Local Book ideas

edited by Allan ThomasThe River Wye rises in the mid-Wales hills and meanders southwards to join the Severn at Chepstow. It flows through the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, in its lower reaches below Monmouth, it enters the beautiful Gorge Valley of the Lower Wye. The steeply wooded hills on both banks guard the river and create one of the most beautiful landscapes in the UK.This delightful book contains sixteen walks, all devised and written by members of the Lower Wye Ramblers who have intimate knowledge of the area and know all the best walks. It includes Ordnance Survey based detailed coloured sketch maps of the routes and step-by-step navigation instructions. Key points are numbered in the text and on the maps. There is a gradient profile included with the maps. Distance and start location with grid reference are given and the book also contains some stunning full colour photographs.In the woods, depending upon the season, you may enjoy the sight of wild flowers; swathes of wood anemone, yellow celandine, purple violets, bluebells, daffodils and the sight and sent of wild garlic; or you may even see deer. By the river you may catch a glimpse of the bright blue kingfisher flashing across the water, or the leaping salmon in the pools upstream from Bigsweir bridge or see the darting dippers in the small streams.Above the woods graceful buzzards may be seen, effortlessly soaring in the thermals. There are lovely views looking down into the valley from the ridges above and, looking northwards, you can see the distant hills of the Black Mountains and to the south the River Severn estuary and its bridges.The walk locations are:1 Monmouth Meander - 9 miles2 Redbrook and Penallt - 5 miles3 Newland and Redbrook, Cathedral of the Forest - 5 miles4 Redbrook, Newland and a forgotten valley - 5.5 miles5 Loysey Woods - 2.5 miles6 Trellech, where the Curlew calls - 5.5 miles7 Whitebrook wander - 5 miles8 Whitestone, Manor Wood and Cleddon Falls - 7 miles9 St Briavels and the common - 8.5 miles10 Brockweir, riverside and woods - 5 miles11 Catbrook and Parkhouse - 6.25 miles12 Tintern and Brockweir - 4.5 or 6 miles13 Tintern, Abbey and early ironworks - 5 miles14 Chepstow Park Wood - 4.7 miles15 Eagles Nest and Gaer Hill - 5 miles16 Chepstow and Lancaut Peninsula

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A visual journey from the town of Chepstow past and along the beautiful River Wye

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This title includes finely-detailed period photographs of Chepstow from the world-famous Francis Frith archive.

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Chepstow to Tintern and ReturnThis guides walkers from the town to Tintern Abbey and back using the Wye Valley Walk and Offa’s Dyke Path.Price £1.00

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The Chepstow StoryThis gives an overview of the town’s history.

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Chepstow Town TrailUPDATED VERSION 2020This follows the heritage trail around the town centre, with information on its historic buildings.

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A Walk Around ChepstowThis 9-mile walk guides you from the town centre through the historic sites of Bulwark, Thornwell and Mathern to the Severn estuary at St Pierre, and back via Mounton and Piercefield to Chepstow.Price £1.00

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A plethora of ancient and historical settlements, castles and churches blend in with the open and wooded landscapes of the Wye Valley, which are also a rich source of wildlife and natural beauty. This photographic tour of the valley showcases just why this area is so loved.

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William Gilpin's travel writing on the River Wye, foundational for the picturesque, the romantic movement and modern tourism, illustrated with Gilpin's aquatints and introduced by Richard Humphreys.

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This guide contains 28 circular, graded walks all tried and tested by seasoned walkers. The routes range from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes, so there is something for everyone.

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Published in association with Chepstow Walk for Health Group, this is a guide to 16 walks suitable for most abilities, combining gentle exercise with interesting and varied routes through beautiful landscape.

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For years my Jack was a major part of my adventurous life and I want to share our connection to each other, to nature, and our wild  travels.  As always I want to share safety and training tips on keeping your best friend safe - whether it be on land or in water. ​You will find Doggy Training Tips for Wild swimming, Kayaking, Stand up paddle boarding, Hiking, Wild camping and Biking while respecting and protecting the environment you both love .  There is essential Doggy first Aid, Nutritional Advice, Introducing a new pup and also Environmental friendly Canine Treatments that protect your Dog without harming Nature .     I have written this book to share my life-long passion of adventure and the sheer joy that my beloved Jack Russells bring to it. And how you too can introduce your best friend to safe and healthy adventures together, whatever their breed and ability. ​This book has taken over 2 years to write and has many wonderful photos with proceeds supporting my Environmental River campaigning, Canine charities and My local Children’s Hospice - because Jack so loved children - as much as they loved him!

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Set in the valleys of the Welsh iron country, this turbulent, unforgettable novel begins the saga of the Mortymer family. A family of hard men and beautiful women, all forced into a bitter struggle with their harsh environment, as they slave and starve for the cruel English ironmasters. But adversity could never still the free spirit of Wales, or quiet its soaring voice, and the Mortymers fight and sing and make love even as the iron foundries ravish their homeland and cripple their people. The Mortymer’s struggle has become emblematic of a nation’s history and struggle, it is a unique story of the people of Wales.

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