the wye valley greenway cycle path #cycling #cyclepath #wyevalley #wyevalleygreenway #tintern

We took a trip down the Wye Valley Greenway which is a beautiful cycle/footpath from Tintern to Chepstow through the stunning Wye Valley ending at the newly refurbished Royal George Hotel. Other hospitality and catering outlets are available

So we’re on another adventure. We’ve gone to Tintton Abbey in Monmouthshire and we’re going to cycle to Chepto. It’s only about five or six miles through quite a long tunnel, the Tiddenham Tunnel, which is a sanctuary for greater horseshoe bats. And that’s about a kilometer long railway tunnel. So join us. Built in 1876 to provide a rail link to the lower wire works site, the Wireworks Bridge is a visible reminder of Tinton’s industrial past. Isn’t that amazing? So, this is the start of the Y Valley Greenway. So, that’s Tinton Abbey, the ruins of Tinton Abbey through the trees. So, here we are approaching the Tidenum Tunnel, which I think is about a kilometer under the rocks above. And we’re not allowed to use our own bike lights. We have to use the low-level lighting that’s in the tunnel for the protection of the horseshoe bats. It’s so quiet, isn’t it? It’s uncannily quiet. So, yeah, this is it’s I don’t know if it’s tid or tidenum. T I D N H A M. Oh, somebody coming with lights. Shouldn’t be using lights. So, it says, “This is a new 1,000 m long tunnel on a disused railway line in the picturesque Y Valley built as part of a long-running project to transform the track into a cycle path.” Right. Okay. Well, should we um should we go through it? I thought you just noticed the bats on the top of the gates. Tittenham Tunnel can only be opened for people if it’s also a good place for bats. However, fewer than 30 had made their homes in the tunnel, probably because it’s drafty. So, they’re not greater horseshoe bats. I think I said earlier, they’re lesser horseshoe bats. What did you just say? What percentage of them? 26% of the entire population of lesser horseshoe bats live here in the forest of Dean and the lower Y Valley. Oo. So, we’ve just missed the rain. And we’re now at the Royal George Tinton. Dressed for the weather. Well, it was raining. No, I’m taking it off now. Yeah. And it’s very nice. Royal George. Very nice. I’m having a smoked salmon baguette. Wife’s having a feted cheese salad. Sorry. Feta. Greek salad. I’m feted. Feta. So, what have we learned about the Y Valley Greenway? It’s been lovely. Yeah, really nice. Sort of following the Y Valley most of the way. Can highly recommend it. Y Valley Greenway end at the Royal George and there are other cafes and things I think are open at the weekend. Yeah, other eating establishments are available. No. Yeah. Fair comment. Fair comment. Well made, Jimbo.