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Wye Valley
Dyffryn Gŵy

Along the southern Welsh border
326 sq km/126 sq miles
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Ardal o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol
Southwest England - Wales - West Midlands

The beautiful valley of the river Wye meanders through lush lowlands from just outside Hereford southwards through Ross-on-Wye, then continues into Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire, with steep wooded gorges providing more dramatic scenery. The landscape is of international importance and the whole length of the river itself is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Sites of interest  in Herefordshire include:

  • Haugh Wood, a large mixed woodland and SSSI near Mordiford southeast of Hereford (Forestry Commission)
  • Symonds Yat, one of the river's most dramatic gorges, with excellent footpaths, a ferry and nesting peregrine falcons. On the southern boundary of Herefordshire, just outside Monmouth.

Accessibility

Ask the AONB office (below) for further advice.

Public transport

There are railway stations at Chepstow and Hereford. Numerous buses run along the southern part of the valley connecting Chepstow with Tintern and Monmouth, Monmouth with Ross on Wye and Gloucester, and Ross with Hereford. Full details of public transport between Chepstow and Hereford are in the booklet Discover the Wye Valley by Foot and by Bus (see below) which also includes shorter walks from bus stops.

Maps

  • Explorer OL14, 189
  • Wye Valley & Royal Forest of Dean Map and Guide, £1.50 from AONB (below)
  • Symonds Yat and surrounding area map and guide, free from AONB (below)
  • More about maps

Publications

  • Discover the Wye Valley on Foot and by Bus. Booklet 30p + p&p from Wye Valley AONB or local sources.
    Full details of bus routes in the Wye Valley AONB between Chepstow and Hereford, plus much useful background information and suggestions for walks from bus stops. [2005]
  • Parish Paths of Fownhope, Ross Heritage Trail and Five Walks from Ross, various prices, from Ross-on-Wye TIC (below).
  • Jarrold Short Walks: Herefordshire and the Wye Valley by Neil Coates, ISBN 0 7117 3858 0. Jarrold £5.99.
    20 walks 3km/2 miles to 9km/5.5 miles, in handy pocket size with OS Explorer map extracts. Includes points and questions for children and public transport notes.

Paths and routes

Contacts

Regions

Local authorities

Visitor Information

Accommodation