The Kymin

Last week we went to survey a new site up in Hereford, near where my colleague Shaun hails from.  The route we chose to take reflected the sunny day – we just had to take the Picturesque route along the Wye Valley, past Chepstow, Tintern and Monmouth, then to Hereford via some local roads known to Shaun.  The Wye valley was a spectacular blaze of autumn colours, bright Limestone cliffs and blue sky.  After bursting out of the gorge at Monmouth, we drove through the Herefordshire countryside, passing colourful orchards, newly ploughed red soil and lush green pastures.

On the way back from Hereford, we stopped for lunch at the Kymin, a famous viewpoint overlooking Monmouth and the Wye Valley.  The Kymin is a summerhouse built in 1794 by the Monmouth Picnic Club, at the height of the Picturesque Movement.  From the valley below, the height of the hill is misleading, for our ears were popping as we drove up the winding lane to the top.  From the Summerhouse, the views over Monmouthshire are spectacular.  The River Wye below is mostly hidden by trees, though in Nelson’s time it must have been more open, as the arrival of his boat was announced with by a salvo from four pounder canons firing from the Round House .   For further information visit:

The National Trust at  http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-thekymin-2