Area: Monmouthshire

'Abergavenny is a great base for all levels of walks from easy strolls to challenging long-distance paths like the 95-mile Beacons Way – and the views are nearly always spectacular.'

'Blaenau Gwent is enriched with heritage, with every town and village having many stories to tell of their past. There are a number of trails available covering the width and breadth of the Borough, incorporating local history, places of interest and local facts. The trails are not only of great interest to history enthusiasts but also to tourists and local people who take pleasure in knowing their background and the place they reside.'

Has been held Mid May.

'Offers everyone the chance to enjoy a walk every Tuesday, in the neighbouring countryside e.g. Wye Valley, Forest of Dean, as well as local walks around Caldicot. After a walk the groups usually go to a local pub or inn for lunch. Occasionally, all-day trips are also arranged, to places further away e.g. The Gower, Hereford.'

'Your starting point for walking in Monmouthshire and the Wye Valley.'

The Festival 'has become firmly established on the walker's calender. A border town of Wales and England at the Gateway of the Wye Valley it has a rich past and stunning landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Festival usually Mid April.

The Fit4Life Walking Groups have developed a series of Monmouthshire Health Walking Routes: Short easy access routes: 'Many of the routes use level paths with gates rather than stiles. Some are more challenging, with slopes, steps, rough or muddy ground or stiles. Information is given on the route card for each walk so you can decide whether it will suit you'.

Usually held Early October. (Developed from the Monmouthshire Walking Festival.)

Join us for our monthly walk  'We are as fun and informal as we can be, believing that our walks should be for the enjoyment of the landscape and each other’s company, rather than simply clocking up miles.'

'There are many walks and trails to help you explore the countryside, villages and market towns of rural Monmouthshire. Many of the long distance routes can be walked in full, in stages or adapted to be circular walks ... Local routes include the Usk Valley Walk, the Three Castles Trail and the Monnow Valley Walk. A selection of existing circular walking routes across Monmouthshire and the Wye Valley are available ... ' Note At the time of Review details of a Monmouthshire Walking Toolkit were not accessble.

'We are a friendly group that offers walks, cycling, social activities and weekends away to suit all ages and abilities. We offer at least one walk a week and usually more during the Summer months. Walks vary from 3 miles to 12+ miles. There is something for everyone who enjoys walking.'

'We are a local walking group that are members of the Ramblers' Association. We have a varied walks programme that includes Leisurely/Easy - not difficult, shorter walks, ideal for beginners, through to Strenuous - more challenging walks, for the experienced walker.'

Brief descriptions of half a dozen Ramblers' Groups in this Area together with a combined diary of forthcoming rambles as well as access to a map summarising walks around and about taken from the Ramblers Routes online library.

'We are a group of friendly folk who enjoy walking. We find that our home County, Gwent, is blessed with marvellous scenery which is often overlooked in favour of the mountains. Our walks can open your eyes to the both Gwent and the mountains. We usually call ourselves the SGR.'

Tintern 'warmly welcomes the many visitors who pass this way each year, seeking the renewal that comes from a short time spent in its uplifting and historic landscape ...'

'In this wonderfully varied County there are 369km (230 miles) of public footpaths with long distance and short circular walks including walks in the countryside; along the canal; across mountain tops and even walks where you can follow in the footsteps of iron-makers and miners in the Blaenavon World Heritage Site ...'

'The Wye Valley is excellent walking territory, offering the dedicated hiker and the afternoon stroller a wealth of interest and variety - from spectacular viewpoints overlooking the Wye to quiet wooded trails.'

'Walk through the past with Abergavenny Local History Society ... '

'Traffic free route that runs from Cwmbran in the south, through Pontypool and up to the Blaenavon World Heritage Site in the north.'

'A walk and car trail in the Tredegar area - birthplace of the famous politician Aneurin (Nye) Bevan (1897-1960); Labour Member of Parliament for Ebbw Vale (1929-1960).'

'Waymarked long distance footpath in the Brecon Beacons National Park ... The Beacons Way was conceived by the Brecon Beacons Park Society and local walkers, particularly the Society's Secretary John Sansom, Arwel Michael and Chris Barber, and was developed as recently as 2005.'

'The Bell's circular walks have become well-known as something of a "must do" when visiting Skenfrith. We have six individual walks ... all of which start and finish at The Bell and take in some of the most beautiful Monmouthshire countryside ...'

'There are over 300 kilometres of Public Rights of Way in Blaenau Gwent, linking towns and villages to the diverse countryside and landscape of the county. The County Council is responsible for the management of this access network, which consists of 300 kilometres of Public Rights of Ways. There are also a number of promoted routes ranging from Community walks to regional trails.'

'A number of walks have been created to help you discover the hidden corners of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site. These take you from the Bronze Age, through the Industrial Revolution and into a landscape and history that inspired the author Alexander Cordell.'

'As part of the first Caerleon Arts Festival in July 2003, ten sculptors were invited to create works based on the theme of Romano-Celtic Vision. The finished sculptures make up the Caerleon Sculpture Trail.' Unfortunately at the time of Review I could not locate a description of the Trail on the Newport City Council Website; so I have replaced the Link.

'Walking trails are designed to lead you on interesting routes around the town mainly within the old town Portwall.'

'This web site is very much "work in progress" - as is the whole Cistercian Way Project. We started in 1998 trying to work out a way that we could walk round Wales, linking all the Welsh Cistercian abbeys, medieval and modern. This was part of the celebrations of the 900th anniversary of the foundation of the Cistercian order ...'

'Links together fourteen community Green Spaces that offer a variety of amenities from Beaufort Hill Woodlands in the North to Llanhilleth in the south.'

Guidebook to 'a footpath through Gloucestershire between Chepstow and Tewkesbury passing through Gloucester, Stow on the Wold and Winchcombe'.

'"The most beautiful village in Britain" is how Jan Morris, the acclaimed travel writer, described Grosmont, with its ancient church and castle. Situated near the Welsh Border with England it lies in the valley of the River Monnow between the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Beauty.'

One of a series of walks 'In the Footsteps of the Iron-makers'.

'Linear walk of 40 miles through the valley of the River Monnow, from Monmouth, near its confluence with the River Wye, to its headwaters below Hay Bluff. From here the walk joins the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, sharing the same route to the finishing point at Hay-0n-Wye.'

Ten circular walks ranging from 2.8 miles to 8.7 miles.

'What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare? ...'

ALERT Unfortunately, the Poets, Priests & Pubs Website seems no longer to be online.

'Start at Llanerch at the small memorial to the 176 people killed in February 1890. Llanerch is located above Pentrepiod and will give you a panoramic view of the Cwm Ffrwd Oer Valley and where your walk will take you down to Pontypool ...' ALERT Unfortunately, the Poets, Priests & Pubs Website seems no longer to be online.

'Monmouthshire and the Wye Valley offer walks for everyone, so if you don't fancy a long trek, why not try out one of our many shorter walks taking in our best sights and attractions.'

'A challenging 27-mile linear way-marked walk from Newport to Tredegar with spectacular views of the Sirhowy Valley.'

'The Three Peaks Trial is an organised challenge walk arranged each year in March by the Cardiff Outdoor Group. Since 2010 Longtown Mountain Rescue Team provide support with marshalls on all the mountain top checkpoints. The Walk was first held in March 1963 and was designed for less experienced walkers who wanted to test their powers of endurance and skill at map reading. It is now the oldest challenge walk in the UK.' Usually held late March/early April.

'The walk is split into two sections, southern and northern loops both starting and finishing at Pontypool Active Living Centre in Torfaen. Each loop is just over 25 miles long, so the whole walk can be tackled as two separate day walks or, for the bold, as one figure of eight 50 mile walk. Getting back to your car at the halfway point on the 50 miler gives you the chance to refuel and resupply or change your mind depending on how determined you feel or what the weather is like.'

'This walk around the Welsh Marches takes in the three Norman castles of Skenfrith, Grosmont and Whitecastle. From Abergavenny, the best starting point is White Castle which is around eight miles from Abergavenny along the B4521 (Old Ross Road, signposted Skenfrith).'

'Every three years, interested members of the public are invited to apply to become a member of the LAF. The applications are assessed by the local authority and the successful members are appointed for a three year period. The authority also provides secretarial support to the LAF but the forum must set their own agendas with individual members actively encouraged to suggest agenda items and provide supporting papers where necessary.'

'Walk between Caerleon and Brecon through the beautiful Vale of Usk.'

'This Website provides 21 walk itineraries of varying length, 3 photo albums (town, country and winter), interactive elements, details of where to eat and drink and much more.'

'Walk of startling contrasts from ravine gorge cloaked in woodland, through meadow and orchard, to rugged and remote uplands. Follow the Wye through the battle scarred Anglo-Welsh borders to where it pours in rocky cascades from its mountain source.'

Details of published Guidebook describing walk 'through Gloucestershire between the rivers Wye, Severn & Thames, and linking two national trails, the Offa's Dyke Path & The Thames Path'.