About Islandeering
Hi and welcome to Islandeering Islandeering is for people who want adventure in Britain’s wild blue spaces – our rivers, coast, lakes, canals and islands. You will find amazing walks, paddles and swims in the UK’s most special places, those recognised for outstanding natural beauty, incredible geology or special and abundant wildlife.
More About UsWe continuously find new islands, rivers, lochs, canals and coast to walk, SUP and swim in and meet plenty of great folks along the way. Join our community to get new routes and adventures, latest blogs and news by using the email box below. Tune in also to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see where we are going next.
Wye Valley & Monmouth Table of Contents
About Wye Valley and Monmouthshire
Paddle boarding River Wye
Paddle boarding in Monmouthshire
About Wye Valley and Monmouthshire
The Wye Valley and Monmouthshire in southeast Wales are a magnet for outdoor adventurers. Walkers love the network of footpaths through rolling hills, forests and farmland, as well as a number of lower mountains to climb. Some of Britain’s better-known long distance walking routes also pass through this area. On the water there are iconic rivers to paddle board and idyllic swim spots to discover, whilst wildlife enthusiasts will be enthralled by the diversity of the areas many National Nature Reserves.
Monmouthshire, bordered by the Bristol Channel, the River Wye and the Brecon Beacons offers the outdoor lover plenty of paddleboarding and walking options. These activities are great ways to explore the best of Monmouthshire’s destinations as well as experience its lovely countryside, mountains, rivers, lakes, canals and coastline. Boasting seven National Nature Reserves Monmouthshire is also a great destination for wildlife lovers, birdwatchers and connecting with nature.
Paddle boarding River Wye
The River Wye is one of the longest rivers in Britain marking the boundary between England and Wales for most of the way. At 251km long it stretches from its source in the Welsh Cambrian mountains to Chepstow where it joins the River Severn. It is a must-do destination for paddleboarders, from beginners to advanced paddlers, as well as a hotspot for some of the most popular walking routes in Wales, many of which explore top destinations like Tintern Abbey, Symonds Yat, Pulpit Rock and many more. As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its whole length, the River Wye is a haven for nature.
What lives in the River Wye? Any journey along this river offers the chance of spotting otters, kingfishers, salmon and peregrine falcons, wild boar through the stretches that pass the Forest of Dean. The River Wye is the best site in Wales for seeing the white clawed crayfish – the UK’s only native freshwater crayfish, that can grow up to 10cm long!
If you are looking for River Wye paddleboard routes, here are some of our favourites that pass through some of the most beautiful parts of the Wye Valley:
Monmouth to Penallt – the best pub paddle on the River Wye
You can find loads more routes on our interactive map or buy or Paddle Boarding Wales book for full route descriptions
Paddle boarding in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire and the surrounding counties have a multitude of blue spaces to paddle on. Lakes in Monmouthshire include the popular watersport destinations of Llandegfedd Lake and Park Bryn Bach, whilst the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is a fabulous destination for paddleboarding along its 56km stretch between Pontypool and Brecon with multiple options for longer and shorter trips. The Canal and River Trust provides designated launch sites for paddleboarders and other paddlers and there are plenty of great cafes and pubs along the route, along with superb views of the Brecon Beacons, Sugarloaf Mountain, Blorenge and more.
Paddling routes in Monmouthshire, here are some of our favourite destinations:
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – Gilwern to Llanfoist
You can find loads more routes on our interactive map or buy or Paddle Boarding Wales book for full route descriptions
Where to go Paddleboarding in Monmouthshire & Wye
Here we have shared some of our favourite paddles in Monmouthshire and Wye but more can be found on our interactive map
Walks in Monmouthshire and Wye
From gentle mountains, wooded river valleys, and long distance paths to circular walks exploring the best Monmouthshire destinations there is a walk for everyone. Here we have shared some of our favourite walks in Monmouthshire and Wye but more can be found on our interactive map
Mountain walks in Monmouthshire
Touching the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains there are 75 named mountains in Monmouthshire. Chawarel Y Fan Monmouthshire’s high point at 679m, and the most popular peaks in Monmouthshire are The Blorenge, Skirrid Fawr, Sugar Loaf and its subsidiary peak of Deri, Hatterrall Hill and Bâl Bach.
Long Distance Paths in Monmouthshire
A number of Britain’s Long Distance Paths pass through Monmouthshire and Wye Valley here are some of the favourites:
- Wales Coast Path starts in Chepstow and continues for 1400km around the whole Welsh coast to Chester. In Monmouthshire the path passes through the scenic Gwent Levels on the banks of the Severn Estuary. This lowland area boasts 8 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) – largely as a result of being in one of the highest tidal ranges in the world and ideal over-wintering conditions, up to 90,000 wading birds and wildfowl visit the Severn Estuary every year. Get up close to the area’s bird and other wildlife at Gwent Wildlife Trust’s Magor Marsh wetland reserve and at nearby RSPB Newport Wetlands.
- Offa’s Dyke starts near Chepstow and continues for 285km to Prestatyn on the north coast of Wales. The Trail travels through the Marches, Brecon Beacons National Park, the Wye Valley, the Shropshire Hills and the Clwydian Range / Dee Valley.
- Usk Valley Way follows the River Usk upstream from a start point at Caerlon just north of Newport for 77km to Brecon. The routes climbs the Wentwood Ridge and passes through rolling pastures, riverside towns of Usk and Abergavenny and on into the Brecon Beacons National Park. It then follows parts of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, passes below the Talybont Reservoir, to arrive at Brecon,.
- Monnow Valley Walk starts at Monmouth and continues 64km through the tranquil, wooded River Monnow Valley to its source at Charwel Ddu near Hay Bluff. Great for hidden castles, ancient churches, and lovely villages.
- Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk is a 45km long distance circular walk that starts and ends in Penallta Community Park, Caerphilly. The routes passes through the lovely scenery of the Rhymney Valley and woodlands to the highpoint of Mynydd Machen is the highest point.
- Cistercian Way a 1081km circular long distance path and pilgrimage route that starts and ends in Caerphilly that passes through too many stunning areas to mention.
- Rhymney Riverside Walk is a 51km linear walk along the Rhymney Valley, following the river from its headwaters to the southern plains.
- Monmouthshire Way is a 186km circular route that starts and finished in Abergavenny and explores the highlights of Monmouthsire. It passes through the towns of Chepstow, Monmouth, Abergavenny, Pontypool and Usk as well as the World Heritage site above Blaenavon, Coity Mountain, the canalside village of Goytre, Wentwood Forest and the Wales Coast Path through the Gwent Levels to Chepstow. The return leg follows the beautiful Wye Valley to The Kymin, then the Offa’s Dyke path is followed to Pandy to the Brecon Beacons National Park to return via Llanthony and the county summit of Chwarel y Fan and the iconic Sugar Loaf.
