Viewpoints

There are wonderful viewpoints round every turn in the river Wye, many made popular by Eighteenth Century "Wye tourists". Some are more accessible than others, but here's a selection of the best-loved spots. Ask at the nearest tourist information centre for more details of how to find them.

Capler Camp and Capler Viewpoint

Capler Camp, near Fownhope, is an iron-age hill fort, popular with 18 th Century visitors on the Wye Tour, and today offering distant views towards Ross-on-Wye. There is also a viewpoint from the car park at the foot of the camp offering views of the river and distant views to the west.

Cherry Hill

Cherry Hill in Haugh Wood near Fownhope, is the site of an Iron Age hill fort and offers fine views over the River Wye.

Cleddon Shoots

Paths lead to this pretty waterfall from Llandogo, and the Wye Valley Walk leads past it.

Coppett Hill

The Folly and Ridge Path were constructed in the early Nineteenth Century as a viewing point. They are best accessed from Goodrich.

Devil's Pulpit

Devil's Pulpit gives views over Tintern Abbey and the river Wye. It is sign-posted from the Forest Enterprise car park on the B4228, near Tidenham Chase, and is on the Offa's Dyke National Trail.

Llancaut

The remote Llancaut peninsular nosing into a giant swoop of the River Wye near Chepstow, is a mix of farmland and two densely wooded nature reserves, Ban-y-Gor and the Llancaut Nature Reserve, both managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Surrounded by cliffs, with views over the river and to Wintour's Leap it is a truly memorable spot. Roofless St James' Church is a 12th Century Norman remnant with the remains of lime kilns and a medieval village close by.

Piercefield Park

From the car park at Chepstow Leisure Centre, you can pick up a part of the Wye Valley Walk that follows a trail along the Wye river cliff, laid out by Valentine Morris, owner of Piercefield Park in the Eighteenth Century. Amongst the attractions were the Alcove, where today there is a seat and viewpoint, the Lover's Leap viewpoint, and the Giant's Cave, a passage cut through a rock. The trail culminated at Eagle's Nest.

Symonds Yat Rock

From Symonds Yat Rock you can see wonderful views of the river. You may even glimpse peregrine falcons, which nest in the cliffs nearby. The many walks include a steep path down to Symonds Yat East and the river.

The Kymin, Monmouth

A two-storey circular Georgian banqueting house and naval temple, The Kymin is set in wooded hilltop grounds, which afford spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. When Admiral Lord Nelson visited the site in 1802 he described it as one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen. One mile east of Monmouth, it is owned by the National Trust. It lies on the Offa's Dyke path and is also accessible by footpath from the town.

The Prospect, Ross-on-Wye

The Prospect enjoys views over the large horseshoe bend in the river at Ross-on-Wye. It can be approached from the foot of the church in the town.

Whitestones Car Park

Near Llandogo, the Whitestones site is in woodland owned by the Forestry Commission.There are glimpses across Llandogo from the car park itself. A slight climb from the car park there are three viewpoints with benches, giving views over Llandogo and the river Wye. There are several way-marked woodland walks and a picnic site here.

Wintour's Leap

This viewpoint is in the village of Woodcroft, south of Tidenham Chase and a mile or so from Chepstow. Colonel John Wintour, local industrialist and hardline royalist (in a area sympathetic to the Parliamentarians) is alleged to have galloped over the top of these precipitous cliffs in 1642 in a bid to escape from Cromwell's troops during the Civil War. The site is best accessed from Llancaut or viewed from Offa's Dyke Path which passes above the cliffs.

Wyndcliff and Eagles Nest

There's a good outlook from Lower Wyncliffe car park alongside the A466, between St Arvans and Tintern, and breathtaking views from Eagle's Nest at the top of the steep, wooded limestone cliff - you can see seven counties on clear days. Eagle's Nest is reached by a footpath from the car park. This leads up the "365 steps" cut in the rock in 1828 as a tourist attraction - now there are only 300. The Wye Valley Walk also takes in this viewpoint.