All walks › Monmouthshire and the Lower Wye
Monmouthshire and the Lower WyeThe Angidy Valley
The wooded side valley behind Tintern that powered Britain’s first wireworks, with ponds, leats and furnace remains among the trees.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 50
- Ascent
- 200 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Paths climb the Angidy from the village past the ponds and furnace sites, returning by the woods. Steep in places.
Worth knowing
- The Angidy valley held the first wireworks in Britain, established in 1566.
- The ponds and leats that drove the waterwheels are still traceable.
- Far quieter than the abbey a few hundred yards away.
What you’ll see
Furnace and forge remains, mill ponds and leats, and hanging woodland.
Background
Brass and wire were made here from 1566 using water power, an industry that predated the Wye Valley’s iron trade.