The Wye Valley Greenway would not exist without the vision, engineering knowledge, fund raising and organisational skills of Greenways and Cycleroutes Ltd. They partnered with the former National Diving and Activity Centre to apply for planning permission after previous attempts to set up the greenway had, for various reasons, failed.

Greenways’ work with local people to design routes with landowners’ support and consent, to prepare the relevant documentation and commission reports necessary to secure planning permission, to prepare estimates, where necessary apply for funding, to appoint contractors and supervise construction.

Greenways’ work with volunteers to carry out preliminary work, construct routes and maintain them either at their annual workcamps or on volunteer days. This approach means that every path has advocates who have been involved from the start and who are passionate about looking after it.

Video: how the path was built.

Work to reopen the 1,188-yard long Tidenham Tunnel as part of a Wye Valley Greenway has made considerable progress recently, with tarmac laid by a contractor at the start of September followed by a subsequent volunteer workcamp which saw lighting installed and recesses bricked-up to encourage bat use.

The Wye Valley Greenway was officially opened on 1st April 2021 at 7.50am when Wyedean student and WVG logo competition winner, Nia Parry, opened the gates to Tidenham Tunnel to the general public for the very first time. Despite the early start and prevailing COVID regulations there was a small queue of enthusiasts waiting to explore the new route, including two cyclists who were planning to use the greenway to commute to Tintern and Monmouth.

In June 2023 a plaque for the Translink Structures Award, for the best restored structure, for the conversion of Tidenham tunnel as part of Wye Valley Greenway walking and cycle route at the 2022 National Railway Heritage Awards, was unveiled by Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport and local MP.

The path is a local community project made possible by:

Greenways and Cycleroutes Ltd, a charitable organisation promoting and developing community walking & cycling routes.

National Diving and Activity Centre, for their continued support.

Wyedean School & Sixth Form Centre, for their land, continued support, partnership and provision of parking spaces.

Jennifer Goslin's A-B connecting communities campaign.

Local farmers Ross Guest, Robert Adams & Peter Williams.

Wyedean School student Nia Parry, who designed the Wye Valley Greenway logo.

Each, and everyone, of the people who volunteer to keep the path open and safe.

Grants and support were provided by:

Enovert Community Trust for the link from the National Activity and Diving Centre to Wyedean School.

Railway Heritage Trust for works to Tidenham tunnel.

Rural Payments Agency LEADER Programme for the route either side of Tidenham tunnel to the Diving Centre.

Sustrans who have supported the scheme from the start and own or licence the railway land on which most of the path is built.

Forestry England whose path provides the link into Tintern.

Tidenham Parish Council who provided funding for seeding/planting and a sponsored bench.

Tutshill Women’s Institute - sponsored bench.

Chepstow & District Rotary Club - sponsored bench.

Councillor Chris McFarling and Gloucestershire County Council Build Back Better Councillor Scheme.

Special Thanks