One of my favourite spots for an autumn day out is a pretty riverside village with a proper pub, a leafy trail and a ruined abbey.
Who doesn’t love a village with striking historical ruins, proper pubs, and scenic walks?(Image: Getty)
Ah, fall, my favourite season. I don’t know about you, but I am an autumn. The crisp air, the crunchy leaves underfoot, and Wales’ gorgeous landscapes transform into a vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and golds.
Here in Wales, there are plenty of autumnal spots where you can admire dazzling foliage, sip hot chocolates in cosy cafes, and browse boutique stores for seasonal treats. One of my favourite spots for an autumn day out is a pretty riverside village with a proper pub, a leafy trail and a ruined abbey.
About five miles from Chepstow, Tintern is a scenic riverside village worth visiting. Famous for its ruined Cistercian abbey, Tintern has spectacular views, river walks and a smattering of dog-friendly pubs and cafes.
The real showstopper here is Tintern Abbey, one of our greatest monastic ruins, the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales, and the second Cistercian foundation to be built in Britain.
The real showstopper here is Tintern Abbey, one of our greatest monastic ruins, the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales, and the second Cistercian foundation to be built in Britain(Image: Portia Jones )
This roofless marvel was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks and has a long history, including the dissolution of the monasteries, which led to the abbey slowly turning into a majestic ruin.
Tintern Abbey isn’t just a romantic ruin; it’s a place bursting with history. It was the first spot in Britain to produce brass and churn out wire on an industrial scale.
And the abbey’s dramatic, sprawling ruins? They’ve captured the imaginations of greats like William Wordsworth, who wrote poetry about it, and JMW Turner, who captured its unique beauty in paint.
Today, you can visit this important heritage site in Wales and marvel at the scale of the roofless abbey and the British Gothic architecture.
You can buy tickets on arrival at the visitor centre, and a selection of guidebooks can help you learn more about this beautiful abbey. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.
Tintern Abbey from the Wireworks Bridge in the Forest of Dean(Image: Getty)
Around the corner from Tintern Abbey, you’ll find Abbey Mill, an award-winning family business trading in Tintern village since 1936.
This Independent craft and shopping complex has a recently renovated old water wheel and offers coffee, crafts, clothes, food, cider, and gifts. It also hosts various events, including raft races, vintage car shows, tractor festivals, bike rallies, and live music.
The Filling Station cafe is also a great place to stop after exploring the monastery. It serves freshly brewed coffee, teas, cakes, and light meals.
The lovely Anchor Inn is a proper pub worth a visit. Its cosy interior and large beer garden are perfect for a crisp autumn day or as a snug mid-walk stop throughout the year. It has fabulous unspoilt views of the Gothic abbey, a children’s playground and a large sports field.
There are loads of great places to eat (Image: Portia Jones )
Nearby, the Wye Valley Hotel offers a warm welcome and freshly made dishes. This small, family-run country inn is where you can tuck into a post-hike meal by the crackling fire in the cosy bar, unwind in the light-filled dining room complete with inviting reading nooks, or soak up the sunshine on the south-facing patio when the Welsh weather plays nice.
Alongside a tasty menu, there’s a decent selection of beers, wines, and spirits to enjoy. The Monmouthshire village is a hotspot for walkers and cyclists due to its ideal location along walking and cycling paths. It’s located on the Wye Valley Walk and just off the Offa’s Dyke walk.
There’s also a gentle riverside walk that stretches from St Michael’s Church to Tintern Old Station. Another option is the old railway line to Brockweir, which starts at Old Station Tintern.
One of the best long-distance hikes in this area is the 136-mile Wye Valley Walk, a long-distance footpath in Wales and England that follows the course of the River Wye.
This area is beautiful in autumn (Image: David Williams)
It’s a beautiful trail that passes small orchards, postcard-perfect villages, and rolling fields. I love walking it in autumn, when the trail blazes with colour.
If you don’t fancy trekking the entire trail, the Chepstow to Tintern section isn’t too taxing if you’re an experienced walker and takes you on a winding track where you’ll spot wildlife and heritage features.
You have two options for this walk. You can start at Chepstow and walk linearly to Tintern, then get a bus back to your starting point of Chepstow.
Alternatively, you could do a 12.5-mile circular walk, which links the Wye Valley Greenway path from Sedbury to Tintern with the Wye Valley Walk between Tintern and Chepstow. To follow the route, download the All Trails app and search for nearby routes or print out this PDF of the route and let it guide you.
Along the route, look out for resident wildlife like Red Kites, dippers and herons. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a Kingfisher or otter if you venture near the river.
If you begin in Chepstow town centre, the trail will take you past Chepstow Castle, a beautifully preserved Welsh castle that proudly stands atop a limestone cliff above the River Wye, having stood the test of time.
For more than six centuries, Chepstow was home to some of the wealthiest and most powerful men of the medieval and Tudor ages.
You can walk from Chepstow to Tintern(Image: Getty Images/Robert Harding Worl)
Earl William Fitz Osbern, a close friend of William the Conqueror, started building the castle in 1067, making it one of the first Norman strongholds in Wales.
In turn, William Marshal (Earl of Pembroke), Roger Bigod (Earl of Norfolk), and Charles Somerset (Earl of Worcester) all made their mark before the castle declined after the Civil War.
The oldest building is the Norman Great Tower, but construction continued well into the 17th century as stronger, musket-friendly parapets replaced medieval battlements.
Today, visitors can learn more about this historic site that Cadw now manages by visiting this impressive castle on a day trip or booking one of their special events. From the castle, the route heads to Old Chepstow Bridge, which offers autumnal views downriver towards the mouth of the Wye.
Eagle’s Nest Viewpoint overlooking the Wye Valley(Image: Gemma Wood)
Take a steep footpath, signed Gloucestershire Way, up between two walls until you reach a path signposted Offa’s Dyke, another long-distance trail.
Continue onwards on the Greenway link path. Follow this route onto Sedbury Lane, then continue until you cross a bridge over the main railway line before reaching the old Snipehill Railway Bridge.
At the bridge, you’ll take a signed stony track to the right to join the start of the Wye Valley Greenway, where you’ll be spoiled with views across to the Severn Estuary.
The Wye Valley Greenway footpath and cycle route follows the former Wye Valley Railway line for 5 miles between Sedbury and Tintern.
Continue towards the Tidenham tunnel on the old Wye Valley railway. This eerie tunnel closed in 1959, but trains continued to use this line section until 1981, when freight was carried from Tintern Quarry.
It’s closed at night and completely closed from October to March 31st to protect the roosting bats. Check opening times on the signs at the start of the Greenway to avoid a detour.
The Wye Valley and Forest of Dean have beautiful autumn colours (Image: Linda Wright)
Continue on the Greenway to Tintern. As you get closer to Tintern, you’ll get teasing glimpses of Tintern Abbey across the river.
Keep following the route, passing the old Abbey Mill (now a cafe and shops), and you’ll soon reach The Filling Station cafe. Here, you’ll find freshly brewed coffee, teas, cakes and light meals, and you can rest your weary legs.
At this point of the walk, you can either head back to Chepstow via public transport (if two drivers are walking the route, you can always park one car in Chepstow and one in Tintern).
If you take the circular route, you’ll pass “Limekilns Catch” and spot a small path leading to an old Tintern Limekiln used from the 1700s to 1902.
You’ll also be treated to an utter highlight of the walk: the Eagle’s Nest viewpoint, which offers amazing autumn views. This retro stone viewing platform was constructed in 1828 by the Duke of Beaufort. Originally a double-decker platform, access to the lower platform was removed in 2010 for safety reasons.
On the edge of the steep Wyndcliff, 700ft above the Wye, this is the highest point of the Piercefield Walks with outstanding views of the Lancaut peninsula and Wintour’s Leap beyond, with the river curving downstream to Chepstow Castle and the Severn estuary.
Stop here for a rest, soak up the view, and get some epic snaps for your socials. From Eagle’s Nest, you’ll descend 365 steps to the Lower Wyndcliff and continue back towards Chepstow via picnic areas and woodlands, where you’ll finish this lovely walk.
