Wyndcliff facts for kids
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The Wyndcliff is a tall limestone cliff in Monmouthshire, Wales. It stands high above the western side of the River Wye. You can find it about 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of St Arvans village. It's also 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Tintern and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Chepstow. This area is part of the beautiful Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The top of the Wyndcliff reaches 771 feet (235 meters) high. This makes it the highest point on the Monmouthshire side of the Wye. The Wye Valley Walk goes through this area. It's also a popular spot for rock climbing. You can easily get there using the A466 road, which runs right below the cliff. People have enjoyed visiting the Wyndcliff since the late 1700s. They came to see the amazing views.
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What's in a Name?
The name Wyndcliff comes from old Welsh words. According to Joseph Bradney, a historian, the place was called Huit gwynt. This means "the blowing of the wind" in Welsh. So, the name describes how windy it can be at the top of the cliff. It's not named after the River Wye and the word "cliff."
The Wyndcliff also gave its name to Wyndcliffe Court. This is a large country house located about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) west of the Eagle's Nest viewpoint.
Rocks, Trees, and Wildlife
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The Wyndcliff is made of a type of rock called Black Rock Limestone. This limestone sits on top of softer rock layers. Over time, these softer layers have collapsed. This has caused a large part of the land to slide down towards the river.
The area is mostly covered by very old forests. These forests are known as "gorge woodland." Many of the trees were once "coppiced." This means they were cut back regularly to encourage new growth. This practice helped manage the forest for wood. You can find beech, yew, lime, ash, and hazel trees here. There are also different kinds of whitebeam trees.
Amazing Viewpoints
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For a long time, the only way to reach the Wyndcliff was by walking. You could walk from the river or from nearby villages. But in 1824, a new road was built. This road made it much easier for people to visit the Wyndcliff. Tourists started taking carriage trips to see the views. Even more people came when boat trips began running between Bristol and Chepstow. This allowed for easy day trips.
The Duke of Beaufort owned the land. In 1828, his manager, Osmond Wyatt, built a path to the top of the cliff. This path became known as the 365 Steps. Today, there are closer to 300 steps. At the top, Wyatt built a special viewing platform. It was called the Eagle's Nest.
A small building called Moss Cottage was also built near the path. Visitors could get refreshments there. The cottage had a table made from a walnut tree from inside Chepstow Castle. Moss Cottage later fell apart and was taken down in the 1950s. There was an idea to build an observatory here in 1834, but it never happened.
From the Eagle's Nest, you can see many things. You can spot farmland across the Wye at Lancaut. You can also see the cliff at Wintour's Leap, Chepstow Castle, and the town of Chepstow. The view includes the mouth of the Wye at Beachley, the Severn estuary, and the Severn Bridge. On a clear day, you might even see the Cotswold Hills far away.
Many famous people have loved this view. Prince Puckler-Muskau visited in 1828 and said the landscape was "perfect." The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge described the view as "the whole world imaged in its vast circumference."
Fun Things to Do
The Wye Valley Walk goes right through Wyndcliff Wood. There are also several other public footpaths you can explore. The Wyndcliff is very popular for rock climbing. There are many different climbing routes for both traditional and sport climbing.
How to Get There
You can get to the Wyndcliff from two car parks. The Lower Wyndcliff car park is on the A466 road. The Upper Wyndcliff car park is reached by a small lane off the A466, east of St Arvans. The Upper car park is closer to the famous Eagle's Nest viewpoint.
