Stage 2 Redbrook to Symonds Yat

With a poor weather forecast it was touch and go whether to begin this section of the walk or not. Still, nothing ventured nothing gained. As it happened the day brightened up and we even had our lunch whilst we bathed in the sunshine. This was quite a stretch at almost 11 miles especially for those of us not used to all this walking.

Not much in the way of wild flowers on this section but we did see our fair share of wildlife. Swans nesting on the river with cygnets also in tow, damsel flies in the meadows, a heron taking off, cormorants nesting in a dead tree and a deer in the woods near Symonds Yat.

The sun was still out when we arrived at Symonds Yat East, where a welcome cream tea was the order of the day followed by another cup of tea upon reaching the top after a steep climb. It was here that the rain started again but not enough to spoil a wonderful day out with friends.

First Stage

Finally..... after much consideration and deliberation over the years we got started on THE WYE VALLEY WALK!!!

Saturday 25th April thankfully turned out dry for our first part of the walk. We began (not at the beginning as most would have expected) but from Redbrook to Tintern as there were two diversions between Chepstow and Tintern due to a landslide and maintenance of the path.

On reflection, I think we chose well as we could not have asked for better scenery. The bluebells were out in all their glory carpeting the woods in a bluey haze with the wild garlic trying their best to out do them! Also primroses, violets and wood anemones.

The walk initially took us alongside the river and then up on to the old railway track before quite a steep climb up into woods giving us some great views back down to the river. We stopped for lunch in Bargain Wood and then continued down to finish at the Old Station at Tintern for a well earned celebratory picnic.

Picnic at The Old Station, Tintern

But.... will you ever forget this.............

Stage 1 Redbrook to Tintern

Today was the start of this fabulous walk. The group will endeavour to complete a different section each month. Today nine of the group started out from Rebrook and were joined by another at Bargain Wood for a lunch break. We ended the walk at The Old Station, Tintern, for a picnic.