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Whitestone, near Chepstow

What's here

Parking (free)
Picnic area
Play area
Walking trail

Welcome

There’s a choice of two walks from the car park at Whitestone but they both go past three historic viewpoints overlooking the dramatic Wye gorge and river.

The poet Wordsworth wrote “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” near the top viewpoint.

There are a couple of picnic benches and a play area with swings, balance beams and a wobbly bridge next to the upper car park.

The Wye Valley Walk, a long distance route, passes through Whitestone.

Walking trails

The walking trails are waymarked from start to finish.

Look out for the information panel at the start of the trails.

Find out about walking trail grades.

Wonders of Whitestone

Grade: Easy
Distance: 1¼ miles/2 kilometres
Time: 1¼ hours
Trail information: This is a mainly level route with one stony section. There is a bench at each viewpoint.

The Wonders of Whitestone walking trail takes in three viewpoints over the Wye Valley.

This circular trail returns through an attractive mix of woodlands.

Duchess Ride Viewpoint Trail

Grade: Easy
Distance: 3 miles/5 kilometres (there and back)
Time: 2 hours
Trail information: This is a mainly level route. There is a bench at the Duchess Ride viewpoint.

The first part of this route takes you past the three viewpoints on the Wonders of Whitestone Trail.

It then continues along part of the Wye Valley Walk, through an avenue of huge Scots Pine trees, to the Duchess Ride viewpoint.

The bench at the viewpoint makes a great picnic spot before you retrace your steps back to Whitestone car park.

Wye Valley Walk

The Wye Valley Walk passes through Whitestone.

This is a 136 mile long distance walk along the River Wye between Chepstow and Hafren Forest.

You can join the route from the car park - look out for the waymarkers.

Find out more about the Wye Valley Walk on the Wye Valley Walk website.

Wye Valley woodlands

The woodlands of the lower Wye Valley are some of the most beautiful in Britain.

The breath-taking natural scenery here has enthralled visitors for centuries, including painters and poets from Turner to Wordsworth.

Historic viewpoints offer spectacular views across the Wye gorge and river, across to the Bristol Channel and the Severn Bridges.

Every season brings something special: bluebells in spring, lush summer leaves, fantastic autumn colour, and the beauty of winter tree silhouettes.

There are walking trails in three of our other woodlands at Beacon View, Manor Wood and Wyndcliff.

Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Wye Valley woodlands are situated in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The AONB is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales.

It surrounds a 58 mile stretch of the River Wye which is recognised for its spectacular gorge scenery, ravine woodlands and farmland.

Find out more about the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Watch our video to find out how we look after the woodlands in the Wye Valley.

National Forest for Wales

The Wye Valley woodlands form part of the National Forest for Wales.

The National Forest will:

create areas of new woodland
enhance existing woodlands
restore Wales’ irreplaceable ancient woodlands.

In time it will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.

For more information about the National Forest for Wales go to the Welsh Government website.

Closures and diversions

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.
We may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice, due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff.
Please always follow any instructions on site and any temporary diversion signs.