Tidenham
Tidenham
We started at Tidenham Chase car park on A4228; the pedestrian wireworks bridge across the river Wye at Tintern is closed for repair for about 9 months from August 2022. So, the plan was to include the Tidenham tunnel in our walk, a clockwise route taking us south to the tunnel and returning via Offa’s Dyke.
On a cool, bright morning, we entered Poor’s Allotment at the adder gate, a sinuous adder is carved into the wooden gate. The zigzag pattern on an adder’s skin looks like bracken providing camouflage. In the 1800’s it was established as common land on which the people of Tidenham could graze their livestock. More than 200 years of light grazing has preserved the open nature of the reserve, which is an SSSI. It was once the location of a beacon which would carry messages across the River Severn and is now managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Continuing we crossed Parson’s allotment, which was given to the vicar of Tidenham in 1815 as part of the Enclosure Acts to replace tythes previously given to the church. There is a needle like stone – the Queen Victoria Jubilee Stone dated 1897, hidden from view by summer’s growth. We did see patches of heather, yellow gorse, bright red haws, and occasional glimpses of both Severn bridges.
We joined the Gloucestershire Way and reaching Netherhope, could see the entrance to Tidenham tunnel far below us. We continued south along the Gloucestershire way until we came to a road with access to the Wye Valley Greenway, which runs from Tintern to Chepstow – 5 miles in total. The entrance to Tidenham tunnel was 400yds away.
We passed under a bridge, supported by massive iron girders, and entered the tunnel. Low level lighting can be seen stretching far ahead, but it is quite dark. The tunnel curves so that no daylight is visible and eyes strain to see. As people pass only legs are seen, though children were visible. Eyes gradually adjusted and the walls and roof became clearer. The temperature was cool – a good place to visit on a hot summer’s day. The tunnel is 1080m (1188yards) long and walking through it was exciting.
The darkness is in aid of bat conservation; there are very few bats in the tunnel as it is draughty, but attempts have been made to make it more bat friendly – blocking some of the alcoves, bat boxes on the roof and insulation in some of the roof voids, plus the entrance gates are kept ajar. The bat licence means that the tunnel is open during daylight hours from 1st April until 1st October.
Emerging at the other end, we welcomed the warm air, and our eyes could relax. There is a seating area; railway sleepers and other paraphernalia are evident, a crocodile head has been created, and rails have been left in place to protect the rare fingered sedge.
A quarry towered ahead, and we needed to climb past it to Offa’s Dyke. We took a clear path; one long stretch was extremely steep, and we were grabbing tree trunks to help pull ourselves up by our arms to give leg muscles a bit of help. Some sturdy flights of steps have been installed which give respite but even these are steep. We were relieved to reach the top, very glad we hadn’t tried to descend the path and that we had waited to eat lunch until after the climb. We were all ravenous by now and headed off towards the Devil’s Pulpit, keeping our eyes peeled for a suitable place to stop beside the path. A fallen tree was chosen, and lunch thoroughly enjoyed, whatever it was.
After lunch we had views of the river Wye and Tintern Abbey and a tantalising sign offering ice-cream in a different direction. Keeping on we arrived at the Devil’s Pulpit. Folklore says that the devil preached from this natural stone pulpit to tempt the monks of Tintern from their holy path. He was not successful! Turning back towards Tidenham car park we were delighted to find a good outcrop of fly agaric, the red fungi with white spots. A short walk across fields with good views of the Severn bridges and we were back to the start.
A day of sunshine, good views, woodland, and beautiful trees – lime, sweet chestnut, hawthorn, apple, monkey puzzle to name a few and all the footpaths were well maintained, a great walk.
Walk 7.8m 1000ft Map OL14