Forest bathing at Whitestone

Whitestone sits high on the Welsh side of the Wye Valley, above Tintern, in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Two waymarked walks leave the car park through a mix of woodland and pass three historic viewpoints over the Wye gorge, looking out towards the Severn bridges. Wordsworth wrote his lines on Tintern Abbey near the top viewpoint. The longer route follows the Duchess Ride through an avenue of huge Scots pines.

It is one of the easier woods in the Wye Valley. The Wonders of Whitestone trail is about 1.2 miles, mainly level with one stony section, and there is a bench at each viewpoint, so it suits a slow walk with long stops. The Duchess Ride Viewpoint Trail goes on along the Wye Valley Walk for about three miles there and back. The larger upper car park has picnic benches and a natural play area, with a spiral path up a mound that is accessible for all.