Crossing the border.

This is what we have done all day. Crossed the Severn Bridge into Wales and started to follow the 'Wye Valley Tour' from Chepstow along the lower reaches of the River Wye which forms the border between England and Wales here.
We have travelled down this valley several times en route to Bristol if we have visited somewhere in Shropshire or Hereford
en route, but have not had time to stop.

The tour was created and published in1803 and is thought to be the origin of British tourism. At that time most of it would have been undertaken on foot or by boat as there were no roads between Chepstow and Monmouth until 1828.

We stopped first in Chepstow to have a look at the castle and a closer look at the River. A very nice town best known for its race course but as a coach load of children had just arrived we decided to not investigate the castle further!

There are 11 suggested stops on the tour, including Ross on Wye which we have visited before and we managed 5 of them.
Here we stopped at Tintern Abbey. After looking around the Abbey we had a coffee (which enabled us to get our parking fee back!) and then we set off to the Devil's Pulpit for a view over the valley and Abbey below. The Abbey and Tintern village are in Wales, together with our car, and we are standing in Gloucestershire as we have crossed the river. It is like that all the way; sometimes in Monmouthshire ( Wales) and sometimes in Gloucestershire or Herefordshire ( England).
As you can see it was well worth it but it was 1.5 miles of climbing! The woods were full of bluebells and wild garlic flowers and the trees were a beautiful mix of colours from the new growth. Lovely light green beech and a rather more russet oak mixed amongst pine and a smattering of tall wild cherries made a fabulous canopy.

Nearly at the top a stoat popped out from some some rocks and stopped dead when we saw it. I didn't have my telephoto lens with me or my little camera with the zoom but you may be able to spot him in my extra shot today.
Near the top here too, where the path joined the Offas Dyke Path, there was a meadow with more 'Milkmaids' than I've ever seen, there are quite a lot in the verges here too. I have only seen them on marshy land at home.

We carried on to Monmouth and Symmonds Yat Rock for the classic view of the Wye which was lovely but we had to work for this view so it was my choice.

A super day: great weather, sunny but with a sneaky wind; lots of glorious spring fauna and wildlife and splendid views.

The downside? The cost of crossing the bridge and the parking fees!

We have 5 things still to do on this 'tour' including 3 walks, a National Trust property and an English Heritage castle. We will be back!