Beacons View, near Monmouth

What's here

Parking (free)
Picnic area
Walking trail

Welcome

Beacons View car park is the starting point for a couple of walks through the peaceful woodland of Beacon Hill.

Both walks pass through recovering heathland where open areas were cleared of pine trees to allow the heather to return.

There are viewpoints along the way to enjoy far-reaching views over the Wye Valley and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

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.

Beacon Bimble

Grade: Easy
Distance: 1½ miles/2.3 kilometres
Time: 1 hour
Trail information: This is a mainly level route with several gates. It starts on a wide path through woodland and goes through a gate onto a loose gravel path through the heathland. It returns through a beech tree avenue with a gentle slope downwards. There is a picnic bench by the car park and a picnic bench at the viewpoint (250 metres from the car park).

Discover the return of an ancient landscape on this gentle walk through areas of recovering heathland.

Enjoy the views towards the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park at the viewpoint.

Duchess Ride Ramble

Grade: Easy
Distance: 3 miles/4.8 kilometres
Time: 1½ hours
Trail information: This is a mainly level route with several gates. It starts on a wide path through woodland and goes through a gate onto a loose gravel path through the heathland. It follows paths and tracks through the woodland before returning through a beech tree avenue with a gentle slope downwards. There is a picnic bench by the car park, a picnic bench at the Beacon Bimble viewpoint (250 metres from the car park), and a bench at the Duchess Ride viewpoint.

Enjoy woodland and heathland on this mainly level circular walk.

It goes past the viewpoint on the Beacon Bimble and then follows part of the Wye Valley Walk through an avenue of huge Scots Pine trees to the Duchess Ride viewpoint.

Wye Valley Walk

The Wye Valley Walk passes through Beacon Hill woodland.

This is a 136 mile long distance walk along the River Wye between Chepstow and Hafren Forest.

You can join the Wye Valley Walk from the Duchess Ride Ramble - 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 Manor Wood, Whitestone 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.

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

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

Closures and diversions

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.
We may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice, due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff.
Please always follow any instructions on site and any temporary diversion signs.