All walks › Monmouthshire and the Lower Wye
Monmouthshire and the Lower WyeTintern and the Devil’s Pulpit
Steep climb through hanging woods to a limestone outcrop looking straight down on the abbey, which is the view everyone has seen and few have stood at.
- Distance
- 3.7 mi / 6 km
- Time
- 2 hr 20
- Ascent
- 280 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- 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
Cross the river and climb through the woods on the English bank to Offa’s Dyke Path and the Devil’s Pulpit, returning by the same path or a longer loop through the woodland.
Worth knowing
- The pulpit is a rock outcrop with no railing and a long drop. Take care, particularly with children.
- The climb is steep and sustained for about half an hour. The view is worth it.
- The abbey below has an entry charge and is one of the finest ruins in Britain.
What you’ll see
The abbey from directly above, the Wye winding through the gorge, and hanging beech and yew woodland.
Background
The devil is said to have preached from the rock to distract the monks below. The abbey was founded in 1131 and its ruin became the centrepiece of the Wye Tour.