to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
A sensory feast awaits visitors at the start of the Wales Coast Path in Chepstow. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the route visitors will be able to see a new work of art, experience the sounds they'll discover along the route, and hear a poem specially commissioned from the former Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru / National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn.
The enhanced experience includes a new pebble art installation by nationally acclaimed metal and stone sculptor Michael Johnson. Made from Corten and stainless steel, the artwork sits within a circular plinth designed to mirror the existing circular mosaic from local ceramicist Ned Heywood. This plinth then sits within an arc of stone monoliths, including the original pair of monoliths (one of pennant sandstone from the Forest of Dean and one of halkyn marble from Flintshire) unveiled when the route was launched in 2012.
(The new pebble sculpture)
A new soundbox has also been added to the start of the Wales Coast Path offering audio interpretation of the route and its wildlife read by respected naturalist, conservationist and television presenter Iolo Williams. Visitors can also listen to Ifor ap Glyn’s Bendith Llwybr yr Arfordir (Wales Coast Path Blessing) to send them safely on their way.
(Iolo Williams unveiling the soundbox at this week's launch event)
The official starting point of the route is inevitably a popular place to begin walking. Even if people aren’t intending to cover the entire Wales Coast Path, they may like the feeling of having begun at the beginning, not to mention the opportunities to link with the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail and the English Coast Path.
In 2012 Lonely Planet described the Welsh coastline as ‘the greatest region on Earth to visit’ and we believe the new artworks and interpretation further enhance the visitors’ experience of this part of the route.
What a wonderful thing: to walk the entire length of a country’s coastline, to trace its every nook, cranny, cliff-face, indent and estuary. How better to truly appreciate the shape – and soul – of a nation? Sarah Baxter, Lonely Planet (2012).
These improvements add weight to Chepstow’s well deserved Walkers are Welcome status and tie in perfectly with the launch of the national 'Wales, by Trails' campaign in 2023. The succesful development of the town's walking offer is a testament to the passion and hard work of the town’s two established walking groups ‘Chepstow Walkers are Welcome’ and ‘Lower Wye Ramblers’ over many years.
Don’t miss Chepstow’s annual walking festival, organised by Chepstow Walkers are Welcome, which takes place in April.
Related
Join Chepstow Walkers are Welcome for 6 days of walking fun at the annual Chepstow Walking Festival, held 2nd - 7th April 2024.
Chepstow has three town trails. All start / finish at Chepstow TIC in the Castle car park, but you can pick them up at any point in the town centre. The full trail takes approximately 90 minutes. Look out for plaques of information in pavements and walls along the way.
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