Winter walks in Monmouthshire

There’s no better way to keep your spirits up than to get out into the fresh air and take some exercise. A brisk walk in our stunning countryside will do wonders for your mood as well as helping to offset some of the extra calories you'll consume over the festive period.

Here are five of our favourite winter walks, from short easy walks on the level to more challenging longer and steeper routes. (You’ll find a more comprehensive selection of walks here). 

A walk with three pubs!

(The Boat Inn, Redbrook)

If you're the sort of person who thinks the best part of a winter walk is the pub at the end, this Monmouth to Redbrook circular walk, which includes three pubs (The Queen's Head, Monmouth, The Bell Inn, Redbrook and The Boat Inn, Penallt), is your sort of walk! The 6.3 mile circular walk starts in Monmouth and heads straight up the Kymin for some beautiful views over Monmouthshire towards the Brecon Beacons. You then follow the Offa's Dyke Path to Redbrook, before a gentle riverside walk back along the Wye Valley Walk to Monmouth. That's a well-earned drink (or two) in anyone's book.

Click here for more details on the walk

Visit the Kymin

Discover Monmouth

A great walk for little and big ones!

(Clytha Castle)

The whole family can enjoy this relatively flat walk through the Vale of Usk near Raglan. It's a 3 mile circular walk taking in the parkland of the 18th century Clytha Castle & Park Estate, with great views up the valley. As it's a fairly short, sheltered walk, it tends to be one the children can enjoy too. 

Make sure to pop into The Clytha Arms along the route for a mulled wine.

Find out more about the walk here

Climb the holy mountain to watch the sunrise

(@willdaviesphotography - Looking east from the Skirrid)

Shorter winter days mean not having to get up quite so early to enjoy the sunrise (it rises after 8am for most of December in Abergavenny). The Skirrid's long, steep, east-facing ridge makes it the perfect place to watch the sun rise over the rolling countryside and patchwork fields of Monmouthshire.

Head up the Skirrid to watch the sunrise

Visit Abergavenny

Bird watching while you walk

The marshes and wetlands of the Gwent Levels - the low-lying land adjoining the Severn Estuary between Chepstow and Newport has been reclaimed from the sea since Roman times.  With the second highest tidal range in the world, the Severn Estuary is home to a wealth of wildlife and provides ideal over-wintering conditions for up to 90,000 wading birds and wildfowl. 

See how many over-wintering birds you can spot on our Black Rock Health Walk, a 3 mile walk with views over the Severn Estuary along the Wales Coast Path.

Try the Black Rock Health Walk

Extend your walk by taking in more of the Wales Coast Path

Visit Llandegfedd Lake for more bird-watching opportunities

Explore the Gwent Levels

A sheltered walk along fully-made paths

We've all heard the saying "there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing". But if you're looking for a sheltered walk in inclement weather try the 1.6 mile Llanfoist Canal walk, which follows fully made paths (tarmac or gravel) along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal towpath.

Walk the Llanfoist Canal Walk