LOCATION
9km north of CHEPSTOW on A466
1km north of Tintern Abbey
DESCRIPTION
This site is an old railway station and 800m of railway embankment, restored as a visitor centre and picnic area. Adjacent flower rich meadows are flooded at the highest tides by the River Wye. Normally the whole area is a tranquil place from which to appreciate the special landscape of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
ACCESS & FACILITIES (Mostly seasonal)
Version 6 updated July 2004
- Parking for 20 cars on level tarmac with another 25 on compacted stone/dust. No concessions.
- Toilets 10am to 6pm unisex cubicle for wheelchair users built to Part M standard in June 2001. Baby change faciliites in all 3 toilets.
- Site staff at information carriage shop with hearing loop at counter.
- Paths of tarmac, compacted stone dust or firm flat lawns. Barrier free gated access passable by electric scooters / prams, includes new ramps and gates into meadows since July 2001.
- CountrysideMobility seasonal electric scooter and manual wheelchairs. Loan / hire by advance booking with site staff.
- Refreshments at buffet in station building. Choice of large print menus and a hearing loop at buffet counter. Dog drinking bowl and tap outside.
- Seats throughout railway site but none in meadows.
- Picnic tables outside buffet and around over-spill car park.
- Children's Play Equipment
- Barbecue and Litter Bins near station building. Charcoal / lighters in shop.
- Interpretation displays, audio-visuals about the old Wye Valley Railway, 'Circle of Legends' the valley and countryside.
- Inclusive Site Guide - since October 2000 with print, audiotape and Braille formats.
- New for 2006 - Site Guide booklet including suggested walks.
- 'Circle of Legends' wooden statues of mythological and historical people associated with Monmouthshire and the Wye Valley.
- Country Code Trail - acitivty and understanding for all the family
- Art and Craft exhibitions in the signalbox vary through the year.
- Model Steam Train's run on a few days, but need to ask.
- Information at parking ticket machine and in the information carriage !
- Bed Booking service.
- Walks with a range of leaflets, map packs / guides on site.
- Views of wooded hillsides, River Wye and nearby fields.
- Camping for backpackers (seasonal). £2 per adult. Pay at parking ticket machine.
OPEN from Easter to October inclusive, 10am to 6pm.
FREE ENTRY but small PARKING CHARGE
PEOPLE are always on site during the year but with large numbers at weekends and school holiday periods.
DOGS on leads are welcome, but visitors must provide bags, collect and take home any mess.
MAIN ACCESS POINT is entrance to car park at map grid reference SO 535 005.
Nearest train station is Chepstow, where the A466 and bus route no 69 link northward to Tintern. Pass through village, and 500m beyond, the site entrance is marked by advance highway signs and large site name boards.
COMMUNICATION
Site name board at main entrance.
Railway exhibition, countryside exhibition and pictorial village map boards.
Mobile phone reception highly variable depending on network. Public phone on 1.5m high table in buffet during open hours. All of the site is within some 800 metres of shop with use of steps.
Barrier free access to all areas, but circuits of the site and meadows require use of 33-44 steps or else retracing route of between 240m and 1.5km.
The Wye Valley Walk passes through the site and paved footways extend to nearby Tintern and Brockweir.
700m of tarmac drive to The Nurtons Garden and Nursery and Medhope Organic Food growers from opposite entrance. But there is one step to access the footways.
LOCAL INFORMATION
Available on site, when open.
National Travelline enquiry line 08706 082 608
www.travelline.org.uk
SITE MANAGEMENT
Owned and managed for by:
Monmouthshire County Council, Countryside Service, Regeneration, Environment & Resources Directorate, County Hall, CWMBRAN, NP44 2XH, WALES, UK.
Voice Tel: 01633 644856
Fax: 01633 644800
countryside@monmouthshire.gov.uk
The Old Station Tintern, TINTERN, Chepstow, NP16 7NX.
Voice Tel. & Fax: 01291 689566. OldStationTintern@monmouthshire.gov.uk
For catering enquiries contact Katie Lang on 07801 431868