Out and About in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean

Walks and Viewpoints

From Oakgrove itself, without having to take your car, you have direct access to Offa’s Dyke Path and the Wye Valley Walk. Deciding whether to go uphill to start or end your journey is always the hardest part! Whether you are a serious hiker or a relaxed rambler, there are trails to suit all abilities.

An invigorating ramble to the spectacular viewpoint of the Devil’s Pulpit provides panoramic views over Tintern Abbey which can be made into a complete round trip along the river bank (stopping in Tintern itself for welcome refreshments). Symonds Yat Rock is another favourite with fantastic views and the possibility of seeing the peregrine falcons.

Kymin walk and National Trust close to Oakgrove holiday cottage

Visit Brockweir Offas Dyke walks and paths from holiday cottage

Monmouth provides a perfect setting to climb the Kymin, with the Cleddon Falls at Llandogo providing more breathtaking scenery. Starting at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean, an intriguing 4 mile circular walk, the Sculpture Trail, showcases local art and sculpture. Highlights include: the Giant Wooden Chair, and the stained glass window hanging from a tree. Local maps and books with local walks are available for guests to borrow at Oakgrove Cottage.

For more detailed information and further links visit

Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

nationaltrail

We’ve had a super week cycling, but you certainly need your climbing legs! We loved Tintern, Chepstow and the lovely valleys which run down to the Wye. An idyllic secluded idyll.

Michael and Caroline (June 2019)

History and Culture

This areas provides too much choice with the wealth of historic castle and monuments. The closest are: Chepstow, Tintern, Goodrich, Raglan, Grosmont, Skenfrith and Whitecastle, with many others including Caerphilly less than an hour away. If you are a’castle’ fan, becoming a member of CADW would be a wise investment. See CADW

Tintern Abbey reached by riverside walk or car- Credit Michael Crofts — Tintern Abbey reached by riverside walk or car- *Credit Michael Crofts*

Cycling Mountain biking and electric bikes

Cyclists are well provided for with routes along the old railway between Monmouth and Symonds Yat, and numerous routes through Forest Enterprise sites.

Great NEWS UPDATE MAY 2023 Wye Valley Greenway linking Tintern to Chepstow via Tidenham Tunnel (open April to Octber) is now accessible AGAIN from Tintern over the Wireworks Bridge that was closed for several month for renovations.

launchbikes is based in Monmouth and delivers hired bikes if required

Cycles are available for hire from private companies, or guests are welcome to bring their own. Beware – the routes from Oakgrove always involve hills!

*We have electric bikes which makes the hills a ‘breeze in the park’ and visiting the local pubs hidden down country lanes is now a fun activity!

pedalabikeaway – Starting point around 5 miles away – free if you have your own bikes or you can hire. Please note motability scooters are also available for hire.

bikeparkwales – Popular attraction around an hours drive away – great for MTB enthusiasts. Book ahead for uplift.

Useful sites to visit are; Forestry Commission and Wye Valley ANOB

Extreme Biking photo: Steve Hunt — Extreme Biking *photo: Steve Hunt*

Cycling in bluebell woods in the Forest of Dean — Cycling trails and bluebell woods

Golfing

Forest Hills situated in Coleford, and Dewstow near Monmouth which has courses and a floodlit driving range. Not to forget St Pierre near Chepstow and the Celtic Manor near Newport (venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup), boasting 3 championship courses. Other venues; Rolls of Monmouth; Raglan Parc.

Birdlife

We are blessed with access to two great Wetland centres:

Towns & Attractions

The area is typified by small market towns such as Chepstow, Monmouth, Coleford, and Ross on Wye. Further afield, but within around an hours drive are Hereford, Cheltenham, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff.

“It was ideal for touring this beautiful part of the country – Tintern is a lovely place which you can walk to from Brockewier the path is just over the bridge past the railway carriage cafe. At the Abbey Mill Tintern there was a 3 day folk festival on whilst we were there which was well worth the visit. We really enjoyed our stay. (the Lidl store in Monmouth was handy for shopping).”

Lynn R (Jul 2018)

“In short, it must be one of the most “beautiful parts of the world.
This is wonderful walking country, offering good leg stretching hills. The drive across Brecon National Park to Hay on Wye is exceptional”.

J & P Clarke (October 2018)

River and Water Activities

Canoeing, kyaking and Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), are favourite leisure activities on the River Wye which winds its way down from Ross on Wye, through Symonds Yat, down to Monmouth and then through to Brockweir, ending up in the Severn Estuary if you paddle too far! There are choices of routes and distances to suit all abilities. Companies either hire out kyaks or canoes for the half day or longer, take you to a launch venue and meet you at an agreed finish point, or you can go with guided groups – always great fun to share the river with groups of like-minded people. You could try Monmouth Canoe & Activity Centre or Wye Canoes.
Stand up Paddleboarding is also available locally

Diving

International Diving centre located just outside Chepstow National Dive Centre

Fishing

The Wye Valley and Forest of Dean offers some excellent fishing both on the River Wye itself and its many tributaries and also on some of the wonderful still water ponds and lakes in the Forest of Dean.The middle reaches of the River Wye offer some excellent coarse fishing for chub, barbel, carp, bream, roach, dace, bleak and also large pike.

Course & Fly Fishing

Wye & Usk Foundation (Passport)
wyeuskfoundation

Both course and fly fishing (trout & salmon) in the Wye and its upper and lower tributaries. Recommended that passport and day tickets acquired before arriving as some fisheries have limited beats.

Monmouth and District Angling Club

Both course and fly fishing (trout & salmon) in the Wye and its lower tributaries.

Annual membership available.

Recommended that day tickets acquired before arriving – but can be bought at the Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye Information Centres.

Trout Fly Fishing

Bigwell Fly Fishery

Trout fly fishing in clear still waters. Troutmaster venue – and included in top 100 fisheries! Recommended that day tickets acquired before arriving as beats can be limited.

Tintern Angling Club Tintern Village Trout fly fishing in two ponds separated by a trout stream. Annual membership and day tickets available.

Fairoak Fly Fishery St Arvans – and click on Fairoak link. Trout fly fishing on two spring fed lakes. Recommended that day tickets acquired before arriving as there are only 8 beats.

Course Fishing

Grange Springs Fishing Lakes Trellech Grange Tintern Village – and click on Grange Springs link.Course fishing on 2 large lakes – carp, tench, beam, rudd & chubb. Day tickets available.

Climbing the long stone at Symonds Yat Lake

Riverside from Brockweir Bridge, leading to Tintern Station

Outdoor Activities

Go Ape High Wires and Segways Goape

Inspire2Adventure are an Outdoor Adventure Activity provider that operates in the Forest of Dean and South Wales offering Gorge Scrambling Experience, Guided open canoe river trips, rock climbing, paddleboarding, guided mountain biking at more
Outdoor Adventure

For surfing enthusiasts or those just wanting a go, Rest Bay in Porthcawl (about an hour by car) is a perfect setting. Book yourself a lesson to include hire of equipment or just hire the board and wetsuit. Surfing