Whitestone, near Chepstow

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 is a natural play exploration area and picnic benches 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.

Natural play exploration area

The natural play exploration area allows children to get immersed in play and engage with nature.

Stepping stones and logs lead to different locations including tunnels, secret log circles and balancing logs.

There is a mound with a fort on top which can be accessed via a spiral path that is accessible for all users.

The natural play exploration area is adjacent to the upper parking area and there are picnic benches within it.

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 in the Wye Valley 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

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

Parts of the network will eventually form a trail running the length and breadth of Wales, so anyone can access it wherever they live.

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

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Changes to visitor facilities

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to visitor facilities here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

How to get here 

Location

Whitestone is 10 miles north of Chepstow.

It is in the county of Monmouthshire.

Ordnance Survey map

Whitestone is on Ordnance Survey (OS) map OL 14.

The OS grid reference is SO 525 029.

Directions

Follow the A466 from Chepstow towards Tintern.

Follow signs for Catbrook at the junction adjacent to the Wye Valley Hotel in Tintern.

After 1½ miles, you reach a junction and the lower car park is opposite.

The larger upper car park is through the barrier and along the forest road.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Chepstow.

For details of public transport visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Car parking is free of charge.

There are two car parks here.

You enter the smaller lower car park immediately after the entrance sign.

To reach the larger upper car park and play area drive through the barrier at the top of the lower car park and along the forest road.

Overnight parking is not permitted.

Contact details

There are no staff at this location.

Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.