River Wye Guide: Places to Visit, Walks & Activities

The River Wye is one of the UK’s best rivers for sightseeing and outdoor adventures, with historic towns, scenic villages, famous viewpoints and waterside walks along its route. This guide covers some places to visit on the Wye, from Hereford and Ross-on-Wye to Symonds Yat, Tintern and Chepstow.

For much of its course, the river forms part of the border between England and Wales. The lower section runs through the Wye Valley National Landscape, an area known for walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, forest and historic sites.

I have hiked many parts of the river over the years and enjoyed kayaking in the lower sections, including its rapids.

Places to Visit on The River Wye

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Hereford: A Cathedral City on the Wye

Hereford is a historic cathedral city and the county town of Herefordshire. The city is situated on the River Wye and is a great place to start an adventure. It’s easy to reach, as it has a railway station with trains from many parts of the UK.

Hereford dates back to Saxon times; however, Hereford Cathedral, its principal attraction, has a history dating back to the 11th century. There are many places to stay in the city and excellent restaurants too. Hereford also has a vibrant nightlife, including some nightclubs.

Ross-on-Wye: A Riverside Market Town

Ross-on-Wye is a pretty town on the river and a lovely place to visit. It’s a popular place to start a hike or kayaking adventure to head downstream on the river. There are many things to see when visiting the town, including a historic marketplace and some interesting buildings.

Ross-on-Wye also has great pubs and restaurants, including those with river views. A good event to attend in the town is the annual rowing regatta. They also have a few music festivals in the town.

Lydbrook Village: For Walks and Watersports

Lydbrook is a pleasant village that is a nice place to start an adventure. I’ve used it as a starting point for many walks in the area, as it has good public transport links from Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. The path downstream from Lydbrook is beautiful and not very busy, thus very enjoyable if you like quiet hiking.

Lydbrook has been a settlement for a long time, with evidence of activity dating back to the Stone Age. The Romans also used the village for agriculture. Interestingly, Lydbrook has the longest high street of any village in the UK.

They have a few pubs in Lydbrook, including the Forge Hammer Inn near the river. Other pleasant pubs in the village include the Royal Spring and The Colliers Inn.

Symonds Yat: For Views and Hikes

Symonds Yat is really two villages on either side of the river, Symonds Yat East and Symonds Yat West. It’s a very picturesque place to visit and popular with tourists. The most popular thing to do in the village is to walk to the Yat Rock Viewpoint, which has wonderful views. A cool thing to do is cross the river on the hand ferry that links the two villages.

Symonds Yat is a great starting point for a hike either along the river or for a circular walk in the picturesque countryside. There are many canoe and kayak hire companies in the village, and as a bonus, there are rapids here too. It’s one of the top adventure destinations on the river.

Symonds Yat has a few pubs and restaurants to dine out at, my favourite being the Saracen’s Head, which is next to the river. It’s a nice place for food or a cold local cider after a long walk. If you want to stay in the village, there are various options, including campsites and hotels.

Biblins Bridge

One of my favourite places of interest in the lower reaches of the river is the Biblins footbridge. The bridge is a wonderful waypoint for a river hike and offers excellent views. It’s also fun to cross and take photographs.

The bridge has had an interesting history since 1919. Back then, this site was a winch point for moving logs across the river. Subsequently, in 1924, they converted it into a footbridge. They built the current wire mesh suspension bridge in 1957. They have, however, replaced much of it since, including after it was damaged by various floods in the area.

Monmouth: Historic Town by the Wye and Monnow

Monmouth is a pretty town in Wales near the border with England. The town is where the River Monnow joins the River Wye. Monmouth is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is thus a great base camp for a hiking holiday.

Monmouth town dates back to Roman times and was the earliest Roman fort in Wales. There are many things to see and do in Monmouth, including historic buildings, churches, and bridges. An interesting sight in the town is the Monnow Bridge, the UK’s oldest fortified bridge. A great time to visit the town is when there is an event on. I really enjoyed visiting during the Monmouth Music Festival.

Monmouth offers plenty of pubs and restaurants for visitors, including the Punch House, which is rather pleasant. You also have options for pleasant hotels and other accommodations.

Redbrook & Penallt

I’ve hiked via or to Redbrook many times, and it’s a rather nice place for a break. Redbrook is on the river next to Penallt. The viaduct that crosses the river between the villages straddles the England-Wales border, with Redbrook on the English side.

There are two nice pubs for food and drink in the villages. My favourite is The Boat Inn, which serves nice food and has a wonderful selection of local cider. There’s also a village shop for supplies here, too. The hiking from Redbrook includes upstream and downstream paths and routes into the Forest of Dean.

Tintern And Its Famous Abbey

Tintern is a small village, and its main attraction is the historic Tintern Abbey. Tintern Abbey is a ruined abbey church you can visit. The abbey dates from 1131, when it was founded. This was one of the victims of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

Other things to do in the area include visiting the Abbey Mill and crossing the Old Wireworks Tramway Bridge. The walks locally are wonderful, including the route to the Devil’s Pulpit and the fantastic viewpoint above the river. There is also a pub and a few cafes in Tintern for refreshments.

Chepstow: Castle Town at the End of the Wye

Chepstow is a pleasant town in Wales near where the River Wye flows into the River Severn. It has a nice town centre with a few historical sights, including the town walls, a museum, and the castle.

Chepstow Castle is the principal attraction in the town, and visiting is a fun thing to do. The castle dates back to the Norman era; however, parts have been developed since then, including during Tudor times. Chepstow Castle is mainly ruins, but there’s lots to see and learn about its history.

There are plenty of places to dine out in Chepstow, including friendly pubs and cafes. If you wanted to stay longer, there is a choice of hotels.

Activities On The River Wye

There are many ways to enjoy the river, including some fun activities and interesting attractions along the way.

• Hiking or Walking – The area has many good trails, most notably those that follow the river. I enjoy hiking downstream from town to town.
• Kayaking or Canoeing – There are options for hiring canoes or kayaks at various places along the river.
• Camping – You can stay at various campsites near the river, which certainly adds to the adventure.
• Wildlife Spotting – While exploring the countryside along the river, you may get to see some interesting wildlife. This includes deer, boar and some birds of prey. Some parts have lots of butterflies and dragonflies.
• Fishing – The area is also popular with people who enjoy fishing. There are many places where you can find more information to help you comply with the laws.