Wynd Cliff, 365 Steps, Eagle's Nest, Penterry Church and Gaer Hill

Prepare yourself — the walk starts with a steep climb up the 365 steps to the Eagle's Nest viewpoint, though the modern number of steps is closer to 300. Those less ready may be thankful for the reduced number of treads on the sky ladder.

The Eagle's Nest is a semicircular stone parapet on the very edge of Wynd Cliff. It is 700 feet (213 metres) above the River Wye and was constructed as a viewpoint in the 19th century. The view has been described and praised by many authors of books on the Wye Valley, and it used to be claimed that nine counties (before the new county boundaries were redrawn) could be seen from here. One writer observed: "What a cathedral is amongst churches, the Wyndcliff is among prospects." Below, the River Wye sweeps around the graceful Lancaut peninsula and the wooded grounds of Piercefield Park, which contains Chepstow Racecourse. Further on, the Severn Estuary is spanned by the Severn Bridge.

From the Eagle's Nest viewpoint, man-made depressions in the ground can be seen. These are old iron workings, originally worked by the Romans. They are set on the slope of a hill, half-hidden by trees.

The isolated and picturesque little church at Penterry stands on an ancient site, although the present building dates almost entirely from Victorian times. It was once a possession of the great abbey of Tintern and is dedicated to St Mary. This pretty church is visited during the walk.

The oval Iron Age hillfort of Gaer Hill stands 800 feet (245 metres) above sea level and measures about 300 by 200 yards (278 x 180 metres) in area. Traces of its outer embankment, with an entrance visible on the east side, can be seen. The inner defence and the outer western embankment have long since vanished. From this vantage point there are panoramic views of Wynd Cliff, Tidenham Chase, the Wye Valley, the Severn Estuary, and the Sugar Loaf, Skirrid Fawr, and the Black Mountains.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.