAC) is just behind this view, and that is the main point of arrival for car drivers wanting to access the Greenway. This view faces north
flic.kr
Soon enough I was at the highlight of the walk, Tidenham Tunnel. I believe this is 1,080 metres long, so not long by any standard. It is recommended to allow 20 minutes for the tunnel, and I knew full well I'd do it in less than that. 10 minutes less, and that was going at a reasonable pace, at my normal pace it would have been much less! The tunnel is also home to a population of bats, so the lighting is not very high at all. Every handful of metres, there are lights with panels indicating which end was the nearest exit and how far away it was. Below are a few photos:
Southern portal of Tidenham Tunnel
This is the southern portal of Tidenham Tunnel, around 1,080 metres long
flic.kr
Just beyond the gateline of Tidenham Tunnel
This view looks north into Tidenham Tunnel, taken just beyond the gateline. The tunnel is also home to a population of bats, which is why it is so very dark
flic.kr
One of the lights in Tidenham Tunnel
Note here the distance in metres and the emergency exit marker. Once the number gets to around 540 metres, the exit marker changes direction. The numbers indicate how far away the nearest exit is
flic.kr
Screenshot from the video clip of my walk through Tidenham Tunnel
Yes it really is as dark as it looks in this photo, the lighting along the wall is as bright as permitted to avoid disturbing the bats
flic.kr
So what did I think, bearing in mind this was my first tunnel experience? Honestly, I was creeped out! That will have been a lot to do with the knowledge there were bats in the tunnel too, and there must have been an irrational fear they'd attack at any moment. I couldn't get out of there quick enough, which is a shame as I had looked forward to the tunnel section all day!
Northern portal of Tidenham Tunnel
After a 10 minute walk through Tidenham Tunnel, which I found incredibly creepy, I arrived at the northbound portal of the tunnel. It was still a few minutes before I stopped feeling creeped out! No thanks, never again!
flic.kr
Further on after the tunnel, and by now we were a decent height above the river, there was more dumping of railway sleepers, rails and even a bufferstop in a few places. See below for photos:
Looking north from Tidenham Tunnel towards Tintern
Onwards and upwards towards Tintern I went, leaving Tidenham Tunnel behind. Having been both annoyed by the bad map on the website, and creeped out by the tunnel, I was now more than ready to get a serious march going on towards Tintern!
flic.kr
Soon enough, we re-joined the diversionary route which is used when the tunnel is closed. The tunnel is open April to September, outside those months the route that goes up, out and around it is required. It adds quite some time to a walk, going by the signs. From here onwards, the surface changes. It becomes far less smooth, the land changes ownership to Forestry England. I include two photos of the path 'quality' below:
Path 'quality' on the Forestry England section of the Greenway
After re-joining the diversionary route around Tidenham Tunnel, the Greenway joins Forestry England territory. The 'quality' seen here of the path is basically what one has to expect for the last couple of miles to Tintern
flic.kr
This sort of terrain really slowed me down!
As a general rule, I'm an urban walker. I like pounding the pavements at an average speed of 4.2mph or faster, it's just how it is! Path surfaces like this really slow me down, on a trip which isn't dictated by infrequent buses it would have been fine. So my advice is wear a good pair of boots!
flic.kr
For an urban walker like myself, such pathing is incredibly unwelcome! Fortunately, my pace didn't drop as much as expected, but it's fair to say my walks will stay in urban areas where possible from now on!
Eventually the route reached Tintern, the best part of 6 miles walked since Sedbury Lane. I wasn't expecting such a beautiful little place, definitely a highlight of the walk. Below are a few photos of the rather nice end of the route:
A view over the river looking south at Tintern
Explore julianostravels' 105 photos on Flickr!
flic.kr
Bridge over the river at the end of the Wye Valley Greenway at Tintern
This bridge marks the end of the Wye Valley Greenway, a little under 6 miles from the Chepstow end of Sedbury Lane
flic.kr
Looking north along the river towards Monmouth at Tintern
Just coming off the bridge affords this view looking north along the river at Tintern
flic.kr
"Tintern," I hear you query, "why does that sound familiar?" Well, it is home to an Abbey you may have heard of or seen on a map. I'd encourage visiting Tintern just to feast the eyes upon the magnificent architecture that is Tintern Abbey. Don't just take my word for it though, here's a handful of photos from various viewpoints:
First of several views of Tintern Abbey from the Greenway
Now it was time for another highlight of the walk, Tintern Abbey. Truly a magnificent piece of architecture!
flic.kr
A more open view of Tintern Abbey from the Greenway
Explore julianostravels' 105 photos on Flickr!
flic.kr
Final view on this trip of the beautiful Tintern Abbey
Absolutely stunning piece of architecture, worth the walk on its own!
flic.kr
Like I say, Tintern itself is a nice place to visit, and it was worth the walk on its own. The £4.30 single on the bus back to Chepstow was not as welcome, it must be said. Phil Anslow Coaches run route 69 between Monmouth and Chepstow, and in normal times an hourly service runs. I don't know if that has now been restored, but it was only 2-hourly on my visit. The prospect of another hour waiting to head north to Monmouth, and thus a MUCH quicker way back to Hereford by around 2 hours, should have been my winning option. I chose to go back via Chepstow though, which did lead to delays and almost missing a connection to get me home.
Anyway, that was the Wye Valley Greenway and my experience of it. Overall, if the tunnel doesn't creep you out, and you've got a good pair of boots, I would recommend the walk. If, like me, you like tarmac'd routes and powering along, then it probably isn't for you.
Now the walk from Nailsworth to Stonehouse, along a former railway route, that one was good! It may well feature on a trip report very soon...
Finally, the video:
