Part 1 – The journey to Newport

Finally!

Welsh Borders Day 1 represented the first day of a cycling tour we originally planned to undertake a few years ago. Of course, on that occasion coronavirus lockdown intervened.

First, however, we had to get to the start of the route – Chepstow.

Half of the cycling team (Andy S, Andy S, Sarah and me) travelled down the day before we were setting off. We had planned to board a train to Newport and stay there overnight, before cycling over to Chepstow the following morning.

Unfortunately … it was an extremely hot day, resulting in our train for which we had tickets being cancelled, and then the trains that were running being both slow and late. It was a nightmare journey down!

We eventually arrived in Newport more than two hours later in the evening than planned.

First of all, we went in search of something to eat.

Since it was now heading for 10 pm, most of the kitchens were closed. Thankfully, we found Drago Lounge and hurriedly ordered some food. It was worth the wait, and the hassles of the journey down gradually lifted.

Part 2 – The journey to Chepstow

Overnight, we stayed at Newport Student Village. It was a 24-hour service, which was a fine thing for us since we hadn’t arrived until just before midnight. Sadly, the rooms we stayed in had been like ovens, so none of us had enjoyed much sleep.

However, the following morning when we set off along the River Usk the temperature had dropped significantly from the levels of the previous day. We needed our jackets!

Then crossed over the river using the Newport City footbridge and headed over to Wetherspoons Godfrey Morgan pub for breakfast.

After breakfast, having navigated our way through Newport, we joined NCN Route 4.

We had used this route previously on our Celtic Trail tour. On that occasion our tour had finished in Chepstow.

The route took us through Caldicot.

We climbed up and over the hill into Chepstow. While climbing the hill it started to rain.

You can view our route from Newport to Chepstow below:

Part 3 – The journey to Monmouth

Having arrived at Chepstow, it was raining hard when we met Neil and Des, the first pair of the remaining tour participants, at Chepstow Rail station.

A little later, Dave and Tracey duly arrived too. Of course, these two groups hadn’t experienced any disruption to their journey! Typical!!

With the rain abating, we first headed into Chepstow for something to eat.

We found The Ugly Mug Cafe and enjoyed a fine lunch.

Finally, it was time for a spot of cycling!

We began by heading for the Severn Bridge (I had forgotten we were meant to start at Chepstow Castle!)

Halfway along the bridge, however, is the Welsh/English border, so it was a good starting point too.

Photos taken, we set off along the A466, NCN Route 4, into Monmouthshire and around the edge of Chepstow.

We had only cycled a few miles when we decided to take a different route than that originally planned! At St Arvans, instead of turning off the A466, we decided to stay on this road and follow the Wye Valley.

We cycled this route on our JOGLE cycle tour a few years back.

A few miles up the road, we reached the spectacular Tintern Abbey.

Founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks originally as a small wooden building. In 1269 they began to build a new abbey church in doing so created one of the best examples of British Gothic architecture. These include the great west front with its seven-lancet window and the nave with its soaring arches.

Unfortunately, the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century brought to an end its use and it gradually fell into disrepair.

Having looked around the abbey site we set off again following the route of the River Wye.

Through the village of Ryebrook.

Before eventually arriving at the outskirts of Monmouth.

We were staying at the Queens Head Inn.

In the evening we enjoyed an excellent Italian meal at the restaurant La Piccolo.

Sarah, me, and the two Andy’s had cycled around 40 miles today. It had certainly been an interesting and action-packed start to the Welsh Borders tour.

You can view our Welsh Borders Day 1 route from Chepstow to Monmouth below:

Tomorrow we are off to Clyro, just outside Hay-on-Wye.