Lady’s Guide to Things to Do in the Wye Valley

Today I want to bring you my guide to Britain’s Wye Valley. One of the things I love about living in London is that there are so many weekend trips in the UK I can take. Which is why I’m excited to be on the border of England and Wales with a friend who’ll show me the best things to do in the Wye Valley.

Wye Valley

This 126-square mile (326-square kilometer) area follows the River Wye through Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire on both sides of the England-Wales border.

The Wye Valley is not only a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but also the birthplace of tourism in the UK.

The region was popularized as a travel destination in the 18th century thanks to enterprising locals and the first illustrated tour guide published in Britain.

It was made more desirable as poets like William Wordsworth and artists like J. M. W. Turner flocked to the Wye Valley to write, paint, and wax lyrical about its viewpoints, castle ruins, and riverside scenery.

Locals and visitors alike are still drawn to this part of the United Kingdom to take in its beauty both on and off the river. From canoeing and hiking to antiquing and ruin-spotting, there are a lot of things to do in the Wye Valley.

Things to Do in the Wye Valley

I’m staying with a friend in Ross-on-Wye, the only town within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. She’s offered to take me around for the weekend and show me the highlights.

Wye Valley: Ross-on-Wye

We start with the town itself. Ross-on-Wye is a historic market town with a 17th-century covered market and lots of shops on the high street. People come from all over to buy antiques here, and as we browse the shops we can see why.

Ross-on-Wye also features historic almshouses, the 700-year-old parish church of St. Mary’s, and views over a bend in the River Wye.

Wye Valley: Tintern Abbey

From Ross-on-Wye, our explorations take us south to Tintern Abbey in Wales. I remember reading poetry about this place in high school, and visiting is one of the most exciting things to do in the Wye Valley for me.

When we arrive at Tintern Abbey, I’m happy to see that the ruins are every bit as beautiful as I imagined.

The abbey, which was founded in 1131, was the first Cistercian foundation established in Wales. The present structures were built over a span of 400 years between the founding and 1536.

The buildings fell into disrepair after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, and today their soaring skeletons and hollow windows make Tintern Abbey a romantic ruin worthy of the great poets and artists who’ve immortalized it.

We spend an hour exploring the ruins and having a picnic lunch in the sun. Afterwards we drive north into England for another of the best things to do in the Wye Valley: Symonds Yat Rock.

Wye Valley: Symonds Yat Rock

Symonds Yat Rock is a viewpoint with stunning vistas over the River Wye and the Wye Valley. From its peak we watch the river wind its way through green fields and forest land.

Afterwards we pick one of the many hiking trails from Symonds Yat Rock and head off on a 2-hour Wye Valley walk.

The Mailscot Wood Trail is a hilly circular path through the Forest of Dean. Walking it makes me appreciate how easy it is to get away from London and into nature for a weekend.

Everything from the clean air to the woodland waterfalls offers a nice break from urban life.

Gloucester Cathedral

The next morning we go on another walk on the trails around Ross-on-Wye, then say good-bye to the Wye Valley.

We drive to Gloucester for my train back to London, but said train is canceled. There’s an hour until the next one, which leaves us just enough time to visit Gloucester Cathedral.

The cathedral is stunning in its own right—the building is nearly 1,000 years old—and in recent years the Harry Potter movies were filmed here.

My favorite part is the cloisters, which have stunning fan-vaulted ceilings. The garden in the middle is beautiful, too.

From Gloucester Cathedral it’s a quick drive to the train station. I say farewell to my friend and thank her for introducing me to so many things to do in the Wye Valley.

Wye Valley

It’s not good-bye for long, though. We’ve left so many more things for a future visit—I would love to see Chepstow Castle, for one—that it won’t be long until I return. I hope you get a chance to see this beautiful part of Britain yourself someday, too.

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