Wye Valley Tunnels

Wye Valley Tunnels (southern section)

Opened : ?

Closed : 1964 (North of Tidenham), Tidenham Trackbed still in place

Engineering code : WYE

Length: Lydbrook - 600m, Symond's Yat - 400m, Tintern - 200m, Tidenham - 1180 yds.

The attractive and heavily engineered GWR Wye Valley line between Chepstow and Ross has four tunnels. Due to its scenic route to the west of the Forest of Dean, a local enthusiast's group is interested in reinstating the line between Tidenham and Tintern and eventually on to Monmouth.

The Tidenham Tunnel still has track running through it, but this clearly has not been used in many years. This section remained to serv the now defunct Tidenham quarry.The tunnel is partially unlined with a single unlined airshaft. The tunnel is slightly S-curved, so is completely dark for most of its length. THe floor is muddy in parts, but remaining sleepers act as stepping stones.

The south end of the Tintern Tunnel and west end of the Symonds Yat Tunnel are blocked up. I did not have time to investigate the other ends.

After a struggle to find a parkingg space, I first tried Tidenham. That's the one with track still in it. Like Abernant Tunnnel, it is S-curved so completely dark in the middle. It is about 1200 yards long, at the souther end of the Wye Valley line. Tidenham tunnel was only recently abandoned , when Tidenham quarry closed. Walking this tunnel was unusual as I walked generally oon the woodoen sleepers. So it felt and sounded like I was walking oon a floor. Of course, the sleeper spacing is slightly off my natural paceing, so proboably not the most efficient way of doing it. A good portion of the tunnel is completely unlined, just blasted straight out of the solid limestone. THis is slightly unnerving the first time, but you get used to it. THere is a single narrow unlined shaft in the middle, that casts very little light into the tunnel. Judging by tracks, the tunnel is also used by people on motorbikes. Not sure how sensible that is! My opinion, different type of tunnel, a new experience.

I then tried Tintern Tunnel, in theory a short (300m) curved tunnel. Couldn't gain access tho, as the gap between the gate and wall was not enough for someone who has traded their 6-pack for a keg! Took a pic over the top of the gate and went. Jammed the side of my car on the side of the Wye Bridge on the way out. Now missing a wing mirror. After a dose of snow, I decided to head home via Symond's Yat. Had a look at the west portal of the tunnel there.Bricked up. Another day, I'll have to make the long walk to the east end, see if I can get in there!.

Symonds Yat revisit and Lydbrook tunnel here

end

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Tidenham Tunnel - 20 images


South Portal	Inside south portal	Looking back	Remains of track
Workman's refuge	Workman's refuge	See the curve	Northwards
It's getting dark in here	Ran out of bricks I assume	Rather bare air shaft	In natural light
The end of the brick lining	Steam-cleaned line in roof	Is that light I see?	The light at the end of the tunnel
Almost there	Looking south from same spot	Just inside north portal	North Portal

Tintern Tunnel - 2 images
Tintern South Portal	Over the gate

Symonds Yat Tunnel - 16 images


East Portal	Inside east portal, note electric cables	Towards east portal	Further inside
Roof brickwork	Refuge	Back to portal, note slight curve	Wall stonework
Near the middle	Refuge showing bare rock	First light	Towards west portal showing curve
Back to the east	Well lit shot inside west portal	So I shouldn't be here??? Well I got this far.	Bricked up West portal on private property

I parked up in Lydbrook, as from here I could access the east portal of the Symond's Yat tunnel and also the Lydbrook tunnerl. I had found earlier in the year that the west end of the Symonds Yat tunnel was bricked up, so was somewhat concerned that the albeit pleasant 2 mile walk along the River Wye would be in vain. When I got to the portal I had a pleasant surprise as the door in the brick wall was open. Strangely, there was a very recently installed Forestry Comission noticeboard right by this door, however no attempt had been made at this time to secure the tunnel. Some ageing graffiti indicated that the tunnel was blocked at the other end. The tunnel itself was built for a single track and is curved. Although the curvature is not as tight as that of tunnels such as Gelli-feelen or Torpantau, muchof the tunnel is in darkness. Measuring 19 1/2 chains long or 230 yards, the only traffic through this tunnel is an electric main and a few explorers. Lined in a mix of brick and stone, the interior is in good condition although the floor is moist in places. The rear walls of some of the refuges are unlined, exposing the country rock, which appears to be a mix of sandstone and shale. On reaching the west end, there was an amusing plaard stating that thetunnel was the properety of a nearby hotel. Unless it used to be open this end, why place the placard here?, not at the other end. Since I had to retrace my steps all the way to Lydbrook bridge (where the Wye valley line crossed the river), this bridge is still intact, with a wooden gangway placed on top of the ironwork. This gangway has seen better days. 100 yards further on was th rather muddy poratal of the Lydbrook tunnel.Habing made my way through the hole in thebreeze block wall, I found out justhow momoist this tunnel was.

This called for a return to my car (fortunately only 1/4 mile away) to change into my wellies. On return ti the tunnel, I found that the bore was flooded to up to 9 inches deep for about 20 or 30 yards inside. Although it did not appear so, the light that made its way in here was somewhat green, reflecting off the fresh spring undergrowth. This shows in a couple of the photos I took. The tunnel bore is straught for the southern 200 - 300 yards, with the floor of this section muddy and water lying in the imprints left by the sleepers when they were removed. The northern section is dry and slightly curved. The stone used to line this section changes from dark to light, and from a dstance, reflected torchlight gives this section an eerie glow. I found the north section to be open, again the breezeblock wall has partilly collapsed.

Lydbrook Tunnel - 16 Images


South portal - rather muddy	Inside - it's wet, and the light was rather green	Yes, very wet	Roof brickwork
Stream follows indentations of the sleepers	The southern half of the tunnel is straight	Cable brackets and calcite deposit	Cable brackets
The guestbook	Refuge	This change to white stone lining casts an eerie glow in torchlight	White stone lining
Cruve to north portal	South from north portal	Better lit	North portal