Wye Tour as 1st Published

The

WyePicturesque
Tour

INSPIRATIONAL VALLEY

The Birthplace of British Tourism

www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk

Contents

3 Foreword - Introducing the Wye Tour Introducing
4 Inspirational Valley – Birthplace of British Tourism the Wye Tour
6 The Picturesque Movement
8 Wye Tour Boats 3

The Tour Goodrich Castle Ross-on-Wye
Yat Rock
10 Ross-on-Wye
10 Goodrich Castle Sir Roy Strong & Lettice, Paul Brason
11 Yat Rock
12 Monmouth
13 The Kymin
14 Lower Wye Valley
15 Whitestone
16 Tintern Abbey
18 Devil’s Pulpit
19 Eagle’s Nest
20 Piercefield
22 Chepstow Castle

24 Inspirational Breaks Monmouth The Kymin
26 Rooms with a View
28 Map
30 What’s On
31 Artists’ Paraphernalia
32 Art Galleries
33 Notes and Credits

Grid References Whitestone Devil's Pulpit

Outdoor Leisure Map OL14 Wye Valley & Forest of Tintern Abbey
Dean 1:25,000 covers the whole of the Wye Tour Eagle’s Nest
area and all grid references relate to this map.

Safe Exploring

Note: Some of the walks in this guide can be
steep, slippery and precipitous. Take a map, and
wear stout shoes and suitable clothing.

www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk Piercefield

Chepstow Castle

2

In 1745 a rector from Ross-on-Wye, Dr John Egerton, was the first to build
a boat especially to take his guests on excursions down the Wye. By the late
eighteenth century there were at least eight boats operating on a commercial
basis, in response to growing demand from tourists. Much of the demand
was a direct result of a book, the first tour guide to be published in Britain
in 1782, entitled Observations on the River Wye and Several Parts of
South Wales, by William Gilpin. Gilpin took the Wye Tour from Ross to

“Chepstow in 1770 and wrote, if you have never navigated the Wye, you
”have seen nothing. Part of the popularity of the Wye Tour was that

tourists viewed the valley from boats on the river and Observations started
the fashion for ‘picturesque tourism’ - travel which focused on an
appreciation of scenery rather than just history or architecture.

Inspirational Valley “if you have never navigated the

Birthplace of British Tourism Wye, you have seen nothing.”

William GilpinWilliamGilpin,1782

History of the Wye Tour 1 3 1. Tintern Abbey To view a digital version of Increasing interest in, and appreciation of, Britain’s landscapes helped make
In the late eighteenth and early 2 Thomas Martyn’s ‘A tour to Gilpin’s book an instant success and brought many visitors, including artists,
nineteenth centuries it was 4 2. View of the Wye from Chepstow South Wales’ 1801 visit: writers and poets to the Wye Valley. Many kept journals and diaries which
fashionable to take a boat tour 5 Castle, Chepstow Museum http://www.llgc.org.uk/drych/ provide a wonderful insight into their travels: Samuel Ireland, William Coxe,
down the Wye Valley, to view its 6 drych_s068.htm Charles Heath, Thomas Martyn, Thomas Roscoe, Leitch Ritchie, Louisa Ann
romantic sites and picturesque 3. Lydbrook has a history, Twamley and Mr and Mrs S C Hall were amongst many who recorded their
landscape. ‘Tourists’ dined at Audrey Hart, 2005 Online archive resource for Wales observations on the Wye Valley. Wordsworth, Turner, Philip de Loutherbourg,
specific locations, took walks to visit: www.gtj.org.uk Michael ‘Angelo’ Rooker and Coleridge left inspiring records of their own trips
particular viewpoints and visited 4. The Wye at Lydbrook, in paintings, poetry and prose. By 1850 over twenty guidebooks had been
specific romantic ruins, making Audrey Hart, 2005 published, firmly establishing the Lower Wye Valley as the birthplace of
the ‘Wye Tour’ one of the first modern British tourism.
‘package holidays’! 5. The Wye at Coldwell Rocks,
Jim Meenaghan, 2005 Today the Wye Valley is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural
4 Beauty (AONB), recognised as one of the nation’s most treasured
6. Wye Valley Tour – On Reflection, landscapes. Although still a favoured touring destination, the Wye Valley
Julian Wimpenny, 2005 is seen mostly from a car or coach window, although short boat excursions
still leave from Symonds Yat and canoes can be hired from a number of
locations along the riverside.

We hope this guide will help you to enjoy the most ‘picturesque’ sites visited
by the early tourists. Some of the views are remarkably similar today, others
show considerable change in the landscape, but one thing all the sites still
have in common is their ability to inspire.

5

Gilpin was a pioneer in the appreciation of landscape in Britain and
his ideas had a lasting effect on the way we came to view the
landscape. He developed a set of rules for the Picturesque movement:

“the most perfect river-views are composed of four grand parts:
the area, which is the river itself; the two side-screens, which are
the opposite banks, and lead the perspective; and the front-screen,
which points out the winding of the river..... They are varied by...
the contrast of the screens....the folding of the side-screen over
each other......the ornaments of the Wye.... ground, wood, rocks,
”and buildings..and colour .

William GilpinWilliam Gilpin Observations on the River Wye, 1782

The Picturesque Movement

and Landscape Painting in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

There were two types of landscape Travellers in search of the Picturesque had some essential items in their 1 3
painters in eighteenth and nineteenth luggage, which were deemed necessary to control the untamed 2 4
century Britain; topographical artists landscapes they encountered! A piece of tinted glass, called a Claude 5
(photographers today) and picturesque 1. View of Chepstow from Piercefield, G E Madeley Glass, a pedometer, a telescope, a barometer, maps, memorandum
artists who produced romantic and c1840, Chepstow Museum books, tour journals, sketch books, drawing pads, a watercolour set,
sublime paintings. At this time pens and pencils, and a pocket edition of William Cowper’s poems were
‘Picturesque’ meant literally, a scene 2. Interior of Chepstow Castle, detail of engraving the essential requisites for a tour. The Claude Glass was a convex mirror
which would make a painting, but it from drawing by George Robertson, 1787, about four inches wide on a black foil. It miniaturized the reflected
came to be used outside the context of Chepstow Museum landscape, so that detail was lost except in the foreground, thereby
art and painting, having a major influence helping painters to simplify what they saw. Many tourists used the
on garden design, landscape fashions 3. Tintern Abbey, (detail) Gilpin, 1782, glasses to manipulate the landscape: a sunrise glass when used at
and ornamental walks. Designers were Nelson Museum, Monmouth midday gave a dawn view! As Gilpin wrote, Picturesque practice always
encouraged to think like artists, especially involved some ‘improvement’ of the landscape.
when planning ‘enhancements’ to the 4. View of the Wyndcliff from Lovers Leap,
landscape on country estates such as Piercefield Park, G E Madeley, Chepstow Museum Gilpin described a number of significant views which could be seen
Piercefield, one of the most famous from the river, as well as other sites which could be explored on foot.
landscape parks in eighteenth century 5. Chepstow Castle, detail of engraving This guide aims to introduce you to some of the work of the original
Wales and a highlight of the Wye Tour. from drawing by Thomas Hearne, 1798, Wye Tourists, and to some contemporary interpretations of these views,
Chepstow Museum including pictures by members of today’s flourishing Wye Valley Art
Society and other artists who took part in an open competition
organised by the Society. The selected paintings from this competition
feature in a travelling Wye Tour exhibition.

6 7

The Wye Tour Boats “My ‘light bark’ was not much unlike a
gondola, when its tarpauling cover was
Boats were the preferred method of spread over the framework; but being
travel for the Wye Tour and vessels favoured by a randomly bright morning,
were specially constructed for the I prefered sitting under the skeleton and
growing tourist trade. They were enjoying the charming scenes around me.
light and could be used with or A table in the centre of the part alloted
without a sail. They were equipped to passengers, and cushioned seats around,
with a canopy, padded seats and made this small floating parlour a most
a table to sit at, so that tourists commodious conveyance.”
could paint, draw or write as they
took in the scenery. Thomas RoscoeThomas Roscoe Wanderings and Excursions in South Wales, c1830s

8 14 From the 1770s boats were available to take visitors down the Wye
5 throughout the summer months. Boats were hired from inns in Ross and
Monmouth. The boat owner provided food and wine to be enjoyed on
26 the trip which generally took two days going downstream. There was a
37 crew of three (one to steer and two to row), but boats frequently had to
be hauled over shallows and rapids by gangs of ‘bow hauliers’. Stops
would be made at the well known sites so that tourists could explore or
walk to viewpoints high above the river. The period 1770 to 1830 was
the heyday of the Tour, which became over-commercialised and much
less leisurely in the later nineteenth century.

1. Llandogo, Samuel Ireland, 1797, Chepstow Museum
2. Tintern Abbey, engraving by W Radclyffe after Copley Fielding from ‘Wanderings

in South Wales….’ By Thomas Roscoe, 1837, Nelson Museum, Monmouth
3. Advert from the Monmouthshire Beacon newspaper, late 19th century,

Nelson Museum, Monmouth
4. Tour boat at Redbrook, detail from engraving, 1861, Nelson Museum, Monmouth
5. Tintern, engraving from ‘The Wye, Narrative of a Pedestrian Ramble’ by Leitch Ritchie,

1841, Nelson Museum, Monmouth
6. Bow Hauliers on the Wye (detail). Nelson Museum, Monmouth
7. Coldwell Rocks, engraving by W Radclyffe after David Cox from ‘Wanderings in South

Wales….’ By Thomas Roscoe, 1837, Nelson Museum, Monmouth

9

Ross-on-Wye Yat Rock

Ross - on -WyeGoodrich Castle At Coldwell Rocks many tourists left their boats and walked up to the
viewpoint at Yat Rock whilst the crew rowed the boat around the four
Monmouth Yat Rock Traditionally Ross was the start of the Wye Tour. mile loop to New Weir to meet the tourists on the other side.
The Kymin The riverside was a busy place. Pleasure boats left
from the river bank near the Hope and Anchor for “…. In due time we gained the platform of rock crowning the
the trip downstream to Monmouth and Chepstow.
narrow ridge, and I was well rewarded for my toils and tumbles, by
Lord Nelson was just one of many who took the tour from Ross in the grand view spread around; with the Wye winding about below,
1802. The Royal Hotel, a well known local landmark high above the
river, was the favoured place to stay at the start of the Wye Tour. ”and almost making an island of the lofty point on which I stood.

Whitestone Louisa Anne Twamley
An Autumn Ramble on the Wye, 1839
Tintern Abbey Devil's Pulpit
Today Yat Rock is an internationally famous viewpoint which
Eagle’s Nest continues to delight visitors of all ages. Often busy with tourists,
Piercefield Yat Rock also attracts ornithologists keen to catch sight of the
peregrine falcons who have chosen to nest on nearby Coldwell Rocks.
Chepstow Castle From April until August there is a Peregrine Viewing Point. RSPB staff
and volunteers are on hand with telescopes, to tell visitors about the
peregrines – the fastest birds in the world.

Goodrich Castle 3 1. Monmouth, watercolour by David Cox,
1809-1885. Nelson Museum, Monmouth
“one of the grandest on the river, I should
1 4 2. Goodrich Castle from the Wye,
William Gilpinnot scruple to call correctly picturesque” William Gilpin 2 Jim Meenaghan, 2005

3. The Viewers, Audrey Hart, 2005

4. Twilight at Yat Rock, Gordon Luscombe,
2005

Between Ross and Monmouth Gilpin felt that the view of Goodrich Access Access

“Castle was one of the grandest on the river, I should not scruple Goodrich Castle is just off the A40, Access is from the A40 at Whitchurch or
”to call correctly picturesque . Two hundred years ago tourists signposted with brown castle signs. There from the B4432 north of Coleford. Follow
is a large car park from where it is a 400 brown tourist signs to Symonds Yat Rock.
enjoyed the view of Goodrich from the river before leaving their yard walk to the entrance to the Castle, Access to Yat Rock is via a footpath from
boats at the ferry house and walking up to the castle. Today’s which is in the care of English Heritage. the main Forestry Commission car park at
visitors can explore the castle’s interior, with its views out over There is an admission charge. Symonds Yat.
the Wye.
www.english-heritage.org.uk Grid Reference
564 160
Grid Reference
579 199

10 11

“I shall not attempt to describe the unbounded expanse of country which presents
itself around and beneath, and embraces a circumference of nearly three hundred
miles. The eye satiated with the distant prospect, reposes at length on the near
views, dwells on the country immediately beneath and around, is attracted with the
pleasing position of Monmouth, here seen to singular advantage, admires the
elegant bend and silvery current of the Monnow, glistening through meads, in its
William Coxecourse towards the Wy, and the junction of the two rivers, which form an
assemblage of beautiful objects”. William Coxe An Historical Tour in Monmouthshire, 1801

Monmouth The Kymin

Monmouth was the half way stage on Ross-on-Wye During the Picturesque movement it became Access
the Tour and most tourists stayed at one Goodrich Castle fashionable to build summerhouses at sites with
of the inns in Agincourt Square, although spectacular viewpoints. With one of the best views Take the A4136 from Monmouth towards
a few slept on their boats. As well as Yat Rock around, the small two-storey circular Georgian Coleford and the Forest of Dean. After
exploring the town and The Kymin, banqueting house that stands on top of The Kymin, nearly one mile turn sharp right signposted
excursions were also made to other was built in 1794 by the Monmouth Picnic Club. for The Kymin. Follow this road, which is
‘romantic ruins’ nearby, including narrow, windy and steep in places, to the
Raglan Castle and Llanthony Abbey. Guests who came here received instructions on how to observe the top of the hill and the car park. (Note car
views in the correct Picturesque manner. A Naval Temple was built in park closing times - it may be locked early
The Nelson Museum Monmouth The Kymin 1801 and when Nelson visited Monmouth the following year, long autumn/winter afternoons.) From the car
four-pounder guns boomed out from the Temple to greet him as his park walk up to the Round House and
The Nelson Museum and Local History Centre in Priory tour boat from Ross came into view on the river below at Hadnock viewpoint, past the Naval Temple.
Reach. Nelson enjoyed a ‘handsome’ breakfast in ‘The Round House’
Street has a reference library which visitors are as it is known locally. The site is now owned by The National Trust Grid Reference
(www.nationaltrust.co.uk) and it is the view, extending over much of 528 125
welcome to use by appointment. The collection includes rural Monmouthshire, which continues to be the biggest attraction.
The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. The Round House
some of the original Wye Tour journals such as Gilpin’s is open from the end of March until end of October on Saturdays,
Sundays and Mondays.
Observations, and paintings, engravings and prints,

including work by Michael ‘Angelo’ Rooker. Whitestone

1 1. View from The Round House
2
2. Monnow Bridge, c.1800, watercolour
12
3 by Michael Angelo Rooker, 1746-1801, Tintern Abbey Devil's Pulpit
Nelson Museum, Monmouth
Eagle’s Nest
3. The Kymin, detail from oil painting by Piercefield
John Arthur Evans, 1854-1936, Chepstow Castle
Nelson Museum, Monmouth

13

Ross-on-Wye

Goodrich Castle Lower Whitestone
Yat Rock Wye Valley
It is thought that the views from Whitestone and
Monmouth The Kymin Cleddon inspired Wordsworth to write “Lines
composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey”.
Whitestone Below Monmouth the Wye flows past several He commented that “no poem of mine was
small rural villages which in the eighteenth and composed under circumstances more pleasant
nineteenth centuries were important industrial for me to remember than this”. Whitestone
settlements. The river was the focus of travel and remains a very pleasant place to spend some time,
trade as there was no road through the valley enjoying the views from the conveniently placed
between Chepstow and Monmouth until 1828. benches along the woodland trail.

Tintern Abbey Devil's Pulpit Five years have passed; five summers, with the length Access
Of five long winters and again I hear
Eagle’s Nest Boat building was an important industry in the villages of Brockweir, These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs From Llandogo take the Trellech Road
Piercefield Llandogo and Tintern. The larger local boats, flat-bottomed barges With a soft inland murmur. Once again (beside the shop), climbing up out of the
known as trows, could sail as far as Brockweir where cargoes were Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs, village. After about 11/2 miles there is a
Chepstow Castle unloaded onto smaller boats to be carried upstream. Coracles were That on a wild secluded scene impress Forestry Commission car park on the right.
also a common craft on the river. Thoughts of more deep seclusion, and connect Park here and follow the main track up the
hill passing the adventure playground on
Surprisingly the scenes of industrial activity along the Wye were William WordsworthThe landscape with the quiet of the sky. your right. Take the path on the far left of
considered Picturesque by the tourists. Redbrook’s iron and tin works William Wordsworth Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey, 1798 the upper car park heading up hill with the
‘gave animation to the romantic scenery’ thought Archdeacon Coxe valley on your right. There are three
when he visited in 1799. At Whitebrook wire and paper were viewpoints along the route, each providing
a more spectacular view over Llandogo.
“manufactured and, Within half a mile of it (Tintern Abbey) are At the third viewpoint follow the track
around to the left as it joins another
carried on great iron-works, which introduce noise and bustle into forestry road. Continue along this straight
section until the main path bears right.
”these regions of tranquillity wrote Gilpin. He was referring to the Keep left and follow the path down a rocky
descent back into the lower car park.
Angidy Ironworks which had made Tintern an important industrial
centre for over 300 years. Following Henry VIII’s dissolution of the Grid Reference
monasteries, Tintern would have faded into obscurity but for the fact 524 029 (car park)
that the Crown chose to establish a foundry for brass and iron in the
Angidy Valley. At its peak over 600 people were employed in Tintern. 4

Along this lower stretch the valley is largely forested, one of the 13
main changes in the landscape over the past two hundred years. 2
At the time of the Wye Tours much of the woodland was coppiced
to feed lime kilns and furnaces. Trees were also felled for bark, used 1. Redbrook, engraving from ‘The Book of the
in the tanning industry and for timber, especially for pit props in the Wye, South Wales and the Coast’ by S C
Dean mines. Many conifers have been planted since World War I, Hall, 1861, Nelson Museum, Monmouth
although this is nothing new. “Will it never be known that firs in
groups are like plumes on the graves of the Picturesque?” wrote 2. Llandogo, lithograph by T M Baynes after
Fosbrook in 1818. W H Bartlett, Chepstow Museum

14 3. The View from Whitestone
4. Llandogo, engraving from ‘The Book of the

Wye, South Wales and the Coast’ by S C
Hall, 1861, Nelson Museum, Monmouth

15

Ross-on-Wye

Goodrich Castle Many tourists were initially dismayed by the un-Picturesque beggars
Yat Rock
“and hovels surrounding the Abbey. Grose disapproved of, the ill-

placed neatness of the poor people who show the building, and by
whose absurd labour the ground is covered over by turf as even and
trim as a bowling-green, which gives the building more of an air of an

”artificial ruin in a garden than that of an ancient decayed abbey.

Monmouth The Kymin However once inside, the Abbey delighted all. Thomas Roscoe wrote:

Whitestone “the rich heavy folds of Nature’s most graceful drapery, luxuriant ivy,

Tintern Abbey Devil's Pulpit which adorns the lofty aisles and transepts of this majestic edifice,
and scarcely suffers us to regret that it is a ruin. Small ferns and
Eagle’s Nest flowers of many hues spring from wall and buttress, and the presiding
Piercefield genius of such spots, the fragrant and beautiful wall flower wanders
Chepstow Castle over arch and window, decking them with its fair garb of green and

”gold, and crowning the decaying pile with a halo .

Thomas Roscoe Wanderings in South Wales, including the river Wye, 1836

Once the railway arrived in 1876, Tintern became even more accessible
as an ‘excursion’ destination. In the 1880s it was not uncommon for
over a thousand people to arrive by train on September evenings to
view the harvest moon rising through the Abbey’s rose window.

Tintern Abbey ".....the most beautiful and picturesque view on the river....

Built by Cistercian monks in 1131, It occupies a great eminence in the middle of a circular
Tintern Abbey was the architectural
highlight of the Wye Tour, a tourist valley, beautifully screened on all sides by woody hills,
destination since the 1750s when
The Duke of Beaufort cleared the William Gilpinthrough which the river winds its course."
interior of the Abbey and laid a William Gilpin, 1782
lawn to make it easier for visitors
to view the ruins. Access 12
3
16 Tintern Abbey is on the A466. There is
a large car park adjacent to the Abbey. 45

Grid Reference
533 022

1. Tintern Abbey, side aisles looking north, detail from
lithograph by L Haghe, Chepstow Museum

2. Autumn Lights, Christine Hunt, 2005

3. Tintern Abbey by moonlight, c.1900, Chepstow Museum

4. Tintern Abbey, D Mariana Robinson, 2005

5. North View of Tintern Abbey, engraving by Rev. I Gardnor
& J Hill after drawing by Rev. I Gardnor, from ‘A History
of Monmouthshire’ by David Williams, 1793,
Nelson Museum, Monmouth

17

“On the opposite bank of the river, an ancient “the river here forms
entrenchment runs some distance along the
ridge of the hill, and one angle, commanding almost a circle and the
a splendid view of Tintern and the fair
vale around it, is dignified by the appellation rocks richly wooded an
of the ‘Devil’s Pulpit’.”
amphitheatre, over
Thomas Roscoe Wanderings in South Wales, 1836
which a wide extended
Devil’s Pulpit
country appears spread

This narrow pillar of limestone near the edge of Eagle’s Nest out including the river
Severn beyond.”
the Wye gorge has magnificent views over The Eagle’s Nest is a spectacular viewpoint, high
above the Wye at Wyndcliff, looking out over the Joseph Farington
Tintern Abbey, and was a popular site with the sweeping curve of the river around the Lancaut The Wye Tour of Joseph Farington, 1803
Peninsula. In the distance the river winds out to
Wye Tourists. Legend has it that the ‘pulpit’ was the Severn. The Wyndcliff was, in effect, the start Circular Route
(or finish) of Valentine Morris’s Piercefield Walk,
used by the devil to cajole the monks toiling the highest point on the walk with the grandest It is possible to take a circular route,
view. Coleridge, one of the Romantic poets, returning via the 365 steps, by turning
below and persuade them to join him! described the Wyndcliff view as “the whole world left at the bench on your way back down
imaged in its vast circumference”. the hill. At the bottom of the steps follow
Ross-on-Wye the path back round to the car park at
Access Upper Wyndcliff.
Although the view of the Access For the less able there is a very short
Abbey is kept clear today by There are two routes; The first via the strenuous 365 Steps, starts at the Lower path on the right of the Upper Wyndcliff
the Forestry Commission, it is Access to Devil’s Pulpit, only about a Goodrich Castle Wyndcliff Forest Enterprise car park adjacent to the A466, just north of St Arvans. Follow car park which leads to a bench with
evident that the area was much mile above the river, is on foot up a signs across the road up the 365 steps. At the top turn right at the bench along the Wye views over the river.
more open when Thomas Valley Walk. The sign for Eagle’s Nest is on the right.
Roscoe and his contemporaries fairly steep ascent. Start from the Grid Reference
visited in the nineteenth For a gentler climb start from the Upper Wyndcliff car park, which is reached via a 527 974
century. The hillsides behind footbridge over the River Wye lane off the A466, 1⁄2 mile north of St Arvans. The car park is on the right after about
the Abbey on the Welsh side 1⁄2 mile. Take the footpath on the left at the back of the car park which is signposted for 13
of the river were also much adjacent to Abbey Mill. Cross the Eagle’s Nest and Wye Valley Walk - 350yds. Follow this stony path uphill, without turning 2
less forested than nowadays. off the main route (unless you want to sneak a peep at the view) until reaching the
Notice also how the Abbey is bridge and follow the path around Yat Rock sign for Eagle’s Nest off to the right. Go down the steps to the viewpoint where there 1. The Vale of Tintern from the
surrounded by more cottages is a bench. Devil’s Pulpit, W H Bartlett, 1845
and houses in W H Bartlett’s to the right for a short distance.
1845 lithograph. The ‘hovels’ Note how thick woods now obscure the cliffs and exposed rock along the right bank of 2. Tintern Abbey from Devil’s Pulpit,
have gone today, but there Turn left between the metal Monmouth The Kymin the river, cliffs which were clearly visible in the nineteenth century picture. Note also the Jim Meenaghan, 2005
are intrusions into the posts and continue upwards. similarities and changes in the hedges and field layout of the farmland on the left bank
picturesque landscape: car of the river. This farm was bought by the Piercefield Estate in order to protect their views 3. View from the Wyndcliff,
parking, tarmac, the visitor After a level area, continue upwards across the valley! compressed detail from engraving,
Chepstow Museum
again, looking out for a painted stone

on the ground saying ‘Devil’s Pulpit’.

Take a left turn here up a fairly

rough, tortuous path which crosses

a forestry track and continues

upwards. On reaching the Offa’s Whitestone

Dyke Path turn right and Devil’s

Pulpit is about half a mile

further along. Tintern Abbey Devil's Pulpit

Grid Reference

543 995 Eagle’s Nest

centre and souvenir shops! Piercefield

Chepstow Castle 19

18

“One of the sweetest vallies ever beheld lies immediately beneath, but at such a
depth, that every object is diminished, and appears in miniature. This valley
consists of a complete farm, of about forty inclosures, grass and corn fields,
intersected by hedges, with many trees; it is a peninsula almost surrounded by
the river, which winds directly beneath, in a manner wonderfully romantic; and
what makes the whole picture perfect, is its being surrounded by vast rocks and
precipices, covered with thick wood down to the very water’s edge.”

Arthur Young A six week tour through the Southern Counties of England and Wales, 1768

Piercefield The racecourse is now on your left. Follow structure with the remains of iron railings
the track and then bear right heading on the top and a yew tree growing out of it!
This walk takes you across Piercefield Ross-on-Wye Access towards Piercefield House. Standing with Yew trees now obscure the view over the
Estate, retracing paths laid out by Valentine Goodrich Castle your back to the ruined house the view river. Keep on the main path through more
Morris in the eighteenth century. Morris’s Park in Chepstow Leisure Centre car park, looks out across the Severn Estuary. woodland and after a while you will come
picturesque walks had viewpoints and just off the A466 near Chepstow to some railings on the left and glimpses of
features along the route and were extremely Racecourse gates. Leave the car park on Walk on directly in front of the house for Chepstow Castle. A little further on you will
popular with tourists. In fact, Piercefield foot and walk back towards the main road. about 100 yards with the fence on your find ‘The Alcove’ on the right, looking out
became an unmissable attraction on the Turn right heading back towards the left. Cross the stile and follow the footpath over the river, the Castle and the new
Wye Tour as Gilpin wrote, “Mr Morris’s racecourse roundabout. Turn right down to meet the Wye Valley Walk. Turn Severn Bridge.
improvements at Persfield.... are generally immediately after a drive on the right called right onto the Wye Valley Walk and keep on
thought as much worth a traveller’s notice, ‘The Cloisters’, taking a footpath through this path, passing through a laurel tunnel. Much of this view remains unchanged,
as anything on the banks of the Wye.” an archway in the wall. On reaching the Look out for ‘The Grotto’ on the right, though the noise of traffic, and the new
gravel track keep straight on with a wall on surrounded by laurel. The view is now bridges over the Wye and the Severn
Many of Morris’s features remain, including on this walk, your right hand side. Follow this track completely obscured by laurel trees. highlight two centuries of ‘progress’!
‘The Grotto’ a semi-circular cave decorated with stones and through the woodland (you might just catch
cinders, ‘The Platform’ and ‘The Alcove’. You can continue Monmouth Yat Rock a glimpse of Piercefield House in the Continue along the path, and after a down Continue up the steps, following the path
beyond these sites to Wyndcliff on the Wye Valley Walk. The Kymin distance through the trees) until reaching a hill section you reach a logging track. Turn which turns off to the left through the wall,
gateway/kissing gate. Go through the gate right onto the track and then after about and along the fenced pathway passing the
into open parkland. This was part of 100 yards turn left down the path and school on your right before returning to your
Valentine Morris’s Piercefield Park, where through another laurel tunnel. Keep on this starting point in the Leisure Centre car park.
many eighteenth century artists painted. main path and as the track bears right
Gilpin painted an earlier house, this house through a cutting you will see ‘The Grid Reference
being redesigned in the late eighteenth Platform’ on the left, a dressed stone 530 948
century by Sir John Soane. It has been in
Whitestone ruins since the 1920s. “…..The town and castle of
Chepstow appear from one part
1. Piercefield Mansion & Park, c.1840 Tintern Abbey Devil's Pulpit of the bench, rising from the
G Eyre Brooks, Chepstow Museum romantic steps of wood, in a
Eagle’s Nest manner too beautiful to express.”
2. Piercefield Panorama, Piercefield
1 Jennifer Bannister, 2005 Chepstow Castle Arthur Young A six week tour through the
2 Southern Counties of England and Wales, 1768

20 21

Ross-on-Wye
Goodrich Castle

Monmouth Yat Rock
The Kymin

Whitestone

Tyntern Abbey Devil's Pulpit

Chepstow Castle Louisa Anne Twamley An Autumn Ramble on the Wye, 1839 Eagle’s Nest
Piercefield
Chepstow Castle

In the late eighteenth century the Today Chepstow has a thriving artistic scene. Art on the Railings Access
ruins of Wales’ first stone built castle, takes place on the first Saturday of the summer months which
spectacularly sited on cliffs above the includes displays by more than 200 artists with a variety of There is easy access to the Castle from
Wye, provided inspiration for many different styles. (www.artontherailings.co.uk) the Bridge Street car park adjacent to the
visitors, including Turner. Chepstow Tourist Information Centre at the bottom
was the highlight at the end of the Chepstow Museum, just across the road from the Castle is worth a of Chepstow. From here you can walk
Wye Tour, “so uncommonly visit having an inspiring collection of engravings, prints and paintings down to the riverside or across the Wye
excellent, that the most exact critic by artists who took the Tour. Quotes from journals and diaries of the Bridge, from where the best views of the
in landscape would scarcely wish time are on display alongside paintings in an exhibition entitled Castle can be obtained. There is also a
to alter a position in the assemblage Chepstow Castle, the artist’s eye and the visitor’s view. Many of the permissive path across the fields on the
of woods, cliffs, ruins and water”, historical pictures in this guide are held in the collections of Chepstow Gloucestershire side of the river, looking
commented Wyndham. and Monmouth Museums and can be viewed by appointment. across the Wye to the Castle, a favourite
view with artists.
“I went to the Bridge and made a drawing
of the Castle which occupied me four hours. Grid Reference
The view forms a very picturesque composition 535 942
the parts of the Castle appearing united so as
1 1. Chepstow Castle revisited, Annabel Clements, 2005 to make a well collected mass of large objects.”
2. First Court, Chepstow Castle, detail from lithograph by
23 Joseph Farington The Wye Tour of Joseph Farington, 1803
4 J Newman, c 1845, Chepstow Museum
3. Chepstow Castle, Susanna Birley, 2005
4. Chepstow Castle, detail from aquatint by Paul Sandby,

1775, Chepstow Museum

22 23

Inspirational Breaks

Egwyliau Ysbrydoledig

Be inspired Mynnwch Watercolour tuition In the footsteps
yr awen
Pack your paints and Learn to paint and enjoy watercolour painting tutored Bach Travel offer the opportunity to retrace the steps of
capture the Picturesque! Paciwch eich paent i fynd by international artist Tony Slater, in inspriational the first tourists, including those of the artist, Turner, and
surroundings at The Abbey Hotel, overlooking the the poet, Wordsworth; to discover what attracted and
i dynnu llun y Pictiwrésg! majestic Tintern Abbey. The five day breaks are fully inspired them to take ‘The Wye Tour’. The short break
inclusive of tuition, accommodation and all meals. includes a day tour of the inspirational sights of the Wye
We’ve selected a range of artistic Rydym wedi dewis amrywiaeth o Valley area and 2 nights’ accommodation. Choose to stay
offers and venues you won’t be able gynigion artistig a chanolfannau na ✆www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk +44 (0) 1291 689777 either at a 3★ historic hotel in the Wye Valley, or a 4★
to resist, as well as suggesting places fedrwch eu gwrthod, yn ogystal ag country B&B with historic links to Tintern Abbey.
to stay so you can follow in the awgrymu lleoedd i aros fel y gallwch Watercolour workshops Transport to and from mainline stations can be provided.
footsteps of the early Wye tourists. ddilyn yn olion troed y twristiaid cynnar
Several hotels, mentioned in diaries i Ddyffryn Gwy. Mae nifer o westai, a D Mariana Robinson, a popular watercolour artist based ✆www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk +44 (0) 1495 785712
and journals of tourists over two grybwyllwyd yn nyddiaduron a dyddlyfrau in Tintern, offers a variety of one and two day watercolour
hundred years ago, continue to twristiaid dros ddau gan mlynedd yn ôl, workshops for groups of between 4 and 8 painters in the Woodcraft
welcome visitors today and we’ve yn parhau i groesawu ymwelwyr heddiw Wye Valley. Enjoy a few days in tranquil surroundings,
included them here. Choose one of ac rydym wedi eu cynnwys yma. painting at your own pace. Workshops can be arranged Rectory Cottage, with inspirational views across the Vale
our specially selected watercolour or Dewiswch un o’n hegwyliau dyfrlliw on a tuition only basis or as a hotel package staying at of Usk to the Wye Valley and surrounded by spacious
creative breaks, or if you prefer, neu greadigol sydd wedi eu dewis yn the Florence Hotel, Bigsweir. grounds, offers 4★ B&B accommodation. Dating from the
there’s a wide range of arbennig, neu os byddai’n well gennych, 16th century, the house is believed to be built on land
accommodation and activity options mae ystod eang o lety a gweithgareddau ✆www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk +44 (0) 7748 690096 that once belonged to Tintern Abbey. The lay brothers
which can be selected separately. y gellir eu dewis ar wahân. mined iron ore and ran sheep on the hillside above; they
Painting in the Brecon Beacons also quarried stone in the next valley. The living room has
a floor of ‘monks’ tiles’. Try a taster session or improve
Stay in one of two four star self-catering cottages with your skills with a wood-turning or pyrography course.
log fires and superb views over the Brecon Beacons, Woodcraft short breaks are offered in association with
and enjoy one of a wide range of art courses, run Woodland Turnery.
by professional artists and tutors at Broadley Farm.
A spacious studio provides an ideal place to work. ✆www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk +44 (0) 1495 785712
There is also an art gallery on site - visitors welcome
by appointment. 1 23

✆www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk +44 (0) 1873 890343

Only a limited amount of information can be Dim ond ychydig o wybodaeth y gellir ei chynnwys 456
included here. For a full selection and further yma. I gael detholiad llawn a gwybodaeth bellach
information and booking details, visit the website a manylion am archebu, ymwelwch â’r wefan 1. Goodrich Castle, Caroline Downey, 2005
2. Tintern Abbey, Dick Ray, 2005
www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk 3. View from Piercefield, Susan Peterken, 2005
4. Tintern Abbey, M R Charles, 2005
24 5. Tintern Abbey, C J Waugh, 2005
6. Tintern Abbey, M R Charles, 2005

25

Rooms with a View The Old Farmhouse B&B The George Hotel Tor-y-Mynydd Farm
Holiday Cottages
Ystafelloedd gyda Golygfa (3★) Situated in Llandogo between Many of the early tourists arrived
Monmouth and Chepstow on the in Chepstow and stayed at Converted stone barn self-catering
'wreaths of smoke' sent up in A466, about 2 miles north of The George - a coaching inn cottages in the heart of the Wye Valley
silence from among the trees. Tintern Abbey. described by William Makepeace www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk
Llandogo was a port even www.wyevalleytheoldfarmhouse.co.uk Thakeray in his Cockney Travels
before Chepstow and the river in 1842, as ‘one of the cleanest, ✆ +44 (0) 1600 860887
was the focus of the village. ✆ +44 (0) 1594 531216 neatest, cheerfulest, fresh-
The village still has a pub, salmon-givingest inns to be Vanilla Cottage (5★)
The Sloop Inn, a reminder of Tintern found anywhere’.
the village’s maritime past. Luxury holiday cottage on the
In the churchyard look out The Abbey Hotel (3★) ✆ +44 (0) 1291 625363 River Usk is within walking distance
for anchors on graves. of the Craft Renaissance Art Café,
Previously known as the Beaufort Castle View Hotel Gallery & Shop. Special Autumn
Goodrich The Abbey Hotel, Tintern Foxes Reach (5★) Arms and mentioned by Charles Leaves and Daffodil Spring Breaks
Heath in his writings in the early This hotel offers an unrivalled view available. Special artists offer –
Granton House B&B was once Monmouth This luxury holiday cottage is in the nineteenth century when it provided of Chepstow Castle, painted by so one free dog place!
heart of the Wye Valley just one and refreshments to parties descending many of the Wye Tourists. Stones www.foxesreach.com
lived in by Joshua Cristal (1823- Monmouth was the half way a half miles from Tintern, and ideally the Wye by boat. This hotel offers used in the building may have come
1841) who was President of the stage on the Tour and most situated for inspirational painting the best ‘rooms with a view’ for from the Castle, just across the ✆ +44 (0) 1600 860341
Royal Academy Watercolour Society tourists stayed in one of the holidays. Take advantage of a Special miles. road, which by that time had fallen
and very much part of the inns in Agincourt Square, Autumn Colours Break or a Spring www.theabbey-hotel.co.uk into disuse. Abergavenny
Picturesque movement. although a few slept on their Daffodil Break. Special artists offer – www.hotelchepstow.co.uk
www.grantonhouse.co.uk boats. The Kings Head Hotel, one free dog place! ✆ +44 (0) 1291 689777 The Angel Hotel (3★)
(now the Kings Head, www.foxesreach.com ✆ +44 (0) 1291 620349
✆ +44 (0) 1600 890277 Wetherlodge) was one of two Wye View B&B (3★) Original coaching inn on the London
coaching inns in Monmouth ✆ +44 (0) 1600 860341 Vale of Usk to Fishguard road, and the terminus
Symonds Yat where the Wye tourists Charming, ensuite rooms with for services from Ross-on-Wye.
traditionally stayed. Fairfield B&B (5★) spectacular views over the beautiful Excursions were also made to Today, it combines friendly and
The Saracen's Head river Wye at Tintern. other ‘romantic ruins’ nearby, attentive service with elegant décor
Bigsweir, St Briavels Ideally situated in Llandogo, just www.wyeview.co.uk including Raglan Castle and and an award-winning restaurant.
Beautiful 16th century Inn. Embark three miles from Tintern Abbey, with Llanthony Abbey. For many www.angelhotelabergavenny.com
on a river cruise from Kingfisher The Florence Hotel (4◆) views across the River Wye. ✆ +44 (0) 1291 689779 years a coach took tourists from
Cruises from the mooring outside. www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk Monmouth to Raglan as a side ✆ +44 (0)1873 857121
www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk Commanding views of the River Wye Chepstow trip to the Wye Tour.
and the famous Offa's Dyke and Wye ✆ +44 (0) 1594 530105 Court Farm, Llanthony
✆ +44 (0) 1600 890435 Valley trails, which cross the Two of the hotels in Chepstow The Beaufort Arms Coaching
beautiful woodland gardens. Lugano B&B (3★) which were used by the early Inn & Restaurant (3★) The farmhouse looks out on to the
Walnut Tree Cottage Hotel www.florencehotel.co.uk Wye tourists still offer west front of Llanthony Abbey and
Beautiful views of the river valley accommodation, although you 17th century coaching inn. Only a the mountains rise up immediately
(4◆) Set high on the banks of the river ✆ +44 (0) 1594 530830 and wooded hillsides from this B&B will find many other hotels, stone’s throw from Raglan Castle, behind it. Turner painted the Abbey,
Wye with stunning views of the river. in Llandogo. Walk to Cleddon Shoots B&Bs and farmhouses in the the large stone fireplace in the and the farmhouse. Court Farm is a
Symonds Yat West, Ross-on-Wye, Llandogo which is said to have inspired the area. lounge is believed to originate from traditional working hill farm offering
HR9 6BN poet William Wordsworth to compose the castle itself! self-catering accommodation in a
www.walnuttree-cottage.co.uk William Wordsworth, who took the famous poem, ‘Lines’. The Beaufort Hotel www.beaufortraglan.co.uk separate wing of the farmhouse.
the Wye Tour, wrote about 'the www.luganobandb.com www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk
✆ +44 (0) 1600 890828 cottages on the hills' and the This hotel is in the centre of the ✆ +44 (0) 1291 690412
✆ +44 (0) 1594 530 496 historic border town of Chepstow. ✆ +44 (0) 1873 890359
Despite its modern facilities the hotel
still retains all the charm and Keeping the Wye Valley Special – for a full range of environmentally
character of a 16th century coaching responsible accommodation in the area, visit the website:
inn. This hotel was traditionally used
by visitors on the Wye Tour. Cadw Dyffryn Gwy yn Arbennig – i gael dewis llawn o lety cyfrifol
www.beauforthotelchepstow.com o safbwynt amgylcheddol yn yr ardal, ymwelwch â’r wefan:

✆ +44 (0) 1291 622497

26 27

on Wye ByfordAD Withington Grandison

B4348 B4352 Kenchester Stretton Shelwick A417 Canon Frome Bosbury
SugRwOasMAN Holmer Cod
28 R Wye Bridge Shucknall Yarkhill Ashperton
Moccas Sollers ROAD Lugwardine Munsley B4214 Staplo
Preston Hagley
on Wye Swainshill Weston Trumpet

Dorstone Lulham King's Beggard ROMAN
Acre
Blakemere Tyberton Canon Upper A438
Bridge Breinton Tarrington

Snodhill Dormington

Madley Breinton

Key to symbols Hinton Peterchurch llwedd i’r symbolau Eaton HEREFORD Hampton ROAD A4172
Bishop
Shenmore Lower Aylton LEDBURY
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Tourist Information (all year)
Golden VowchuGrwchbodGawetbhodi aYemthwei lYwmrw(geylwdorl(Byty4fml3yC4hdl9oedrhyonol))nger B4224
Mordiford Putley
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Bud or Coach Station Turnastone B4348 A465 B4399 B4

Upper Valley GorsKafinFgysstioanue Callow HilRlidge Twyford Holme Woolhope
Common Lacy
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Fownhope Buckenhill
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CastleEscley St Margarets Cockyard Castle Hope

Middle Aconbury Capler Donningto
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Abbey, Cathedral oMr aPeriso-rcyoed Newton Bacton Abbey, Cathedral or Priory Bolstone Camp Much Marcle

House or Building of Historic Interest Didley Thorn Little B4024
Tˆy neu Adeilad o Ddiddordeb Hanesyddol Little Dewchurch Dymock
Llanveynoe Lower Abbey Birch Brockhampton
Dore Wormbridge Ballingham Kempley
Ancient Monument/Site Maes-coed Much Much Birch
Hene/Safle Hanesddol Dewchurch Carey M50
Kilpeck Penalt
Museum Wormelow Fawley B4224
Amgueddfa Tump Chapel How
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Country Park Longtown HoPwartocnGwledig
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Ewyas A466
Vineyard Llandinabo Wye Caple Foy
Llanwarne A49
Llanthony Clodock MerMydndiyndd Harold Gwinllan Orcop BayshamWye Upton
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Tourist Feature with Cafe Pontrilas Bagwyllydiart Sellack Crow
Golf CourHseatteHrrilal ll Orcop Hill
Afon Honddu RowlesCtoynrcehfan i dwristiaid gyda chaffi Pencoyd BramptonB4234 R B42213 Gorsley
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Garway B4521 A4137 Weston Crews
Cwmyoy River M1 Common Hom under B4224 Aston Clif
Stanton Pandy A40 Green Penyard Ingham Me
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A5 M6 Lea May

Llanvihangel Coughton Pontshill Hill
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29 Map: Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Monmouth County Council LA 09012L 2003. The Ordnance Survey mapping Map: Hawlfraint y Goron. Cedwir pob hawl. Cyngor Sir Fynwy LA 09012L 2003. Darperir mapiau Ordnans y cyhoeddiad hwn
within this publication is provided by Monmouth County Council under licence from Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its gan Gyngor Sir Fynwy dan drwydded gan yr Arolwg Ordnans er mwyn cyflawni ei ddyletswydd cyhoeddus i annog datblygiad
public function to encourage local economic development. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey economaidd lleol. Dylai unigolion sy’n edrych ar y mapiau hyn gysylltu ag adran hawlfraint yr Arolwg Ordnans am gyngor
copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use. pan fyddant am gael trwydded mapiau’r Arolwg Ordnans i’w defnyddio eu hunain.

What’s On Richard Corbett, Printmaking Courses Artists’ paraphernalia

Beth sydd Ymlaen Special offer for users of this guide - 10% discount for Offer Artistiaid
short courses. 20 % for courses of 2 hours plus.
Artist Supplies
✆ +44 (0) 7967 094080 www.richardcorbett.biz
The Art Shop
Charles & Patricia Lester, Textile Artists
8 Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5EH
Demonstrations for groups by appointment.
✆ +44 (0) 1873 852690
✆ +44 (0) 1873 853559
Email: [email protected]
www.charles-patricia-lester.co.uk
Artists Corner
The Wye at Lydbrook, G J KilBride, Silk Weavers
Audrey Hart 2005 An Aladdin's Cave with everything for the artists, crafter
Demonstrations for groups by appointment. and modeller.
6-7 Beaufort Square, Chepstow NP16 5EP
✆ +44 (0) 1873 881059
✆ +44 (0) 1291 627393 www.artistscorner.co.uk
Wye Tour Exhibition Take to the Water Need to frame your masterpiece?
Heritage Hall
Visit this travelling exhibition of modern paintings selected As the Wye Tour was generally taken by boat, many of the Beaver Framing
by open competition and organised by the Wye Valley Art views the early tourists enjoyed can only be seen on the Offers professional digital scanning, old art or photo
Society. Based on twelve sites of the Wye Tour, new river. Why not hire a canoe from Monmouth Canoe Centre restoration, mastering and fine art giclée printing. Picture Framers, Gallery, Paintings and Original Prints
paintings are displayed alongside copies of original or take a short cruise from Symonds Yat West? The Sugar House, Llanwenarth Citra, Shop selling artists’ materials, cards and gifts.
pictures, engravings and quotes. See the website Nr. Abergavenny NP7 7ET Monk Street, Monmouth NP25 3NZ
www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk for exhibition details. Monmouth Canoe and Activity Centre
✆ +44 (0) 1873 851669 www.heritage-hall.com ✆ +44 (0) 1600 713905
Take a Discovery Tour Hire a canoe or kayak and explore the Wye Valley from
the water. H & S Picture Framing
The Picturesque Wye Tour is one itinerary on the current Castle Yard, Old Dixton Road, Monmouth NP25 3DP
programme of Monmouthshire Discovery Tours. If you're Unit 4, Hatherleigh Place, Union Road,
interested in discovering Monmouthshire's hidden secrets, ✆ +44 (0) 1600 713 461/ 716 083
whether you're a local or a visitor, these tours are for you. ✆Abergavenny, NP7 7RL +44 (0) 1873 858680
www.discovery.adventa.org.uk www.monmouthcanoehire.20m.com
www.hspictureframingltd.co.uk
✆Abergavenny TIC +44 (0) 1873 857588 Riverboat Cruises at Symonds Yat West
Martin’s Framing
Workshops and Demonstrations The Lady Christina, The Jacqueline D and The Lady
Charmaine leave Symonds Yat West Leisure Park for short The Old Police Station, Baker Street, Abergavenny
The Court Cupboard Craft Gallery cruises from the 13th century church of Saint Dubricous
to the rapids. ✆ +44 (0) 7854 843017
Join one of a wide range of workshops, including
watercolour workshops led by Keith Foster. ✆ +44 (0) 1600 890350 / 07976 413330 The Old Smithy Gallery
www.courtcupboardgallery.com
www.symondsyatleisure.co.uk The longest established picture framers in
✆ +44 (0) 1873 852011 Monmouthshire. All aspects of picture framing undertaken
Kingfisher Cruises From Symonds Yat on the premises, plus original and limited edition prints.
The Hill Resident stained glass artist.
Kingfisher Cruises operate daily river trips from Symonds 34 Maryport Street, Usk www.oldsmithygallery.co.uk
Wide range of workshops and courses on offer. Yat. The forty minute trips through the Symonds Yat gorge
www.thehillabergavenny.co.uk depart around 11am. ✆ +44 (0) 1291 672207

✆ +44 (0) 1495 333777 ✆ +44 (0) 1600 891063 / 07831 297672

www.kingfishercruises.co.uk

Woodland Turnery For up to date information on news For a complete listing of current art related
and events in the area, visit the website: businesses and activities in the area, visit:
Wood-turning & Pyrography Courses
www.woodland-turnery.co.uk I gael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am newyddion I gael rhestr lawn o’r busnesau a’r gweithgareddau
a digwyddiadau yn yr ardal, ymwelwch â’r wefan sy’n gysylltiedig â chelf yn yr ardal, ymwelwch â:
✆ +44 (0) 7901 790543
www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk
www.visitwyevalley.com
31
30

Art Galleries Llanthony Notes and Credits Nodiadau a Diolchiadau
Orielau Celf
Hazel Pickering, Downey Barn Gallery Most of the historical pictures in this guide are held in Copyright 2006 adventa. All rights reserved. No part of
The Round House (detail) the collections of Chepstow and Monmouth Museums this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
Although the Wye Tour was the most and can be viewed by appointment. system, or transmitted in any form or by any means
Take home a piece Wye Valley Crafts Association Pat Yallup Studio & Gallery famed pictuesque tour, artists and without prior permission of the copyright holder.
of the Picturesque! writers travelled across South Wales. Cedwir y rhan fwyaf o ddarluniau hanesyddol yn y
Ewch â darn o’r Just five minutes walk from Tintern Established professional artist Pat Turner painted Llanthony Abbey and llawlyfr hwn yng nghasgliadau Amgueddfeydd Cas-gwent Hawlfraint 2006 adventa. Cedwir pob hawl.
Pictiwrésg adref Abbey, members display their arts teaches and works from her gallery. today Caroline Downey finds inspiration a Threfynwy a gellir eu gweld drwy wneud apwyntiad. Ni ellir atgynhyrchu unrhyw ran o’r cyhoeddiad hwn, ei
gyda chi! and crafts in the historic Gallery House, Llandogo, Monmouth in the landscape surrounding her storio mewn system gaffael na’i drosglwyddo mewn
surroundings of Abbey Mill. NP25 4TJ www.patyallup.com gallery at Cwmyoy in the Llanthony Chepstow Museum ✆ +44 (0) 1291 625981 unrhyw ffurf na thrwy unrhyw ddull heb ganiatâd
Chepstow Abbey Mill, Tintern, Chepstow NP16 Valley. Open most days but please Monmouth Museum ✆ +44 (0) 1600 710630 blaenorol daliwr yr hawlfraint.
6SE www.wyevalleycrafts.co.uk ✆ +44 (0) 1594 530940 phone if making a special journey.
Cwmyoy, Llanthony Valley, The contemporary interpretations of the picturesque This project has been supported by the European
Monmouth Abergavenny Abergavenny NP7 7NT views featured in the guide were amongst the entries Guidance & Guarantee Fund, the Welsh Assembly
www.galleriesintheblackmountains.co.uk in the Wye Valley Art Society’s Wye Tour competition. Government and Monmouthshire County Council. The
Art on the Railings Gallery Artico John Harris, A selection of these paintings can be viewed and project has also received financial support from Capital
Eagle’s Nest ✆ +44 (0) 1873 890993 purchased at their 2006 travelling exhibition. Region Tourism’s Short Break Scheme.
Takes place on the first Saturday of Located in cobbled Church Street
the summer months with more than Artico stocks prints and gifts. The Court Cupboard Raglan Roedd y dehongliadau cyfoes o’r golygfeydd pictiwrésg Cefnogwyd y prosiect hwn gan y Gronfa Cyfarwyddo a
200 exhibiting artists, sculptures and 14-16 Church Street, Monmouth Craft Gallery a gynhwyswyd yn y llawlyfr ymysg y ceisiadau ar Gwarantu Ewropeaidd, Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru a
potters, art workshops and NP25 3BU Rachel Spaven gyfer cystadleuaeth Taith Afon Gwy Cymdeithas Gelf Chyngor Sir Fynwy. Derbyniodd y prosiect hwn gefnogaeth
demonstrations A wonderful showcase of arts and Dyffryn Gwy. Gellir gweld detholiad o’r peintiadau ariannol hefyd oddi wrth Gynllun Gwyliau Byr ‘Capital
www.artontherailings.co.uk ✆ +44 (0) 1600 719471 crafts from members of the Black An artist and woodcarver making hyn a’u prynu yn eu harddangosfa deithiol 2006. Region Tourism’.
Mountains Circle, a group of local bespoke ‘3 Dimensional Paintings’
✆ +44 (0) 1291 627393/ 625646 Richard Corbett artists and makers who take much of which are inspired by the patchwork This guide has been produced by adventa – If you would like further information about the adventa
their inspiration from the landscape of landscapes in Monmouthshire. Monmouthshire’s LEADER+ rural development programme or its activities, visit the website:
Riverside Pottery and Gallery Printmaker, Photographer, Painter in which they live and work. www.againstthegrain.me.uk programme - to interpret the picturesque viewpoints
The Stables, Bridges Community New Court Farm, Llantilio Pertholey, made famous by the early tourists who came to the Os hoffech unrhyw wybodaeth bellach am raglen adventa
10 Bridge St, Chepstow NP16 5EY Centre, Drybridge Road, Monmouth Abergavenny NP7 8AU ✆ +44 (0)7932 569 799 area to paint and to compose poetry in the eighteenth neu ei gweithgareddau, ymwelwch â’r wefan:
www.riversidepottery.co.uk NP25 5AS www.richardcorbett.biz www.courtcupboardgallery.com and nineteenth centuries, and to promote the area as
Usk a cultural tourism destination to visitors. www.adventa.org.uk.
✆ +44 (0) 1291 621999 ✆ +44 (0) 7967 094080 ✆ +44 (0) 1873 52011
Craft Renaissance Art Café Cynhyrchwyd y llawlyfr hwn gan adventa – rhaglen If you wish to receive the information contained in this
The Workshop Gallery Tack Room Gallery and Gallery datblygiad gwledig LEADER+ Sir Fynwy – i publication in Braille, large print, or by electronic means,
ddehongli’r gwylfannau pictiwrésg a wnaed yn enwog please contact:
Exhibitions of potters, fabric artists Selected high profile specialist Paintings, artwork, and crafts. gan y twristiaid cynnar a ddaeth i’r ardal i beintio ac i
and print makers. exhibitions and showings of Kemeys Commander, Usk NP15 1JU greu barddoniaeth yn y ddeunawfed a’r bedwaredd Os dymunwch dderbyn y wybodaeth a gynhwysir mewn
13 Lower Church Street, Chepstow local artists. www.craftrenaissance.co.uk ganrif ar bymtheg, ac i hybu’r ardal fel cyrchfan Braille, print bras neu drwy ddull electronig cysylltwch â:
NP6 5HJ The Stables, Bridges Community dwristiaeth ddiwylliannol i ymwelwyr.
www.nedheywood.com Centre, Drybridge Road, ✆ +44 (0) 1873 880879 Nicola Smith, Green Tourism Officer, adventa
Monmouth NP25 5AS Our thanks go to the members of Wye Valley Art Email: [email protected] ✆ +44 (0) 1873 736035
✆ +44 (0) 1291 624836 www.tackroomgallery.co.uk Whitespace Art Gallery Society whose vision and enthusiasm inspired this
project and for their help and support during the Copy researched & written by:
Tintern ✆+44 (0) 7779 680114 A changing programme of exciting production of this visitor guide. Ymchwiliwyd i’r copi ac fe’i hysgrifennwyd gan:
exhibitions by contemporary artists. Ruth Waycott, Wye Knot Tourism Solutions
Mariana-Art Gallery Great Atlantic Art Galleries Robert Jones, 49, Bridge St, Usk, Monmouthshire Diolch i aelodau Cymdeithas Gelf Dyffryn Gwy y bu ✆ +44 (0) 1600 860 779
Gwlad Publications www.manseldavies.com i’w gweledigaeth a’u brwdfrydedd ysbrydoli’r prosiect
Mariana’s vibrant work is in private Find the local gallery in cobbled hwn a diolch am eu cymorth a’u cefnogaeth yn ystod Photography by: Ffotograffiaeth gan:
collections throughout the world. Church Street in Monmouth. Limited edition landscape photographs ✆ +44 (0) 1291 673350 y gwaith o gynhyrchu’r llawlyfr hwn i ymwelwyr. Harry Williams and Mari Roberts
Abbey Lodge, Tintern, Chepstow 19 Church St, Monmouth NP25 3BX PO Box 222, Abergavenny NP7 5YG
NP16 6SF www.mariana-art.co.uk www.greatatlantic.co.uk www.gwlad.co.uk For a complete listing of current galleries We would like to thank Ann Rainsbury, Curator of Translation by: Cyfieithiad gan:
and craft centres in the area visit: Chepstow Museum and Andrew Helme, Curator of Business Language Services
✆ +44 (0) 7748 690096 ✆ +44 (0) 1600 714527 ✆ +44 (0) 1873 855552 Nelson Museum and Local History Centre, Monmouth
I gael rhestr lawn o’r orielau a’r canolfannau for their guidance and support on this project, Design by: Dyluniad gan:
crefft yn yr ardal ar hyn o bryd ymwelwch â: particularly for their help in sourcing images and Dispirito Design ✆ +44 (0) 1600 740 432
providing captions. (www.dispirito.co.uk)

Hoffem ddiolch i Ann Rainsbury, Curadur Amgueddfa Images reproduced courtesy of: Monmouth & Chepstow
Cas-gwent ac Andrew Helme, Curadur Amgueddfa Museum, Wye Valley Art Society (including entrants in the
Nelson a Chanolfan Hanes Lleol, Trefynwy am eu Wye Tour competition)
cyfarwyddyd a’u cefnogaeth gyda’r prosiect hwn, yn
arbennig am eu cymorth i ddod o hyd i ddelweddau Atgynhyrchwyd y delweddau trwy gwrteisi: Amgueddfa
ac am ddarparu capsiynau. Trefynwy a Chas-gwent, Cymdeithas Gelf Dyffryn Gwy
(gan gynnwys y ceisiadau yng nghystadleuaeth Taith Gwy).
Our thanks also go to Mark Bristow, Information
Officer, Wye Valley AONB, for his valuable input. Visitor information
Gwybodaeth i ymwelwyr
Diolch hefyd i Mark Bristow, Swyddog Gwybodaeth,
AHNE Dyffryn Gwy, am ei gyfraniad gwerthfawr. For further information on where to go in the area,
what to do and how to get there, please contact
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, one of the area’s three Tourist Information Centres
adventa can accept no liability whatsoever for any whose staff will be happy to help:
loss or damage resulting from any errors, inaccuracies
or omissions or for any matter in any way connected I gael gwybodaeth bellach ynghylch ble i fynd yn
with or arising out of the publication of this yr ardal, beth i’w wneud a sut i fynd yno, cysylltwch
information. adventa cannot be held liable for any loss, ag un o dair Canolfan Croeso yr ardal y bydd eu
damage or injury sustained by any member of the staff yn falch o’ch helpu:
public visiting any of the sites or businesses featured.
Abergavenny Tourist Information Centre
Tra gwnaed pob ymdrech i sicrhau cywirdeb, ni all Canolfan Croeso’r Fenni ✆ +44 (0) 1873 857588
adventa dderbyn unrhyw gyfrifoldeb o gwbl am
unrhyw golled neu ddifrod sy’n deillio o unrhyw Chepstow Tourist Information Centre
gamgymeriadau, gwallau neu unrhyw beth sy’n cael Canolfan Croeso Cas-gwent ✆ +44 (0) 1291 623772
ei adael allan nac am unrhyw fater sy’n gysylltiedig
mewn unrhyw fodd gyda neu sy’n codi o gyhoeddi’r Monmouth Tourist Information Centre
wybodaeth hon. Ni ellir dal adventa yn gyfrifol am Canolfan Croeso Trefynwy ✆ +44 (0) 1600 713899
unrhyw golled, difrod na niwed a achosir i unrhyw
aelod o’r cyhoedd sy’n ymweld ag unrhyw rai o’r
safleoedd neu’r busnesau y rhoddir sylw iddynt.

www.wyetour.adventa.org.uk

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