LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

This was an extremely interesting walk which completely lived up to expectations. I parked the car on a small piece of grass opposite Birchfield House and asked a worker if it was parked in a convenient position. He asked me to move it towards the far end of the grass and I happily complied. I biked to the start of the Way via B4228. I asked an old lady gardening if I could leave my bike by her garage and she said I could leave it behind her hedge. There were good views across the river through Chapstow. I walked along the high wall in front of fine houses to the main road and refilled my water container outside a house which had a bowl available for dogs. From Wintour's Leap I explored views of the river and walked through Worgan's Wood which was very quiet and still. There was a good view through the trees of Tintern Abbey from Devil's Pulpit rock. It was a steep descent from Madgett Hill. Following the narrow roads over St Briavels Common I reached Birchfield House. .

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: from Sedbury (Bristol Channel). Finish: at Birchfield House

I recommend carrying ample amounts of water when walking in hot, humid and calm weather conditions. On returning to my car I found an unfriendly note on the windscreen telling me not to park outside the house. Unfortunately that was the only place available at the time.