Local Area Information
Set back with far-reaching country views across the Wye Valley, Symonds Yat is situated within 10 minutes walk of some great outdoors activities, many pubs, restaurants and cafes, and easy access to Monmouth (4miles) and Ross-on-Wye (7miles). Hiking, biking and river- and land-sports are in abundance in Symonds Yat. Take one of the Country's last remaining hand ferries over to Symonds Yat Rock - one of Britain's most stunning viewpoints. All this without having to drive anywhere if you choose!
Perfectly positioned not only in the heart of the Wye Valley, but also on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean and the Welsh Borders:
The Wye Valley National Landscape (formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), has the esteemed honour of being the Birthplace of British Tourism after the Rev John Egerton began taking his visitors for trips on the Wye. Around 1750 he built a boat specifically for the purpose of taking his houseguests on tour to view the scenery. The reputation of the natural beauty of the area began to spread and attracted many poets, writers and artists, all of course who needed accommodation, boats and guides and the tourist economy was born. In 1770 William Gilpin wrote “Observations on the River Wye” which, when coupled with images of his paintings, became the first tour guide offering a set itinerary of locations to visit and walks to enjoy the many fabulous viewpoints this area has to offer. Take a look at www.wyevalley-nl.org.uk to discover more about The Wye Tour.
The Royal Forest of Dean was originally a royal hunting forest. With over 20 million trees and wild boar, deer and sheep roaming, it’s hard to picture this was a place of huge industrialisation. You don’t need to walk far along the woodland tracks to see remnants of centuries of industrial archaeology, and walk footpaths which were originally tracks used to transport carriage-loads of timber, coal and minerals.
The Welsh Borders are literally a stone's throw along the footpath. Monmouth is a 7 mile walk or cycle along good track and is a lovely town for a mooch around. There is a stunning drive from Monmouth following the River Wye all the way down to Chepstow taking in very pretty sights such as the bridge from Penalt to Redbrook which divides Wales and England, to The Boat pub, which has a very quaint beer garden. Following further south you wind your way past the very pretty village of Brockweir and its fabulous community-run shop, down through spectacular Tintern with the ancient remains of the awe-striking Abbey and along to the pretty town of Chepstow with its impressive castle ruins.
Local towns, Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye are both home to a multitude of independent shops. Both are quiet market towns which haven't been hit by many chain-stores, so they both have a lovely laidback feel with plenty of artisan shops. In Ross-on-Wye there's even a vintage shopping trail you can pick up from the Tourist Information Centre on the Market Square, which also doubles as a fabulous outlet for local artists and crafters. There are some lovely cafes and restaurants and, of course the beautiful St Mary's church sitting proudly over the town, and don't miss the views from The Prospect just to the west of the churchyard. Monmouth has mulitple historical links and is home to 2 museums and a castle and a poppy trail noting particular locations of interest.
Aside from that brief overview, this area is also full of visitor attractions so there is something to do all year round whether outdoor adventure is your thing, history, craft workshops, or just having a base to explore this beautiful part of the country.