Things to do

Things to do and places to visit near to Goodrich, Ross on Wye, Forest of Dean and Monmouth in the Wye Valley, Herefordshire. National Trust, English Heritage, Castles, gardens, Cotswolds, Cardiff all accessible.

Herefordshire is where gentle rural England merges into rugged Wales. No other county in England combines such a variety of scenery with so much unspoilt natural beauty. It is England’s “Hidden Gem” and a gastronomic delight!

The River Wye is one of the most unspoilt rivers in the UK and flows through beautiful countryside between Hay on Wye and Chepstow for more than 100 miles. The historic city of Hereford and the market towns of Ross on Wye and Monmouth are on its banks. Throughout its length it is England’s greatest salmon fishery, and is also outstanding for coarse fishing, especially around Ross-on-Wye.
White-water canoeists, rock climbers and abseilers will find plenty of opportunities to challenge their skills in the Wye Gorge downstream from Symonds Yat.

Horse riding, ballooning are all readily available to visitors. There are superb golf-courses in the area including the Ross on Wye Golf Club which welcome visiting players. For racing enthusiasts Hereford, Chepstow and Cheltenham racecourses are all easily accessible.

For those with an interest in castles there are many to visit throughout the Forest of Dean and surrounding area, including Goodrich here on our doorstep and St Briavels, Clearwell, Caldicot, Chepstow, Raglan White Castle and Skenfrith Castles. Some of these are managed by English Heritage or Cadaw.

Nestling between the Wye Valley, the Vale of Leadon and the Severn Valley, the Royal Forest of Dean covers more than 25,000 acres and is one of England’s few remaining ancient forests.The seasons bring an ever-changing landscape, from the vivid blues of wild bluebells and yellow daffodils in spring, to the blaze of gold and russet colours of changing leaves in autumn. The Severn bore is a fantastic phenomenon especially at Spring and Autumn Equinox tides. The area is a paradise for walkers and cyclists alike with forest trails throughout and more than 200kms of off-road cycle routes. Bikes can be locally hired.Open studios are held throughout the Forest in July and Herefordshire later in the summer. This gives visitors the opportunity of seeing how local crafts are made as well as visiting painting exhibitions. It is a great way to see more of the countryside as well as works of art.The Royal Forest of Dean has been an inspiration for many great writers and artists including Wordsworth, Denis Potter JK Rowling, Tolkein and Turner.

Ross-on-Wye has been a popular town with visitors since Victorian times; it stands prominently on a red sandstone cliff, above a broad bend in the river. The town centres around its Market Hall which now houses a good Heritage Visitor centre on the upper floor. Down by the river is an area of meadows and riverside walks and areas for picnics and several pubs serving good food.The three counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire are well known for their gastronomic delights and the Food Festivals held each year at Abergavenny, and Hereford are well worth a visit. Hay-on-Wye and Cheltenham are less than an hour away. Both are well known for Literary Festivals. Malvern hosts the RHS Spring and Autumn Flower Shows as well as having a superb theatre and is conveniently located. Major sporting and cultural events are held in Cardiff Millennium Stadium and can be reached in less than an hour. There are several National Trust and English Heritage properties well worth visiting in the area and many properties in the area are with the Open Garden Scheme. With such a spectacular range of scenery, outdoor leisure activities and attractions, combined with a uniquely fascinating history and heritage plus a whole host of year-round events and festivals, is what makes the Wye Valley an awe-inspiring holiday destination at any time of the year.