The Wyndcliff, the Eagle's Nest and Piercefield

The walk starts from the Lower Wyndcliff car park on the A466 north of Chepstow; take care crossing the road. The 365 Steps climb the Wyndcliff in several long flights, very steep and uneven, some with handrails and steep drops at the side, to the Eagle's Nest viewpoint, built in 1828 for the Duke of Beaufort, with the Wye curling far below and the Severn estuary beyond. The way goes back down the steps to the foot of the cliff, then follows the footpath south through the woods towards Piercefield, the park whose walks Valentine Morris laid out in the 1750s for the Wye Tourists and whose house survives as a ruin, and turns round in Piercefield Woods and comes back along the same path.

It is 6 km with 330 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Moderate, mostly for the steps.

The steps are steep, and the path can be slippery. The Natural Resources Wales page lists no closure and says only that trails may be diverted for maintenance. Access through Piercefield is on the mapped footpaths: no landowner or council notice about it was found.

The Lower Wyndcliff car park is free, according to Natural Resources Wales, and overnight parking is not allowed.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.