Things to Do in the Wye Valley – The Perfect One Day Itinerary

Are you touring around Herefordshire and perhaps thinking about visiting the Wye Valley? If so, then this blog post will show you some amazing things to do in the Wye Valley if you only have one day.

This one day itinerary includes visiting some postcard perfect market towns, the birthplace of British tourism, England’s best preserved medieval castle and of course some walking routes to the best viewpoints in the Wye Valley.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in the Wye Valley then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here. You can also check out our Herefordshire Playlist for more adventures.

All You Need to Know About the Wye Valley

Straddling the English-Welsh border, the Wye Valley is considered one of the finest lowland landscapes in Britain. In 1971 it was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). AONBs are areas that are both beautiful and important, therefore, effort are being made to conserve and enhance their beauty. 

The Wye Valley for example has about 27 special qualities, such as limestone gorges, native woodlands, impressive geology, a rich history and wildlife that made it possible for it to be considered as an AONB.

The Wye Valley covers parts of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire. Interestingly, the only town located within the Wye Valley is Ross-on-Wye. The AONB is also considered the birthplace of British tourism. 

Did you know? – Herefordshire is actually home to two AONBs. The other one is called Malvern Hill and is located to the east of the county. 

Things to Do in the Wye Valley in One Day

The Wye Valley is definitely filled with countless things to do. Below are four spots within the AONB that you can easily visit if you only have one day. I think this list contains a great mix of towns, outdoor activities and a bit of historical interest.

Please Note – In case you cross the border into Wales, make sure to check the country’s current restriction rules, which might differ from the rules in England. 

1. Explore Ross-on-Wye

The beautiful market town of Ross-on-Wye is located to the south-east of Hereford. If you’re visiting by car, the A49 takes you to it from Hereford. You can also take Bus 33 from Hereford. The bus journey takes just under an hour.

Did you know? – This postcard perfect town promotes itself as the birthplace of British tourism. Apparently back in 1745 the rector started taking some of his friends on boat trips along the River Wye which were the first to be taken purely for leisure in the outdoors.

Later, the first illustrated tour guide book was published which was based on a trip around the Wye Valley. The book started to inspire people to visit this area and was soon followed by regular excursions which created more tour guides and before you knew it Ross-on-Wye became an established tourist destination.

Things Not to Miss in Ross-on-Wye

• St Mary’s Church – The most notable landmark in Ross-on-Wye is its 700-year-old parish church. It has several tombs and its spire is visible from miles away.
• Plague Cross – Located at St Mary’s churchyard is the Plague Cross. It was erected in 1637 as a memorial to 315 residents who died of the plague that year. The victims were buried in a plague pit, at night and without coffins. 
• The Market House – The red sandstone house is located in the city centre. It was built between 1650 and 1654. If you visit on either Thursday or Saturday you can experience the market.
• River Walk – The best part of the town is definitely the River Walk that leads you to that iconic overview of Ross-on-Wye. To reach it, head towards the Thomas Blake Memorial Garden, cross the car park and follow the footpath to your right towards Ross Rowing Club. From there, walk a bit further towards the A40. Turn around and you’ll be able to see the perfect view of Ross-on-Wye.

2. Visit Goodrich Castle

After exploring Ross-on-Wye, head over to Goodrich Castle, located just a few miles to the south-west of the town. The ruins of the Norman medieval castle are considered some of the best preserved medieval castle ruins in England. Standing on a rocky outcrop it was initially built as an earth and wooden fortification in the 11th century. 

Later, in the 12th century, the castle was rebuilt with a stone keep. Then it was expanded in the 13th century with more luxurious living areas. 

Today the castle is managed by English Heritage and also classed as a Grade I listed building and as a Scheduled Monument.

How to get to Goodrich Castle? – If you’re arriving by car, you can either take the A40 or the B4234 to Goodrich. Goodrich Castle has a dedicated car park (Post Code: HR9 6HY), where you can park all day for £3. 

You can also take Bus 34 from Ross-on-Wye. The bus journey takes about 15-20 minutes, and you’ll need to walk another 5-10 minutes to the castle. 

Entry Fee – Admission fee to the castle is £9.90/£6 for adults/children respectively. However, if you’re an English Heritage member, you can visit the castle and park there free of charge.

Facilities – Goodrich Castle has a café offering hot and cold drinks, lunches and cakes. It also has toilet facilities. 

Filled with excellent views, a ton of history and of course some ghost stories, visiting Goodrich Castle is definitely one of many great things to do in the Wye Valley.

3. Walk Up to Coppett Hill

From Goodrich Castle I highly recommend taking a walk up to Coppett Hill. The hill has been a local nature reserve since 2000, and is apparently one of the largest within Herefordshire.

How to get to Coppett Hill? – The hill is located just to the south of Goodrich. From the castle, walk down along Castle Lane and turn left. Follow this road until it splits. It will be gradually uphill, so just take your time. At the crossroads, stay left for a bit, then take the footpath on your right. Follow this path until you reach the trig point marking the top of Coppett Hill. 

Coppett Hill definitely provides you with some stunning views over the area. From there you’ll be able to see the meandering River Wye, Goodrich, Goodrich Castle, the Black Mountains, Malvern Hills and the Forest of Dean. 

From the top you can just return to Goodrich the same way you came. However, if you’d like to spend a bit longer in the area, there are many walking trails you can choose from.

Best times to visit Coppett Hill – We visited just at the start of autumn, so the colours weren’t showing as much just yet. However, I bet that a few weeks later the hill would’ve looked more colourful. In addition, I also read that the hill is covered in bluebells during spring. So, I recommend timing your visit either for spring or autumn.

Did you know? – Coppett Hill was actually a filming location in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. In case you don’t recall, it’s that snowy scene where Hermione explains to Harry that she used to come there with her family. 

4. Admire the Views of Symonds Yat Rock

A visit to the Wye Valley wouldn’t be complete without admiring the views from Symonds Yat Rock. About 2,500 years ago iron age inhabitants built a fort here which is now considered a scheduled ancient monument.

This rocky outcrop is the absolutely perfect place to view the meandering River Wye around the headland. There are also a ton of different waymarked walking routes you can choose from to explore the area. Some of these routes are shorter and some longer, so they really cater for everyone visiting Symonds Yat Rock. 

Did you know? – Just like Coppett Hill, Symonds Yat Rock has also been featured in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1. It’s the aerial shot of Harry, Hermione and Ron walking along the banks of the River Wye near the bend.

Where to park? – You can park at Symonds Yat Rock Car Park. Depending on how long you’re planning on spending here, you can either pay £3 for 2 hours or £5 for 4 hours. All day parking is £7. 

Top Parking Tip – You can only pay by coins or the RingGo app. The signal at the car park is very weak, so if you don’t have coins I suggest having the app ready and pay for parking before you enter the car park. 

Facilities – There’s a café that serves hot and cold drinks and some snacks. Toilet facilities are also available at the car park. 

5. Walk Around Monmouth

Whilst strictly speaking Monmouth isn’t located in the Wye Valley, I think it’s a great place to finish your one day itinerary around the AONB. This market town is ideally located at the joining point of the River Wye and Monnow in Wales. Monmouth’s history dates back to early Roman and medieval times, so there’s definitely a lot to see and learn here.

Places to see in Monmouth:

• Monnow Bridge and Gate – One of the No.1 things to do in Monmouth is visiting the Monnow Bridge. The picturesque bridge was originally built of timber. Later, in 1272, it was rebuilt in Old Red Sandstone. Today it’s the only bridge of its kind in the UK. 
• Monmouth Castle – Make sure to also visit the ruins of the birthplace of King Henry V who led the Battle of Agincourt. You can explore the area for free. 
• Monmouth Military Museum – Next to the ruins of the castle is the Military Museum which is home to the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. It’s also free to visit and you can see some historical documents, uniforms and weapons. 
• Charles Rolls Statue – Another must see spot is the statue of the founder of Rolls-Royce. The statue is located just outside of the Shire Hall in Agincourt Square.
• Shire Hall – Whilst you’re there, make sure to admire the Grade I listed building behind the Charles Rolls Statue. 
• Monmouth Museum – If you’re interested in Monmouth’s history, then you should definitely visit Monmouth Museum. Again, it’s totally free to enter. 

• Victorian slaughterhouse viaduct – Sitting just underneath the Monmouth Museum and Market Hall, you can also view the abandoned sandstone tunnels which used to be a Victorian slaughterhouse.  

Additional Things to Do Around the Wye Valley

There are plenty of things to do in Herefordshire, so if you’re planning a visit to the county then make sure to check out the following blog posts:

• Best places to visit in Herefordshire – A list of beautiful places you must visit when you’re exploring Herefordshire. Click here to read it.
• Complete the Black Hill (Cat’s Back) Circular Walk – A 5 mile trail with stunning views over Herefordshire in England and the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Click here to read it.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in the Wye Valley

The Wye Valley is such an amazing place filled with countless things to do. Its landscape, rich history and picture perfect market towns definitely impressed me. One day there was just enough to wish for more.

Have you ever been to the Wye Valley or Herefordshire before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore? If not, which places would you want to visit in the area? Let me know in the comments below.