A first-timer's guide to exploring the Wye Valley
Straddling the border between England and Wales, the Wye Valley is one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes — a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where a meandering river carves through wooded gorges, past medieval castles and timeless market towns. If it's your first visit, here's everything you need to plan the perfect trip from your base at Field Cottage.
Start in Ross-on-Wye
Just ten minutes from the cottage, Ross-on-Wye is the gateway to the valley. Perched on a sandstone bluff above a horseshoe bend in the river, this handsome market town is full of independent shops, traditional pubs and riverside paths. Climb up to the Prospect for sweeping views, browse the Thursday market, then follow the river out of town for an easy afternoon stroll.
Take to the water
No trip to the Wye Valley is complete without getting out on the river itself. The Wye is one of the finest canoeing rivers in the country, with gentle stretches ideal for families and longer descents for the more adventurous. Several local operators in Ross-on-Wye and Symonds Yat hire canoes and kayaks by the half-day or day, with transport back to your starting point.
The view of the river from a canoe — kingfishers darting along the banks, herons standing sentinel in the shallows — is something you'll remember long after you get home.
Don't miss Symonds Yat
A 20-minute drive downstream brings you to Symonds Yat, where the river loops dramatically through a steep gorge. Climb to Symonds Yat Rock for one of the most famous views in England, keep an eye out for the wild peregrine falcons that nest on the cliffs, and cross the river on the centuries-old hand-pulled ferry.
Castles & history
The valley is dotted with reminders of its turbulent border history. Goodrich Castle, a magnificent red-sandstone ruin, is only a short drive from the cottage and a brilliant day out for families. Further south, the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey inspired Wordsworth and Turner alike.
A suggested first itinerary
- Day 1: Settle in, then explore Ross-on-Wye and a riverside walk.
- Day 2: Canoe a stretch of the Wye, finishing with lunch by the water.
- Day 3: Symonds Yat Rock and a woodland walk, then Goodrich Castle.
- Day 4: Venture into the Forest of Dean or cross into Wales for Monmouth and Tintern.
However you choose to spend your days, Field Cottage makes the ideal base — peaceful, central and with room for the whole group to relax at the end of each adventure.