Towns and Villages | Wye Valley AONB Towns and Villages Places Towns and Villages The Wye Valley has a wealth of pretty rural villages, with intriguing local churches, interesting glimpses of history, local pubs offering mouth-watering local fare, and village stores selling local wares. The market towns within or adjacent to its borders provide museums, art galleries, local craft, art and history displays and festivals, and the chance to shop and browse to your heart’s content. Here are some ideas for places to visit, but for more information and to plan your visit contact the relevant Tourist Information Centre. Towns Hereford An old walled city, dating from Saxon times, Hereford is now a hub of local and national cultural events. It is also the area’s livestock and agricultural centre. Visit Hereford Cathedral to see some fine examples of architecture from Norman times to the present day. View the famous Mappa Mundi and the world’s largest Chained Library. The cathedral also hosts regular exhibitions, recitals and concerts.

Within walking distance is the Hereford Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery and the restored Waterworks Museum Market Days: Wednesday, Livestock; Wednesday/Saturday, General Ross-on-Wye Ross-on-Wye is the only town within the boundaries of the Wye Valley AONB. An historic market town, it is built on a cliff overlooking a large loop in the river. Visit St Mary’s Church , the nearby Prospect Gardens, and the Market House Heritage Centre . Stroll around the town centre or meander along the riverside. Follow the John Kyrle Walk and find out more about the life and good works of “The Man of Ross”, whose title was immortalised by the poet Pope. Market Days: Monday, Livestock; Thursday/Saturday, General Monmouth A market town adjacent to the Wye Valley AONB, one of Monmouth’s gems is the unique medieval gatehouse on the 13th Century Monnow Bridge. The streets are filled with a variety interesting shops and a wide choice of pubs, restaurants and café’s.

Monmouth Castle, now ruined, was the birthplace of King Henry V, the victor of Agincourt visit the Castle and Regimental Museum which tells the histories of both the castle and The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. Nearby, the Nelson Museum is also a local history centre and houses one of the world’s best collections of personal and commemorative objects associated with the famous admiral. In the centre of Agincourt Square is the refurbished Shire Hall , whose courthouse held the famous Chartist Trials of 1839. High above the valley overlooking Monmouth town sits the Kymin , a circular banqueting house and naval temple now a National Trust property. Market Days: Friday/Saturday, General Coleford The attractive market town of Coleford is surrounded by industrial history. Visit nearby Puzzlewood to explore ancient iron surface mines, referred to locally as Scowles, which pre-date the Roman period. Go underground to visit the ancient iron mines at Clearwell , still mined to this day to produce ochre for artists.You can also visit a working mine at Hopewell Colliery The Forest's railway history is on show at the Great Western Railway Museum , based in the original GWR goods station at Old Station Way, Coleford.

The town itself has some interesting historic buildings and a selection of craft and specialist shops. Near to Coleford Market Days: Coleford: Thursday, General Chepstow A bustling border market town Chepstow is the gateway to the Wye Valley AONB. Spend some time exploring the winding back streets with a variety of shops, restaurants and cafés, and take in the old town walls and the 15th Century gatehouse. Dominating the town, Chepstow Castle perches high on a crag guarding the river crossing between England and Wales. Chepstow Museum , displays the history and development of the town, once an important port and features the Wye Tour exhibition. There are regular race meetings at nearby Chepstow Racecourse , home of the Welsh National, which is situated within the grounds of historic Piercefield Park. Famous views from the Wye Valley Walk section from Chepstow lead you along th Piercefield Walks and stunning viewpoints such as The Alcove and Eagles Nest refurbished by the Overlooking the Wye Partnership Project.

Market Days: Chepstow:(Race course car park): Sunday, General Villages Brockhampton A picture postcard rural Herefordshire village with Church of All Saints , completed in 1902 which is one of the very few thatched churches in the UK. This impressive Arts and Crafts building houses tapestries by Burne Jones. The Wye Valley Walk passes by the village to the iron-age fort of Capler Camp . Brockweir A former shipbuilding community, the village has an interesting Moravian Church , built in 1832. The Brockweir Community Village Shop , which stocks local produce, also has a tea-room providing light refreshments. Brockweir Quay used to be a regular port where goods were unloaded and taken up the Wye by trows. The quay has been renovated by the Overlooking the Wye Partnership Project. Brockweir Bridge was built in 1906, until then people wishing to cross the river had to rely on a ferry service.

Offa's Dyke Path National Trail and the Wye Valley Walk pass either side of the bridge Brampton Abbotts A village on the outskirts of Ross-on-Wye, with easy access to the Wye Valley Walk. The picturesque Norman church of St. Michael has a square bell cot of timber in shingle-work. Carey A secluded rural village, near the River Wye. Its picturesque, timber-framed, thatched inn, The Cottage of Content , dates from the 15th Century. Devauden Near the village of Devauden , Chepstow Park Wood, owned by the Forestry Commission, provides good walking opportunities. John Wesley preached his first sermon in Wales in 1739 at the foot of Devauden Hill and the area was the scene of a battle in 743 when the Welsh were slaughtered by the Saxon kings Ethelbald of Mercia and Cuthred of Wessex. Foy and Hole in the Wall A single span suspension bridge, built in 1919, links these two riverside hamlets. The little church of St Mary at Foy stands beside an 18th Century vicarage.

Fownhope A pretty village situated close to the river, between the hilltop camps of Cherry Hill and Capler Camp. It has an attractive church with a central Norman tower. Fownhope is one of the few to retain the custom of celebrating Oak Apple Day each May. Hoarwithy A village in an idyllic setting dominated by its remarkable Italianate Church, dating from 1885. Hoarwithy has an old pub the New Harp Inn Holme Lacy The site of Holme Lacy College , Herefordshire’s Agricultural College, and Holme Lacy House (now a hotel), seat of the Scudamore family for centuries. Holme Lacy Estate is a working organic farm, and its woodlands and medieval deer park are now being managed for their exceptional wildlife interest. Footpaths and tracks for walkers, riders and cyclists have opened up this area to visitors. Also in the village is Shipley Gardens with its nursery and tea rooms. How Caple 11-acres of Edwardian gardens at How Caple Court , which offer excellent walks and include a medieval church of St Andrew and St Mary with beautiful stained glass windows.

King’s Caple The beautiful red sandstone church of St John the Baptist stands on high ground beside the medieval Castle Tump, site of a motte and bailey castle. Llandogo A village surrounded by wonderful woodland and riverside walks. Paths zigzag alongside Cleddon Shoots, and the Wye Valley Wal k leads above the village. Llandogo was once an important river port, and its pub, The Sloop Inn , owes its name to this. Flat-bottomed barges known as trows, which worked the river between here and Bristol, gave name to the 17th Century Llandoger Trow, a public house near the city’s harbour. Llanishen A village on the Trellech plateau, benefiting from views of the Vale of Usk and the Black Mountains. The Church of St Dennis was rebuilt in 1852. Lydbrook An important industrial port in the 17th and 18th Centuries with a traditional connection with the iron, coal and timber industries, although much of the evidence of this has long disappeared.

Not even the famous Lower Lydbrook Viaduct remains which enabled the Severn and Wye Railway to connect with the Ross and Monmouth Railway . The viaduct rose some 87 feet above the roadway below, was built in 1872 and first used for traffic 26 August 1874. The line was closed to passengers in 1929, goods in 1951 and was dismantled in 1966. Mitchel Troy Mitchel Troy is sandwiched between the River Trothy to the north and the Wye to the east, and the site of The Glen Trothy caravan and campsite . The church of St Michael was built in the early thirteenth century and is approached through an arched lych gate. Mitchel Troy Common provides views over the town of Monmouth and the river Wye. Mordiford This village, with its legendary dragon or wyvern , grew up around an ancient ford over the River Lugg. Follow the Mordiford Loop Walk to discover this atmospheric landscape. Nearby is Sufton Court, a small Palladian mansion set in parkland.

Redbrook A village with an interesting history, Redbrook was an important industrial centre . Strung along the River Wye it had an ample supply of water power which ran down the valley to the river and a number of leats, dams and reservoir ponds were created with many industrial sites including mills, an iron furnace, tinplate works and copper works. The Penallt Viaduct, crossing to The Boat Inn , originally a hostelry for river watermen, was formerly an iron bridge opened in 1876 for the Wye Valley Railway. Staunton A small village, with the Norman church All Saints Church, Staunton was named “the place of the stones” by the Anglo-Saxons. From here you can visit the Buck Stone,above Staunton Meend in Highmeadow Woods, a popular, panoramic viewpoint. Local legend claims it was a sacred Druid site. The Staunton Longstone, a Bronze Age standing stone, can be seen alongside the A4136, between Staunton and Coleford.

Other megaliths are the Toad's Mouth, by the road at the west end of the village, the Broad Stone, in the fields of Broadstone farm, and the Suckstone in Highmeadow Woods. St Briavels On a plateau high above the Wye Valley, St Briavels commands spectacular views. Its 12th century castle , now used as a youth hostel, was the administrative centre of the Royal Hunting Forest. Across the road, the Norman church is also worth exploring. Tintern The village, dominated by the spectacular remains of Tintern Abbey , is also worth visiting for its craft and antique shops, and even to delve into its hidden past as one of the earliest major industrial sites in South Wales. About a mile to the north of the village, The Old Station,Tintern is a former Victorian railway station. It now operates as a visitor centre and has an interesting programme of events and exhibitions. Discover its unique circle of life-size wooden sculptures, depicting characters from the history of the area.

Trellech Once the largest mediaeval centres in Wales Trellech has its fair share of history and legend, surrounding its church, three standing stones, officially known as Harold’s Stones, and St Anne’s Well, or the Virtuous Well. It has been undergoing excavations since 2005 by the Lost City of Trellech Project. The village also has The Lion Inn providing refreshments. Welsh Bicknor A Herefordshire village with a St Margarets a small Victorian Church, Welsh Bicknor stands on a hill overlooking Kerne Bridge. Across the river is English Bicknor in Gloucestershire, with its small Norman church, within the boundaries of a motte and bailey castle. Whitchurch Right on the riverbank, with its own landing steps, the parish church of St Dubricius dates from the 13th Century, although its foundations go back even further, to the 9th Century. Near the village, on the Doward, is King Arthur’s Cave. The Old Cour t, now a hotel and restaurant The concert venue Wyastone Leys is close by which is where Nimbus records originated.

Whitebrook The stream to which the village owes its name provided power for paper mills in the 18th Century. The Crown at Whitebrook is one of Wales well known Michelin starred restaurants. A mile below the village, Bigsweir Bridge, originally a toll bridge, crosses the River Wye. Woolhope On the border of the AONB, this village stands on the plateau of the Woolhope Dome , in an area with a great variety of fossils, flora and fauna. Search the Wye Valley AONB site Latest News from the Wye Valley River Wye Accommodation The Old School Bed & Breakfast, Hereford - A beautiful 4-star Bed and Breakfast close to Hereford city centre. You will be welcomed to The Old School with a nice cup of tea or coffee, complete with a lovely slice of homemade fruit cake. The Old School aim to make you feel relaxed and 'at home'. Contact 01981 541 317 Ross-on-Wye Wilton Court Hotel , Undoubtedly the finest Riverside welcome in Herefordshire. Wilton Court Restaurant is Herefordshire’s only AA Highly Commended 5 star Restaurant with rooms with 2 rosettes and a breakfast award.

Contact 01989 562 569 Wye Valley and Vale of Usk | Wales Virtual Tour << Back - VIRTUAL TOUR Usk Castle The Wye and Usk rivers meander through green valleys and rolling hillsides, dominating the landscape of this area. Whether touring by car or walking, scenic trails, charming towns and villages and historic sites are around every corner. The Wye Valley Walk is a waymarked walk along the spectacular gorge of the Wye as far as Monmouth in Wales. This area, on the border between England and Wales, was once fighting ground for Romans and Normans alike. The Welsh clashed with the English Marcher Lords over control of the land resulting in, possibly, more castles per square mile than anywhere else in Britain. The town of Usk was once a Roman legionary fort until Caerleon overshadowed it in importance. It is considered one of the most significant Roman sites in Wales, and there is much of the Roman past to see here. Chepstow is a historic walled town where Britain's first stone built castle is perched on the edge of a bluff above a loop in the River Wye.

The town was named Striguil in Norman times, but became known as Chepstow from the old English "ceap stowe" meaning market place. A tariff was collected at the 16th century town gate on all cattle and goods that passed through. In later years Chepstow became a busy timber trading and shipbuilding port. The museum has displays on the industries and occupations of the town over the years. There's a scenic walk along the River Wye. Tintern Abbey North of Chepstow the wooded Wye Valley reaches from Tintern to Monmouth. Tintern Abbey , in a remote area of the Valley - now designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - was founded by the Cistercians in 1131, the first Cistercian abbey in Wales. The abbey church, missing its roof and windows is well preserved otherwise (thanks to some help by the Duke of Beaufort in the 18th century), and its architectural splendor is still visible Nearby Tredegar House , on the outskirts of Newport, a very busy city, is a grand post Civil War house. The rich Morgan family were the owners, but future generations became impoverished, and the house passed into public ownership.

Today its grounds are a public park. The interiors, open to viewing, are luxurious evocations of wealth with carvings, wood panelling and gilding Penhow Castle , a lived-in privately owned castle, covers 800 years of history, reflected in the variety of its rooms. Ornate fireplace in Tredegar House Monmouth, an ancient market town, derives its name from the river Monnow. It is actually located on land between both the Wye and the Monnow rivers. The Normans used it as a religious, commercial and military site. The only castle remains are the great gatehouse built in the late 14th century. Henry V was born in the castle. However, there is a fine Renaissance home in the castle grounds. It contains a Regimental Museum with the castle's history. The town's medieval street plan is still in place, including the uniquely designed 13th century Monnow Bridge with its fortified gatehouse. At one time there were seven medieval churches in Monmouth. Followers of Lord Nelson will want to visit the Monmouth Museum , which holds a wealth of personal objects linked to the famous admiral.

Grosmont is a charming hillside village with the ruins of one of the "Three Castles" (the others being Skenfrith and White ) built by the Normans to control the Herefordshire-Usk Valley routes. Grosmont's name comes from the French gros mont meaning big hill. The remains of Grosmont Castle sit on the edge of the village on an earthen hill. Originally the ground floor served as a basement, and the main rooms were on the first floor. Later a stone curtain, gatehouse and towers were added. Henry III stayed here in 1233. In the 14th century the castle was remodelled to suit a noble household. It was a favourite residence of the Earls of Lancaster. 800 Welshmen died here in battle in 1405 during Owain Glyndwr's rebellion Skenfrith Castle was a timber and earth castle that was leveled and replace in the early 1200's by stone. The circular keep is the main feature. It stands at the centre of a ward that has round towers on each corner.

Monnow Bridge, Monmouth The spectacular ruin of Llanthony Priory lies in the Black Mountains on the far eastern edge of the Park. A chapel dedicated to St. David was established here in the 6th century. The chapel ruins were discovered by William de Lacy, a 12th century Norman knight, who decided to renounce the world and build a new hermitage that evolved into the Augustinian priory we see today. Although mostly a ruin, eight surviving early English arches and superb stonework decorations grace the green hills Abergavenny is full of historic, architectural, cultural and scenic interest. A motte and bailey Norman castle (scant remains), former seat of the lords of Abergavenny, houses a local museum in its 19th century keep. Many of the town's original buildings still exist. St Mary's , formerly a priory church, was restored in the 19th century but still retains its 14-15th century choir stalls. The church has an extensive collection of effigies, considered some of the best in Britain. Three alabaster tombs are located in the Herbert Chapel. The 15th century figure of Jesse is extraordinary.

Raglan Castle 's 15th century ruins rise above the Monmouth-Abergavenny road. This castle served for more than defensive purposes. Luxury was an important consideration, and traces of decoration and fine stonework can be found. MORE Hereford to Ross-on-Wye or Symonds Yat | The River Wye Canoe Hire Company | Canoe hire in the Wye Valley with The River Wye Canoe Hire Company, Herefordshire The River Wye Canoe Hire Company Hereford to Ross-on-Wye or Symonds Yat Journey Overview Distance 31 miles: 2-3 day trip ( Ross on Wye ) a further 13 miles to Symonds Yat (4 days ) Registration at Ross on Wye Canoe Hire at approx 10.30 am Day 1 – Hereford to Holme Lacy, Camping typically at Lucksall Campsite after 10 miles Your journey starts in the historic city of Hereford, launching from Hereford Rowing Club. On this quiet stretch of the river unfortunately there are no riverside pubs or restaurants, so please be sure to bring your own food and drink for the canoe journey.

You will start your journey by passing under two road bridges with the city centre and cathedral on your left hand side, and from here the river winds towards the city centre so on and so forth, after approx three miles you pass the village of Hampton Bishop on your left. Meandering further on and after a mile the River Lugg flows into the River Wye from your left. After this you will pass under Holme Lacy road bridge and Lucksall Campsite is signified on your left by a floating pontoon. Prior permission is required to camp: please speak to Gary, Debbie or Karen on 01432 870213. This camp site comes very highly recommended – it’s a five star site with modern shower, toilet facilities and a well stocked shop in reception. There are two to three pubs in the vicinity, The Moon Inn at Mordiford a mile away – turn left as you leave the caravan site. The Crown Inn at Woolhope – a taxi drive away and the Green Man in the village of Fownhope, again a taxi drive.

Day 2 – Holme Lacy to Hoarwithy, camping typically at Tresseck Farm Camp Site, Hoarwithy: 9 miles Now you can start to relax and enjoy the scenery and serenity of the next two days. Traffic wise this is a very peaceful and beautiful stretch of the River Wye where many varieties of wildlife inhabit the banks and skies surrounding you. After approximately three and a half miles canoeing you will pass Mansells Ferry. One mile further on you will pass a steep wooded slope on the left hand side; this leads up to Capler Hill. From here the river loops through the beautiful Herefordshire countryside, which means you can relax as you paddle down the river. You will come to a small group of islands and then you will canoe under a demolished railway bridge. When you reach this point you are approximately two miles from the village of Hoarwithy. As you are approaching the village of Hoarwithy you will see, on your right hand side, the spire of the church of St Catherine’s nestled in amongst the picturesque country cottages. You will follow the river underneath an old iron single track road bridge and the available camping sites are two hundred yards beyond this point.

The two campsites in the village of Hoarwithy are situated one on either side of the river. Tresseck Farm Campsite is on the right bank it is the easiest to recognize as it has a shale beach and at the top of the bank there is a white painted signpost bearing the farm’s name. Lower Ruxton is located on the left hand bank. Both campsites require prior permission. Tresseck Farm Campsite: this site is a basic camping field which has Port-a-loo’s and a stand pipe for drinking water (there are no shower facilities on this site). The owner Mrs Roberts allows open camp fires and barbecues, she can be contacted on 01432 840 235. From this camp site it is a short walk along the path to the local village inn. The New Harp Inn is very welcoming to weary canoeists in need of a hearty meal or a refreshing pint. Reserving a table is advisable as it can be very popular: Tel. 01432 840 900.

Day 3 – Hoarwithy to Ross-on-Wye: 12 miles Launching from Tresseck Farm Campsite, Hoarwithy, onto a very serene stretch of river that winds its way through idyllic countryside you will pass under Sellack Suspension footbridge, one mile further on and you will come to the first of two demolished railway bridges where the only remains are the parapets which was part of the old Hereford to Gloucester line, you are now nearing Strangford village. A further mile on and Fawley chapel can be seen on the left hand bank. Meandering a further three quarters of a mile and the village of How Caple will now be on your left hand side. The next village that your journey will take you through is Foy which is a popular salmon fishing area, In season the salmon pools are indicated by red and green discs which are fixed to the trees. Please observe these discs and paddle to the green side of the river to respect the rights of the fishermen. Now look out for Foy church on your right hand side.

One and a half miles down river you come to Backney common, this is where you pass through the second demolished railway bridge, there is a picnic area on your right hand side immediately before the bridge however access to the picnic area is difficult from the river. You are now nearing the end of your journey, as a further three miles along the river you will approach the historic town of Ross on Wye. You will pass under the A40 road bridge and Ross Rowing Club suddenly appears on your left hand side. Meandering further along you will see the Hope and Anchor pub (Time for a beer??) with its own jetty on the left, and a further 200 yards along you will see an official public launch/egress point which is located by The Riverside Inn. Please leave the river here and pull your canoes up onto the grass area, away from the water. The White Lion, 200 yards down the road by Wilton Bridge, can offer river side camping, B&B, breakfast, lunch, dinner.

If you fancy a pre-launch breakfast you can arrange it through ourselves on 01600 890 470 or contact Dave or Jacqui on – Tel no 01989 562 785. Day 4- Ross on Wye to Symonds Yat : 13 miles Launching from the public launch/egress point by the Riverside Inn, this full day trip is one of the most scenically beautiful journeys you can take on the River Wye. Your journey starts with a series of long loops which take you towards the A40 and back inland so on and so forth. After approx three and a half miles you will suddenly see on your right hand side Goodrich Castle, meandering further on you will come to the first bridge on your trip, Kerne Bridge which is a three arched stone bridge spanning the River Wye. Please make sure that you pass under this bridge through the centre arch as the river flow pushes you towards the right hand bank. There are two official stopping/launch points en-route (Kerne Bridge and Lower Lydbrook) and three or four pubs!

The first of which is 5 miles from the start of your journey, at Kerne Bridge. What you need to do is keep your canoe over to the left hand side of the river as much as possible hugging the shale banks as you flow round the left hand bend and keep to the right of the small island. Please make sure that you all keep paddling at this particular point. Once you have cleared the bend, look out for an electricity pylon on the left hand bank. Shortly after this, and partly obscured by shrubbery, you will see a disused railway bridge abutment. The landing point is immediately after this feature and is also partly obscured by shrubbery which is growing from the river. The pub, The Inn on the Wye, can be seen from the river at Kerne Bridge and is accessed from the landing stage by walking to the entrance of Kerne Bridge Picnic Site, crossing over the road and walking back three hundred yards to your left. The pub is a wonderful place to stop for drink and lunch; it boasts a terraced garden area which has views over the River Wye and towards Goodrich Castle. Contact no 01600 890 872.

This landing stage can be found approx five hundred yards after the bridge on the left hand bank. If you do stop here please take all your equipment and personal belongings with you. Here you can have a picnic/BBQ and there are public toilets situated in the new village hall through the car park area. Once back in the river you are starting to canoe through one of the most picturesque stretches of The River Wye and surrounding countryside. The river loops at a gentle pace around Coppit Hill, passing Bishops Wood Holiday Park on the left bank. Approximately one mile further on your left you pass a water pumping station with flood lights set in the walls. Thereafter, the river takes a long right hand bend taking in all the sites and sounds of the Wye. Please take the long way through this bend and try not to cut it off. (Keep in the centre of the river). Approximately one and three quarter miles further on you come to Lower Lydbrook. You can’t miss this stop as there’s an island in the center of the river. (You must take the left hand channel around the island i.e. the island will be on your right).

To the left, after passing the island, you’ll see the second landing point which is a set of concrete steps with a hand rail leading up to the picnic area. If you wish to stop here simply pull your boat in and tie to the water depth marker, again taking everything with you. There is one pub, The Forge Hammer can be found two hundred yards to the left of the picnic area entrance on the opposite side of the road. Also there is the Garden Cafe opposite the picnic area. Public Toilets: These are situated next to the Forge Hammer pub. Once back in the river after approximately half a mile on the right hand bank you pass Welsh Bicknor Youth Hostel and church. Meandering on, you’ll soon paddle under a disused railway bridge now a footbridge. Please note that we request you to pass under this bridge in the centre of the river and NOT as is requested by the painted sign on the stanchions to pass to the left.

Meandering on a further 2 miles, you start the long right loop passing directly under the famous Symonds Yat and Collwell Rocks which are famous as the nesting place for the Peregrine Falcons (Cameras at the ready!!!!!) Carrying on through the loop with Coppit hill on your right you will come to another bridge which is Huntsham Bridge, an iron bridge which is a single track bridge carrying the road between Symonds Yat East and Symonds Yat West. A further mile on and you will pass on your right Symonds Yat West Leisure Park. At this point, please be aware of the four to five large river cruisers that use this stretch of the river: please give them a wide berth, they will make it clear where they need to go. Meandering on you will see a large boulder in the river on your left, please be aware of people swimming and diving in this area. Your finish point is directly opposite the boulders at The Paddocks Hotel. You will see a brown tourist sign with Ross on Wye Canoe Hire on it. Please report to a member of staff on your return.

Multi Day Trips Timetable Times are approximate and during peak periods, whilst every effort on our behalf is made to keep to them, please ensure that you are clear at the time of booking as to what your actual meeting times are. River Wye | river, United Kingdom | Britannica.com river, United Kingdom River Thames River Wye, river in England and Wales , about 130 mi (210 km) long. It flows from the moorlands of central Wales, generally southeastward through England to its Irish Sea mouth in the Severn Estuary. It is one of the major rivers of Britain . The River Wye curving through Symonds Yat, Hereford and Worcester G.F. Allen/Bruce Coleman Inc. The Wye rises on the eastern slopes of the uplands of Plynlimon, and its upper valley, which has been glaciated, is deeply cut in the ancient grits and shales of the Welsh upland. At most points there is only a narrow strip of farmland between peaty moorlands. Near Rhayader the Wye is joined by the Elan, the upper valley of which has been dammed to form reservoirs for supply of water to Birmingham.

Passing Builth Wells , it bends to the northeast at Aberllynfi to skirt the Black Mountains and enters England at Hay. At Hereford it is joined from the north by the Lugg and meanders in a mature valley to Ross. Below Ross it repeatedly engages in the Forest of Dean plateau in deeply entrenched meanders that provide impressive scenery and spectacular viewpoints, notably at Symonds Yat (an opening or pass). Passing the ruins of Tintern Abbey , it enters its tidal estuary at Chepstow . Below Monmouth the river forms the historic frontier between England and Wales. The Wye has rich salmon fisheries. Learn More in these related articles: Wild Swim Wye - YouTube Wild Swim Wye Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 10, 2013 Wild Swim Wye Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros: All rights to the music belong to them.

The Story Join us on an open water swim in the River Wye in Herefordshire. Situated in the Wye valley of Outstanding Natural Beauty the small journey to the swim site takes in one of the largest elluvial flood planes in Great Britain (the River Lugg Flats) and the Confluence of the River Wye at Mordiford. This stretch between Mordiford and Fownhope is popular in Summer. With woodlands to explore within the Woolhope Dome a 5,000 hectare expanse of ancient woodland in addition it's a magical spot practically on the doorstep of the city of Hereford some 5/6 miles East of its centre. A pleasant afternoon we met old friends unexpectedly kayaking from Hereford. The plan was to swim a bit of distance but alas the River Wye beckoned a more relaxed approach on this occasion. A gentle swim and meeting of meandering minds was the order of the day in place of a calorie burn. Indeed, the only thing burning on this particular day in Herefordshire's Wye Valley was the sun.

Additional Information: Brantacan 2016 | UK bridges | - wyebridges In this list of seventeen bridge failures , three are attributed to scouring. Builders and river users in the lower reaches of the Wye and Severn face yet another problem - one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when navigation went far up these rivers, the problem of providing clearance was added to the difficulties already presented by the creation of adequate foundations in these waters. Why were the Wye bridges built where they were built? Click here . == This page is far from complete. Bridges that do not have a thumbnail picture or a link in this panel are not yet described in the page. Bridge pictures will be added when they are available. Details of the bridges which have been photographed so far are given in the following panels.

==11 M48 Cable-Stayed Bridge - Original Cables North of the Severn cable-stayed bridge, and west of the suspension bridge, just upstream of the mouth of the River Wye, a cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 770 feet/235 m takes the M48 (previously labelled M4) across the river, near the Welsh end of the Severn suspension bridge which carries the same road. Here are some pictures. The second picture has been squashed sideways, to show the undulations in the steel deck, which sags between the supports. The high points are at the anchorages of the bundled cables into the deck, and at the towers, and are marked by horizontal black lines. Each cable contains twenty spiral strands, arranged in a triangular cross section with five layers, with 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 strands per layer, respectively. The flat bottom of the section allows the cables to rest on the flat tops of the towers, held by simple clamps, avoiding the need for specially shaped saddles.

The stiffness of the box girder span is used to transmit torsional forces to the abutments, which are the only supports that are not on the centre line. This technique is used in many modern concrete spans and steel spans, supported either by piers or cables, because the simplicity provides a cost saving that is not lost by the cost of the torsional stiffness. For box girders on piers, the potential untidiness of two rows of piers is avoided. The towers are also of steel box construction. Their height has been increased since these pictures were taken, and the single pair of cables on each span has been replaced by a set of cables in harp formation. These modifications were made because of greatly increased traffic. The sag in the deck has been decreased with the smaller distances between suspension points. Note the light traffic on this road, the motorway M4 which runs from London into Wales. These pictures were taken almost thirty years ago. As traffic built up, it became clear that a new Severn crossing was needed. This is described in the page about cable-stayed bridges. The road over the earlier crossing was renamed M48, and the M4 now follows the new route.

It is much harder now to take pictures with no vehicles, and to avoid the vibration which persists after vehicles have passed. To read more about the old and the new versions of this bridge click here . Other sites about the M48 Wye and Severn bridges Construction Chepstow bridge Chepstow Chepstow bridges A few miles upstream we come to Chepstow, which once possessed a unique railway bridge, designed by Brunel. This bridge was both asymmetrical and inelegant, and only comprehensible when seen as a sort of test bed for the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash. Its main span was an iron truss with a tube as the top member, in compression, and very few tension members. Here is a simplified diagram. This bridge, as well as a truss, can also be seen as a very simple suspension bridge, self-anchored by the tube, or as a very simple cable-stayed bridge. It was used from 1851 to 1962, when it was replaced by the bridge shown below. The new spans were built on land and were slid in under the existing spans, which were then dismantled.

The site itself is asymmetrical, with a vertical cliff on the east bank of the river, and low ground on the west. Whereas Brunel's main span had been constructed mainly above the railway line, the new main span is mainly below, there being no significant navigational requirements. The new bridge uses some of Brunel's piers: the stumps of the unused ones being visible also. The main span is based on two very deep trusses, while the land spans are plate girders. As you see from the pictures above, very close to the railway bridge there is a road bridge, which is of more recent date, carrying the A48. Placement of bridges in close proximity is fraught with aesthetic problems, and engineers often go to great lengths to solve them. The design of over-bridges on motorways often takes into account the possible clashes of alignment with others that drivers can see at the same time. The transition from the box-girder main span and the side spans of the road bridge is made using a half-oval shape under the bridge. A more familiar type of transition is represented by the stress-reliever that is fitted to many plugs where the cable enters. A couple of bridge pictures are also included.

Whenever a structure includes a sudden change in dimensions, there will be a stress concentration, which can be a source of failure, especially when fatigue is possible. Fillets and gussets are among the features that are used to reduce these concentrations. Mushroom heads on concrete columns can greatly reduce stresses in the concrete floor they support. More about this can be found in the pages about attachments and cracks . The Chepstow picture includes a side span of the railway bridge. Here are more pictures from Chepstow. Brunel's Saltash bridge now has a close neighbour in the form of a suspension bridge, which is so different in design that no confusion can possibly occur. Other sites about Chepstow bridge Painting Picture Poster The previous bridge Above Chepstow Our first stop upstream from Chepstow is Tintern , but before reaching the undistinguished footbridge that was once a railway bridge, we look at the ruins of the Cistercian abbey, founded in 1131 and dissolved, along with hundreds of other religious establishments, by Henry 8th. What men can create, men can destroy. Enough remains to show that the abbey must have been a beautiful building.

Now the only colours in the windows are the colours of nature outside, and the only roof is the sky. Good times to see Tintern abbey are spring and autumn, outside the tourist season. Already, having hardly begun our journey up the Wye valley, we get a taste of its beauty. Click here for pictures of Tintern abbey. The single track railway bridge at Tintern has become a footbridge. From a distance it looks quite attractive against the landscape, but seen close up it is a rusting hulk, in great need of some attention. Some of the truss members are flat: others are flanged - it's a question of ties and struts. Like other Wye bridges in a flood plain, Tintern bridge has side arches. More pictures - Next comes the delightful village of Brockweir , with a road bridge based on a lattice truss. It is tempting to think that a plate girder might have been simpler. Indeed it might, but at the time of its construction, it was easier to make small pieces of metal than large ones, and much easier to transport them. Contrast this with the old and the new railway bridge at Chepstow.

This bridge shows very well the technique of thickening the compression bearing top plates in regions of greater stress. This bridge crosses the Wye in a deep narrow valley: it has no side arches. Some of the piers have vertical cracks. The effects are contained by metal bands. Does the length of the cracks suggest that there are no flanges inside these piers? Diagonal ties connect the piers. More pictures of Brocksweir bridge.The main road crosses the Wye at Bigsweir, on an attractive iron bridge with flood arches. It was originally a toll bridge, and the small toll house remains, on the right bank of the river. This bridge was designed by Charles Hollis, and opened in 1827. Trees at all four corners make good photographs difficult to obtain. More pictures are shown below - The next bridge is another old railway bridge, in very poor condition, at Redbrook. A footway is cantilevered out from the railway bridge on the upstream side. The truss bridge is on a gentle curve, at a skew to the river, with the pairs of piers aligned along the river. Diagonal ties connect the columns.

This is especially important for a curved railway bridge, to take the lateral force as a heavy train takes the curve. A change in direction means a change in velocity, which is an acceleration, which requires a force. The sway of the piers with each passing train might be slight, but the cumulative effect of a cyclic force can lead to fatigue cracking. A spider has built its ephemeral web under the bridge. Completely recyclable - the spider eats it before building the next one - it has, like many another natural product, elastic properties that the works of man cannot yet reproduce. The web is ephemeral, but compared with the era of spiders on this planet, the age of modern industrial man is but a moment in time. === Not far south of Monmouth are the remains of two old railway crossings that converge on the right bank of the river. The downstream viaduct stops short of the river in a huge wall of masonry, but the other still crosses the river by means of a truss that is now rusting away. The decks of the truss spans comprise many transverse metal arches. Plants are growing on both the viaducts and the truss.

This will accelerate the process of decay, as the roots force their way into the masonry, and the plants build up dust and soil around their roots on the truss, retaining water and speeding up the rusting process. == Near Monmouth the A466 road crosses the Wye on a multi-arch bridge which has been widened, as you can see from one photograph. The old arches are semicircular, but the new ones are much flatter. This reduces the resistance to flow in time of flood, as compared with long narrow arches. The road also crosses there flood relief arches, which are shown in the last two pictures. Monmouth itself is not quite on the river Wye: it lies on the left bank of the river Monnow. But it is worth mentioning here because of the Monnow bridge , a famous fortified bridge, built towards the end of the 13th century, on the site of a 12th century timber bridge. Above the gateway are openings that allowed the guards to drop unpleasant things on intruders. The bridge now connects Monmouth with Overmonnow.

Downstream of the Monnow bridge, a pipe bridge crosses the river, and not far from the confluence of Monnow and Wye, the A40(T) crosses the Monnow on a fairly standard concrete beam bridge. The next bridge above Monmouth is a suspension footbridge at Biblins. It possesses many of the attributes of large suspension bridges, except that the hangers are all the same length, so the deck dips with the cables. In these pictures, you can see the main cables, the saddles which carry them over the towers, and one of the attachments to the anchorages, which are heavy concrete blocks. One the features which is now seldom seen is the series of cables which pass outwards and downwards from the deck, to limit the amplitude of wind-induced oscillations. Such cables were sometimes employed during the 19th century. A notice reminds people that oscillation is bad for the bridge, though some engineers from eight to eighty years old might find it difficult to resist the temptation to see how easy it is to excite a small amount of sway. Here are some pictures of the bridge at Biblins. A short distance upstream from Biblins we find the river Wye flowing through a deep and narrow valley.

Since it could not originally have flowed up and over the hill, we have to wonder whether the land rose very slowly, even as the river was cutting down through the rock. At any rate, the top of Symonds Yat rock affords splendid prospects of the river, which flows past both sides of the rock, and of a part of the county of Herefordshire. As in many other stretches of the Wye, we see steep ground on one side, and flat on the other, as if the river's meanders have taken it to the limits. Though there is no bridge at Symonds Yat, you can cross from Symonds Yat East to Symonds Yat West and back, by means of a ferry. A stout cable spans the river in a taut catenary. A smaller cable has a loop round the main cable, and is connected to a large punt. The operator throws the loop forward, and then relies on friction to pull the boat. Going upstream from Symonds Yat we find Huntsham bridge, a tidy truss which rests on two old piers in the river. The clean appearance is produced by the use of hollow box section steel members.

The bridge is very narrow, providing only just enough room for vehicles to move in one direction at a time. This was probably the result of using the existing piers. Also, on such a small road, the expense of a two-lane bridge might have been hard to justify. Next we find a disused railway bridge, an old plate girder bridge resting on cylindrical piers. It is now only used as a footbridge, and is a good viewpoint for watching kingfishers. Nearby, large factory buildings slowly crumble, reminding us of the once thriving industries of the Forest of Dean. Kerne Bridge, dating from 1828, is a splendid sight, comprising five fine arches, two of which only come into play in times of floods, which are more frequent than people would wish, though here they affect only the fields. The symmetry of the bridge has been spoiled by the addition of a ramp at the south-east end, to bring the road up to the level of the B4234, which is on the the slope of the hill behind the bridge. Note the decoration of the voussoirs - only simple radial cuts, but effective in lifting the design.

It is little touches like these which reveal how much the builders regarded their work as more than simply utilitarian. In the water below the bridge you may see trout, and you may also see a kingfisher fishing from the branches above the water, or flying under the bridge at high speed. == Wilton Bridge at Ross-on-Wye Wilton bridge, completed in 1599 to replace a wooden bridge, carries the old A40 road over the river Wye near Ross-on-Wye. Details and photographs . ======= Bridstow Bridge near Ross-on-Wye Bridstow bridge, completed in 1960, carries the A40 trunk road over the river Wye near Ross-on-Wye. It is 353 feet/108 m long, and comprises two cantilever sets and a suspended span. Details and photographs . ========= A few miles upstream from Ross-on-Wye, Foy bridge, a small suspension span, crosses the river. Trees prevent a good photograph being obtained. The deck is stiffened by a truss. The cables are slightly kinked at the centre. The plaque reads "ROWELL & Co Ltd ENGINEERS WESTMINSTER".

The next bridge, at Sellack Boat, is also a suspension span. The anchorages are unusual: the eyebolts that hold the main cables, also link to cables that are connected to the feet of the towers. Perhaps this defines the geometry of the whole bridge when the eyebolts are tensioned. Another unusual feature is the use of long bolted clamps, not only near the anchorages, but near the towers as well. Short cables hang over the towers; these are clamped to long sections that hold the deck, and to shorter sections that connect to the anchorages. The deck has no apparent means of stiffening, and will oscillate gently in both torsion and translation, though with fairly strong damping. The inscriptions on the towers read "LOUIS HARPER A.M.I.C.E. MAKER ABERDEEN", though it was designed by E G Davies of Hereford. The last picture illustrates a fault that is rare in real suspension bridges, but not uncommon in models - the hangers are too stiff. The picture has been compressed vertically by a factor of five to make this clear.

After Sellack Boat we find Hoarwithy bridge, based on steel I-beams, and Holme Lacy, based on concrete I-beams: these are modern spans. These are shown below. Note the weight-saving cellular construction at Holme Lacy. The earlier Hoarwithy bridge was an iron truss. === Hereford bridge Hereford Bridges Hereford bridge Next we come to Hereford, which has a railway bridge, two footbridges and two road bridges over the Wye. Going upstream , we find the railway bridge first, a rather undistinguished plate girder bridge with the usual flood arches for the Wye. This bridge and the next appear to be in the country because no building was done on the flood plain. Next comes a concrete beam bridge that is connected to a sewage works. Then we come across that rare find, the pleasant Victoria suspension bridge of 1897, in a position where it can be well seen and photographed. This example has tie-bars rather than cables. Note the unusual truss work on each side of the span. The trussed tower is typical of small suspension bridges. The next bridge is the old road bridge, which comprises an amazing assortment of arches.

One is ribbed, two are pointed, and all are different. You can clearly see the signs that the bridge has been widened. Every pier has a wide anti-scouring platform, because the piers are wide and the arches are narrow. The bridge was built in 1490, and had a gate that was demolished in 1782. The bridge was widened in 1826. One of the pleasant features of the river Wye is that when the water is low, you can walk out on the shingle in many places, and with waders, you can walk right across. The river is very popular with anglers. We see also the tower of the cathedral, one of the Three Choirs cathedrals. This building is perhaps on a more human scale than those at Worcester and Gloucester. Close to the old road bridge is the new one, which appears to be a very flat arch, an impression which is emphasised by the surface treatment. Unfortunately, the "arches" which have been indicated on the surface have not been provided with fake abutments: the arch shapes just stop at each end.

Finally, as we leave Hereford, we see a footbridge with three iron arches, which was probably once a railway bridge. === Above Hereford The first bridge upstream of Hereford is at Bridge Sollers; this bridge has been replaced by a fine new one, and no picture of the old one will appear in this page. Change must occur, and we cannot indefinitely preserve every old structure, but we surely need to conserve the finer examples. The new bridge is a beam bridge, based on continuous non-haunched steel I-beams, treated so as to obviate the need for painting. A stable surface layer has rapidly formed, which will prevent further corrosion or rusting. The design is neat, with two narrow concrete piers of streamlined shape, ideal for this river with its tendency to flood after storms in the mountains upstream. No doubt quite soon in the life of this bridge, the piers will be almost completely submerged. Who would have thought that there could be a disadvantage to the narrow piers at Bridge Sollers? This picture of the bridge at Newbridge-on-Wye reveals what it is. The large tangle of old tree branches would probably not have become impaled on the old type of wide masonry piers.

This mass of wood not only increases the effective width of the pier - it decreases the effective span. Moving on from Bridge Sollers we encounter the magnificent brick bridge at Bredwardine, with six arches, two of which are for flood water only. Like the Kerne bridge, Bredwardine bridge has to contend with different levels at the ends, but unlike Kerne, Bredwardine is unashamedly asymmetric. The builder has placed most of the slope at the lower end, which has the merit of raising the whole bridge, a major concern in time of flood. In a strategic position overlooking the eastern end of the bridge there was a motte and bailey. Another bridge in such a location is Loyn bridge, which was overlooked by an earthwork known at one time as Castle Stede. Pictures of Loyn bridge can be found elsewhere in this site. To deal with the occasional very fast flow, the has cutwaters and large platforms against scouring. On each side, only two of the cutwaters are taken right up to form refuges for pedestrians; this avoids the monotony that might have resulted from uniformity. At about deck level there is some modest decoration.

Unusually for such large brick arches, keystones are included. Large drainage channels allow water that runs down the hill to the bridge to escape into the river, rather than flood the road, which has its lowest point quite near the bridge. This bridge is situated in a pleasant setting from which it can be well seen. The bridge is not the original: it is a faithful copy built in 1922, the original bridge having become unsafe. The older bridge had already needed repair after the flood of early 1795. One wonders what would happen today if such bridges were to be declared unsafe. Already some rather uninspiring designs have replaced older Wye bridges. Whitney toll bridge The next bridge, at Whitney, is also noteworthy, for it is a toll bridge and a grade II listed building. The income was decreed as tax free by a 1779 Act of Parliament. The original masonry bridge, built in 1779, was washed away by the river, as were two subsequent efforts. One of these events was caused by the great flood of 1795. The current bridge dates from early in the 19th century.

It is not obvious that wood is more durable than stone, but it is probably a lot cheaper to replace when the floods take their toll. Normally we associate tolls with massive modern undertakings, but there are several places in England were ancient toll rights are exercised. These can spoil your travel plans if you reach them unexpectedly in the middle of the peak traffic period. There is such a toll bridge at Eynsham, near Oxford, which creates very long queues, and another one near Bath. The three wooden spans at Whitney are propped beams, as you can see from the top left corner of this photograph. (Or could they be considered as three-segment four-hinged arches with stabilisers?) The general views are looking upstream, and on the far side of the cutwaters you can see the sheets of metal which protect the timbers from flood water and debris. In the diagrams above, the deck was assumed to be in segments which spanned the piers. But if the deck were continuous, the compression in the centre of the spans would induce tension above the piers, in order to maintain the same total length, as in the first diagram below. The assumption here is that the deck is fixed at the ends.

Such a bridge is somewhat indeterminate in both type and forces. The deck could be post-tensioned or post-compressed to attain a situation with the same polarity of stress throughout. In the second diagram, we revert to a segmented deck, but with the joints near the props. Now the bridge is based on cantilevers. We see that what looks like a simple structure allows of several different interpretations, depending on the exact mode of assembly. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get close enough to the bridge to examine the details. Note the iron sheets which shield the wooden cutwaters against the ferocious flood waters and floating debris which sometimes hit the bridge. All along the Wye valley, you can see bridges with extra spans to accommodate flood water, and as we ascend the river, we see cutwaters, and platforms around the piers to combat scouring, a great enemy of bridges. The piers were originally essentially planar structures: the present shielding being a 20th century addition. These pictures show the toll cottage and a portion of the wooden deck, and the two plaques that describe the bridge.

You will have noticed that the thrust of the two masonry arches is contained by the piers, Roman style, for they must have been placed before the timber was added, and they survive if the timber is washed away. The Romans were very conservative about the ratio of span to width of pier, reasoning that floods or enemy action, in destroying one span, would not take out the rest. With such a design, the arches could, if required, be built one at a time, using the same centring throughout. For arches in which the thrust propagates throughout the bridges, all the spans must be built together. Building sturdy arches of small span with wide piers may seem like a good idea, but this type of construction reduces the area available for the flow of water. Compare the open construction at Bredwardine, downstream and up-page. Admittedly, there the river is rather wider, which helps greatly. As we go upstream, just before reaching Hay-on-Wye, we enter Wales. For bridges in Wales, please see Wye Bridges Two . === Maps | Wye Valley AONB Terms & Conditions Shire Hall is located in the centre of Monmouth, Wales.

It is a Grade I* listed, in the classical style architecture designed by Philip Fisher of Bristol in 1724. Shire Hall was the scene of the Chartist Trials, one of the most significant trials in British history. A Forestry Commission Wales site situated in Bargain Wood. Visitors to the site can enjoy pleasant walks that take in a number of fantastic views across the Wye Valley. The Whitestone picnic and play area offers visitors the opportunity to relax in beautiful surroundings with barbecue facilities and a unique children’s play area. The Buckstone lies in Highmeadow Woods near the village of Staunton ( Village of the stones). The huge rock on the summit of Buckstone Hill is said to have been used in Druid ceremonies, and actually used to rock before it was dislodged in 1885. This point is at 915 feet and one can view panoramic scenery such as views over the Forest of Dean, Highmeadow Woods and the Black Mountains. One of several stones in the area. These are the Toadstone, Broadstone, Longstone and Queen Stone, all of which have origins dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Nearnby are the Suckstone and Near hearkening Rock Grid reference SO5412 Owned by the Woodland Trust these woods feature old oak woodlands together with coniferous plantations which are slowly being returned to ancient semi-natural woodlands. Wonderful in spring with a mass of bluebells and wild garlic.One of the sections, Bigsweir Woods,, is a site of special scientific interest while Causeway Grove is an ancient coppiced woodland. Owned by the Woodland Trust this ravine woodland is part of the nationally important Wye Valley woods, Little Doward is a landmark with immense character, diverse species, great views and archaeological and geological interest. Its varied geology and management have helped create a varied mix of habitats, some thought unique to the site. A large part is designated of special scientific interest and its historical links are impressive, as a large hill fort with Bronze Age barrows testifies. The flanks of the hill support ancient woodland. Other sections mix conifers with non-native broadleaves while limestone outcrops support notable flora and fauna species, including the nationally rare white beam tree. Greater and lesser horseshoe bats roost in its limestone caves.

To enter, take the path from the car park downhill to King Arthur’s cave and follow the public pathway along the woodland boundary carrying straight on when the path turns sharp left for the river. Grid ref SO538160 The 115 acre ancient woodland of Highbury is a National Nature Reserve. It has unbroken links with the ‘wildwood’ which colonised the area after the last ice age. It has retained a great variety of plant and animals species and has survived into the present day largely due to its inaccessibility. Much of the woodland canopy is dominated by ash, cherry and small-leaved lime with some mature beech. Large-leaved lime, wild service tree and whitebeam are among the scarcer trees. Yew trees are a particular feature of the reserve and some may be more than 300 years old. Alder dominates the lower slopes, and hazel - along with dogwood, wayfaring tree and spindle - forms the understorey throughout much of the wood.You can access it via the Offa’s Dyke Trail National Path which passes through the reserve. Coppett (sometimes ‘Coppet’) Hill Common is a Local Nature Reserve of over 100 hectares.

It is owned by Trustees who live in the parish and conservation work is supported by the Friends of Coppett Hill. It is a mix of woodland and open hillside and a good site for butterflies, birds and fungi. Coppett Hill is easily accessed from the A40 between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. Follow the signs for Goodrich Castle with its car park and toilets. Walk back through Goodrich following the signs to Welsh Bicknor. There is no parking on Coppett Hill and access is on foot only - no powered vehicles or mountain bikes. The name Haugh, which is pronounced “Hoff” is derived from the name of a Saxon owner indicating that this is the site of an ancient wood. Haugh Woods at nearly 350 hectares (850 acres) is nationally important for butterflies and moths, with over 600 species recorded within it. This makes the wood one of the top 10 woods in the country and is designated as a SSSI due to the presence of these invertebrates. OS Grid Reference: SO 593365 The Kymin is a Naval Temple and Roundhouse, now owned by the National Trust.

It has been used as a picnic spot for over 200 years and it is a great place to sit and admire the spectacular views across Wales. Nine acres of pleasure grounds and woods offer a tranquil escape from modern life. The Naval Temple was built by public subscription in 1800. It’s set atop a hill with commanding views of Monmouth and the surrounding countryside. The Round House is a circular Georgian banqueting house built in 1794 by local gentry for use as a small, private dining club. Lord Nelson and Sir and Lady Hamilton had breakfast here in 1802. The fine twin-towered gatehouse of this castle, built by Edward I in 1292, once defended a crossbow bolt factory which used local Forest of Dean iron. Once a prison, it is now a youth hostel in wonderful walking country. Formerly the site of Speech House colliery, Beechenhurst is now the ideal base for a family day out with walking trails,Gaveller’s cafe and a play area. It has visitor information and is home to the famous Sculpture Trail. Beautiful mature Oak and Beech woodland Bargain Wood lies adjacent to a section of the famous Wye Valley Walk.

Visitors to the site can enjoy pleasant walks that take in a number of fantastic views across the Wye Valley. The Whitestone picnic and play area offers visitors the opportunity to relax in beautiful surroundings with barbecue facilities and a unique children Situated in the heart of Ross-on-Wye in the famous sandstone Market House of 1650, this centre offers a flavour of the heritage of this historic town and also offers extensive resources for the family history researcher, hands-on elements for younger visitors, children’s activities in all of the school holidays and an excellent gift shop stocking local books, gifts and souvenirs. Visit Herefordshire provides all aspects of tourism marketing, research, development and training for the County. Visit Herefordshire can also help with any specific tourism information not covered on their website. There are two Tourist Information Centres (TICs) in Monmouthshire, located in Abergavenny and Chepstow and a Tourist Information Outlet (TIO) in Monmouth. Chepstow and Monmouth are managed directly by Monmouthshire Council. TICs act as a focal point for tourism businesses in the area and a communication channel for information for visitors e.g. on local events, special offers etc.

Shire Hall is located in the centre of Monmouth. It is a Grade I listed, classically designed building designed by Philip Fisher of Bristol in 1724. It is famous for housing the Chartist Trials of 1839/40. It also houses a Tourist Information Centre Abbey Mill is a complex of café and craft shops housed in the Old Mill Buildings. The Old Water Wheel, made in the 1870s and operated until 1951. Power came from this waterwheel, one of 22 waterwheels which lined the banks of the Angidy river, providing energy for the Valley’s industries. The Abbey Mill wheel is the only one to survive. It was taken away to be restored in November 2008.The restoration was a part of an “Overlooking the Wye” project, part funded by the Heritage Lottery. Goodrich Castle stands majestically on a wooded hill commanding the passage of the River Wye into the picturesque valley of Symonds Yat . The castle was begun in the late 11th century, by the English Godric who gave it his name.

One of the most complete medieval castles in Britain, built to guard a ford across the River Wye The ruins of Chepstow Castle have a spectacular setting on cliffs over the River Wye. This powerful defensive position can best be seen from several points on the English side of the river. William Fitzosbern commenced building the castle the year after the Battle of Hastings in 1067, in stone to help subdue the Welsh of Gwent The Abbey remains the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales. Tintern was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain, and the first in Wales. The present-day remains are a mixture of building works covering a 400-year period between 1131 and 1536. Brockweir Quay is where the trows from Bristol would load/unload and it was once a busy port. The quay has been cleaned and restored by the Overlooking the Wye project The internationally famous viewpoint is situated 120m above the gorge of the River Wye with views over rural Herefordshire and the mountains of mid-Wales.

It is a Forestry Commission site Nearby cliffs are the nesting place of Peregrine Falcons, you can enjoy watching the birds while they hunt and raise their young from April to August each year. Built as a Victorian country railway station, this Green Flag Award winning site is set in Picturesque surroundings by the River Wye just outside Tintern. With new railway carriages, a signal box, a Victorian Tea Room and Destination Wye Valley exhibition this site offers picnic and barbeque facilities and numerous events Camping on the Wye Camping on the Wye Hire Campsites in and around Herefordshire Camping at Whitney Bridge , The camping area is right on the river so – pull the canoe up and relax. Well maybe not – pitch the tent – light the fire and cook your supper. If you don’t feel like cooking however book a BBQ or breakfast ahead of time and be pampered Contact 01497 831 669 The Pound Campsite , Whitney-on-Wye - Nestled on the banks of the River Wye, the site has a newly built amenities block which includes power showers, washing facilities and toilets. Breakfast is available (to order) at The Pound if you are too relaxed to prepare your own.

Nearby shop and an inn for lunch and evening meals. Contact 01497 831391 Borders Hideaway Holiday Home Park , Clyro - Borders Hideaway provides a haven of peace and tranquil relaxation with panoramic views. The park accepts Tents, Caravans, Campervans & Motorhomes. Situated above the sleepy village of Clyro, on the Welsh side of the meandering River Wye, near to Hay-on-Wye. Contact 01497 820 156 Penlan Campsite , nr Hay-on-Wye - 500 yards from the border between Herefordshire and Powys, this campsite offers beautiful views across the Brecon Beacons. Based on a national trust farm in an area of outstanding natural beauty, you will find a warm welcome awaits you. The site accepts touring caravans and tents. Contact 01497 831 485 New Court Farm Campsite , Preston on Wye - situated just below Monington Falls. This is a rustic campsite that allows groups to have campfires and provides packs of wood for the occasion.

There is a toilet but no showers, making this ideal for groups looking for a wild setting with lots of wildlife around. Contact 001981 500349 Ridge Hill , nr. Hereford - Located just 3 miles from the historic city of Hereford and within easy reach of local amenities the Ridgehill Caravan and Camping site affords basic facilities and is the ideal base for those wanting to explore the River Wye or see more of Herefordshire, South or Mid Wales. Contact 01432 351293 Tresseck Campsite , Hoarwithy - Located in the picturesque village of Hoarwithy, this site is very family oriented. It is perfect if you want to explore Herefordshire, land or launch your canoe, go fishing or just relax in the peaceful riverside location. This site is for tents only. Contact 01432 840235

Question: Name the only city situated on the River Wye.
Answer: HEREFORD