When travelling to the south west we always take the most scenic route through the Wye Valley – an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Our favourite stop off is the Old Station Tintern where there is a car park, tea rooms and toilets. It is a great place to stretch one’s legs as there are some lovely walks on this 10-acre site. There is a children’s play area, miniature train rides, a 30-metre aerial zip wire and activity packs.
Our main purpose for stopping off however is to get something to eat. There was a great variety of refreshments at the cafe with an in/out queuing system and outdoor seating – so we felt quite safe. It is open daily from 10am – 5pm.
There are wooden sculptures featuring 6 local characters called the Circle of Legends. Inside the old railway carriages is an exhibition about the heritage of the Wye Valley, scale models of the old station and souvenir gift shop.
Further on down the road is Tintern village itself. As you travel alongside the bend of the River Wye the magnificent Tintern Abbey comes into view. It was built in 1269 and has imposing Gothic arches. The Abbey inspired paintings by JMW Turner plus poetry by Alfed Lord Tennyson and William Wordsworth. This impressive ruined Cistercian monastery has been included in Country Life’s top ten British heritage sites.
We just use Tintern as a stopping off point, but I think it would be a charming place to stay.
