The Wye Valley Greenway

Please be aware of the following changes in 2022:

Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire County Councils will be closing the Wireworks Bridge in Tintern from June-November 2022 for essential repairs. The only other crossing is 1 mile north at Brockweir and the route is walkable (head north up the rocky path) but not cyclable (there is no path along the river here, the only route is up a steep rocky footpath). See the Highways website here for the latest news.

The National Diving and Activity Centre is now closed to the public and therefore neither parking nor bike hire are available from there.

The Wye Valley Greenway is a brand new 5 mile off-road shared use path between Chepstow and Tintern, travelling partially through a beautifully renovated old railway tunnel. The new path provides a safe walking and cycling route in the Wye Valley for people of all ages and is a great way to see some stunning scenery under your own steam.

The route runs through the Lower Wye Valley AONB, which is home to internationally important ancient woodlands, and travels between vibrant Chepstow town which has a train station, castle and plenty of places to eat, and picturesque Tintern, home to the iconic abbey, cafes, riverside views and Wye Valley hills.

The entirety of the path, although connecting two well known Welsh locations, actually travels through Gloucestershire in England, on the east side of the River Wye.

About the Tidenham Tunnel

The Tidenham Tunnel is 1,080 metres long and was built in the 1870s as part of the (now defunct) Wye Valley Railway line connecting Chepstow and Monmouth. The Wye Valley Railway opened to traffic 145 years before the Greenway opened, on 1 November 1876, and closed to goods in January 1964. However, the southern part of the line, including the tunnel, remained in use as a private siding to serve Tintern and Dayhouse quarries. The last train through the tunnel to Tintern Quarry ran in December 1981.

The tunnel has been restored by local contractors and volunteers who camped out around the site as they put up fences, installed lighting and set up bat shelters. The tasks completed represent significant engineering accomplishments with no shortage of ingenuity at times by over 70 volunteers who put in over 300 days work.

At its deepest point, the tunnel is some 100m below the surface, but don't worry, the impressive tunnel features low-level lighting throughout. The low lighting was specially installed to protect the lesser horseshoe bats which roost in the tunnel.

The Tidenham Tunnel is now the second longest tunnel in the UK's cycle network.

Watch a fascinating video about the restoration work which has been carried out over several years by a team of dedicated volunteers:

Travelling to The Wye Valley Greenway:

You can either join the path at Chepstow or at Tintern and both journeys are detailed below:

Beginning in Chepstow:

There is limited parking at this end of the path, the two main options being:
1. Wyedean School outside of school opening times only (after 4pm weekdays).
Address: Beachley Road, Sedbury, Gloucestershire, NP16 7AA
2. Park in the centre of Chepstow and travel to the beginning of the path.

Once over the Wireworks Bridge in Tintern you will find plenty of local refreshment stops and attractions to visit. Why not pop into The Filling Station Cafe or The Abbey Mill Visitor Centre who will give you a warm welcome and some delicious food and drink, sustenance for your journey back to Chepstow! Stella Books has a huge range of titles to browse too.

Beginning in Tintern:

There are a number of locations to park in Tintern including:
Tintern Abbey
Address: Tintern, NP16 6SE
The Old Station
Address: Brockweir, NP16 7NX
The Wireworks Car Park
Address: Forge Road, Tintern, NP16 6TQ

To get to the beginning of the path from Tintern: Cross the Old Wireworks Bridge next to The Abbey Mill Visitor Centre and follow the path along the river to the tunnel. You can travel into the centre of Chepstow where there are many pubs and cafes including along the lovely riverside near the Old Wye Bridge.

Please note: The tunnel is narrow, please keep to the left. If cycling through please do so slowly and allow space for those walking and travelling in the opposite direction. The tunnel is closed at night, you will see current opening times at either end of the tunnel and on the Wye Valley Greenway website here. Although the rest of the route can be used 24 hours a day 365 days a year, the tunnel is open in the daytime from 1 April to 30 September only.

Public Transport:

Please see our page on Getting Around the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley here with information on train stations and bus routes. There are several buses between Chepstow and Tintern and Chepstow has a mainline train station.

Further information:

See the main Greenways website here for further information.

"Please enjoy this special access through some of the UK’s richest, internationally important, ancient woodlands of the lower Wye Valley and remember that not all the woodlands are open access so please check for public rights of way and consent to avoid trespassing or disturbing important habitats for wildlife." Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

Photo credits: Simon Long and Paul Bennell.