Ban-y-Gor
Access
and Ownership:
Ban-y-Gor
rocks and woods are owned by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and form part
of the Lancaut Nature Reserve, which also includes most of Wintour's Leap; consequently
they are covered by the same SSSI. A further vital consideration is the proximity
of the houses to the top of the crag; indeed those above the Upper Tier of The
Main Cliff have gardens which extend to the very edge of the cliff. As a result,
initial development of The Main Cliff was voluntarily restricted to its lower
tiers to avoid any unnecessary risk of confrontation and this is now mandatory
under the new access consent. In particular do not trespass on the private crag-top
path north of Developer's Gully.
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Approaches: From
the east (Bristol, London) or the west (Cardiff) follow the M4 to the Chepstow
junction and turn off here. Follow the A48 through Chepstow, over the river Wye
towards Lydney. 2KM after crossing the river bridge turn left to reach Tutshill
and just after the petrol station turn right. Follow this road through the
village of Woodcroft (A4228) and after passing the top of Wintours Leap
and a sharp right-hand bend take a left back on yourself - Lancaut Road. Park
on the grassy area on the left just after the houses. |
| From the parking
place walk down the road to the first gate on your right - this is opposite to
the descent path to Wintour's Leap. Just a little further on a path skirts off
from the road and skits along the outside of the perimeter fence - please do not
enter the field behind it. Follow this path around the outside of the fence almost
to the far corner opposite, where a few boulders are encountered. Here a short
easy descent leads to a path that contour's under the cliff and passes under the
first buttresses (Mushroom Buttress) before landing you beneath Nine Lives Buttress
just beyond a prominent gully. On
no account should the field above the cliff be used to gain the same point on
this descent. Nor should is be used for camping. |  |
| Ban
Y Gor |