[1] From the start, climb to the sea wall, known as the Binn Wall. Here, you have a splendid view across the mouth of the River Severn with the motorway bridge to the north and at low tide, the exposed English Stones. Follow the wall towards the bridge and consider, 100 yards before reaching it, that the railway tunnel to South Wales passes beneath your feet! Continue beneath the bridge and on to the end of the wall.
(A) A few yards further on your left is a plaque marking the point of embarkation for railway passengers crossing by ferry to Monmouthshire. 19th century maps show a pier stretching 400 yards to the low waterline. In the late 19th century, there were two river crossings near Bristol one at Aust, known as the Old Passage, and the other here at New Passage. The crossing from Aust to Beachley in the Gloucestershire parish of Tidenham was about two miles. This was the way to the Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and the upper part of Monmouthshire. At New Passage, the crossing was about three miles at high water to Port Skewith (Portskewett) in Monmouthshire. People travelling to Cardiff, Caerleon, Pontypool and other parts of South Wales took this route, alighting at New Passage station and resting overnight at the New Passage Hotel, now replaced by a small housing development a little further on to your right.
Great Western, together with the Bristol and South Wales Railway had established this rail and steamship link between Gloucester and South Wales by the New Passage ferry in January 1864, but there were no facilities for freight, which continued to use the circuitous and steep gradient route through Gloucestershire. This was, however, the time when coal production began to increase – twenty new pits in the Rhondda opened between 1865 and 1875 – so in 1873 a double track, brick-lined tunnel was constructed, carrying trains under the estuary between Pilning and the Severn Tunnel Junction. Completed in 1886, it was over 4 miles in length.
As you reach the creek, the path turns inland. Pass through a gate and follow the track going left over the bridge. Go through the kissing gate and then walk on the dyke passing a rifle range and continuing in the same direction for about a mile through three further gates, until you reach a marker post.
[2] Here, the dyke veers left but you go ahead, keeping to the right boundary to reach a road via a kissing gate. Turn left here, walk to the bend then climb a stile on the right. Now follow the fence on your left to cross a stile, then continue in the same direction over a further stile, after which, follow hedge to your right.
[3] Three stiles and an awkward (red) gate later, climb a bank and at the top, go right then left, keeping the hedge to your left, and crossing three more stiles to reach a main road. Turn left and cross with care when convenient, then take the first road on the right, passing Aust church. You have reached the mid-point in the walk now and may wish to take refreshment at the ‘Boar’s Head’.
[4] Your return route is along the grass track on the right opposite Sandy Lane, just before the pub. Follow this green lane to a gate, then continue ahead along the track and through another gate into a field. Stay on the track, leaving via a waymarked gate on the right.
[5] Now go diagonally across the field, aiming for a pair of gates in the far boundary, go through the gate. Walk across the following field and over a footbridge, then cross the next field to a stile. Continue ahead to another footbridge and in the next field, keep right and cross a further bridge.
[6] Now follow the waymarks, going diagonally left to a further footbridge, after which, follow waymarks again going right in this L-shaped field and picking up the hedge on the left.
[7] Continue through a gate, then follow the right boundary to a gate/stile and footbridge combination with a waymarked cross-path between them. Eventually, you emerge into a field.
[8] Now walk ahead with the left boundary, passing a stile on the left and continuing towards the trees ahead.
In the left corner of the field, go through a gate and over a footbridge into a churchyard (the church collapsed due to the boggy ground) and go ahead to a lane, then the road. Cross to the driveway of Northwick Farm, go through the gate and walk straight ahead to stile on left, through the farmyard and climb a stile and through a gate to reach a field. Go half-right now to cross a stile and footbridge, then go left, to a stile in the top corner of the field. Continue for a few yards to climb a stile on the right with a main road beyond.
[9] Turn left and follow the roadside verge with care to a footpath sign and stile on the left. Beyond the stile, cross to the far side of the meadow, turn right and walk to a gate. Go through, then walk left with the boundary, passing a small caravan park on the right. Climb the gate ahead and continue to another giving access to a road. Turn right here and walk to the White Horse pub, a possible refreshment stop.
[10] From the pub, walk the few yards to the end of the road and go through the black iron kissing gate on the right. Walk between houses and through a gate, then continue to reach a tarmac road where you turn right, climbing for a short distance to reach a busy dual carriageway carrying the A403 over the M4.
[11] Turn left along the pavement to its end where you take concrete steps down to a grassy path that doubles back under the road and alongside the motorway. Waymarks direct you to a stile and meadow beyond. (NOTE: If you can't find the stile climb the fence into the meadow and follow the right hand boundary fence.) Continue to a further stile; just ahead you will see another, but pause here awhile.
(B) In the 19th Century, Brunel’s broad-gauged locomotives passed this spot heading for New Passage station, a mile distant. The track ran from the trees on your left, towards the iron gate on the right.
Now go half right to the stile and cross the stone bridge beyond. Pass through the kissing gate then cross the next meadow, slightly left, and climb the stile in the hedge opposite. Walk between properties to a lane, turn left and in a short distance you will reach a road junction.
[12] Turn right and walk up to a roundabout, crossing with care to the pavement opposite. Now take the left fork, towards Severn Beach and walk for a short distance to a footpath sign on the left, climb the stile and descend to another stile with a farm track beyond.
[13] Cross into a field and go straight over to the right hand gate on the far side. In the next field, go half-right, climbing a pair of stiles to reach a road (NOTE: Stiles may be overgrown use two field gates to reach the road.) Turn left here and walk for a short distance to a stretch of old road on the left. Follow this, bearing left at the motorway and here, below your feet once more, is the entrance to the Severn railway tunnel.
Go through a metal gate then follow the grass lane parallel to the motorway. The lane becomes a path and waymarks lead you through another gate to a tarmac lane where you go right, to cross the motorway by a fine footbridge.
[14] On the far side, follow the residential road going left, then right, to reach a junction. Go left to the roundabout then right, into Station Road, which you follow to your start point.