Camping in the Wye Valley

The Wye Valley region is home to many fascinating and culturally significant towns and cities. Hereford, the county town of Herefordshire, lies on the River Wye and is well known for its historic cathedral which dates back to the 11th century. The market town of Ross on Wye is the perfect place to stroll along picturesque streets and browse independent shops. Each year, Hay on Wye hosts its world-famous festival which celebrates literature and the arts. The largest poetry festival in the UK can be found in the nearby town of Ledbury every July.

Explore the heritage of the Wye Valley

Railway enthusiasts will find plenty to do here with Dean Forest Railway and Perrygrove offering journeys on their steam trains. Perrygrove has just four stations, with a trip taking around 30 minutes if you don’t stop off to explore the woodland and area at each station. Dean Forest Railway has five stations and enough to explore along the way for a full day out.

The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has an abundance of castles to be explored.

• Wilton Castle is a 25-minute drive from our Hereford Club Site. The 12th-century Norman building is a private estate, only open on certain days throughout the year. If you’re not camping when the castle is open, the public footpaths nearby allow you to see into the grounds.
• Goodrich Castle, managed by English Heritage, is under 40-minutes away by car from our Blackmore Club Site . Enjoy the views from the battlements of the medieval castle, listen to the free audio guide to learn about the buildings past and see Civil War artefacts in the exhibition. Once you’ve explored every stairway, cannon and stained glass window, head to the tearoom and browse the heritage-inspired gifts.
• Grosmont Castle, a 25-minute drive from our Hereford Club Site, is open daily and you can wander around the remains of the Norman stronghold.
• Monmouth Castle is 40-minutes away from our Hereford Club Site by car. The 11th-century castle was the birthplace of Henry V. Not much of the castle remains today, however you can see the ruins of the keep and 13th-century hall.

With a long and varied past, there are many historical attractions to visit.

• The remains of Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks are a magnificent sight to behold. Walk through the remains, reading the information boards as you go to learn about the history of the site. Peaceful, informative and breath-taking, you won’t regret a trip to Tintern Abbey.
• Littledean Jail is an 18th-century prison which now houses exhibits on crime, paranormal, witchcraft and much more.
• Dean Heritage Centre is a great place to learn about the history and heritage of the Forest of Dean. There are over 20,000 artefacts including objects from the coal mining industry, childhood history and transport. The five-acre site has walking trails and even a pond, making it a great place for a wildlife spotting. Visit the replica coal mine to see how the coal miners would have worked every day. The centre’s facilities include a playground, gift shop, picnic area and toilets. It’s a great day out for the whole family, with exhibits and attractions to entertain all ages.
• The National Trust managed Panorama Tower has a 360 degree viewing platform at the top of its spiral staircase. Just a 15-minute drive from our Blackmore Club Site, you’ll be privy to views of Worcester Cathedral and the countryside of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.
• Hereford Cathedral, a place of worship for over 1,300 years, is an impressive architectural delight. Cathedral tours, tours of the tower and the gardens are all available. You can also explore the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library exhibition to see the famous medieval map of Hereford.

Go wild in the Wye Valley

Woodland, farmland, hilly countryside and the River Wye are just a few of the landscape variations the Wye Valley offers. This means that nature reserves, wildlife conservation sites and stunning views are plentiful.

• Lancaut Nature Reserve has tracks and trails for lovely walks in the outdoors. The varying landscape supports the 350 different plant species as well as peregrine falcons, kestrels, hawks and many other birds. The river is often visited by heron, cormorant and even seals.
• Symonds Yat Rock Symonds Yat is a historic village, and popular tourist destination, which straddles the river Wye. On the east side of the river, Symonds Yat is in Gloucestershire and on the west side, the village lies in Herefordshire. The nearby is a great attraction for all the family. The views from Symonds Yat Rock are unrivalled. It’s around a 30-minute drive to the village from our Hereford Club Site.
• Underneath the Forest of Dean are Clearwell Caves, a system that was mined for over 4,500 years. You can now visit the show caves and take a tour of the caverns.
• The Elan Valley is a chain of man-made lakes with six dams including Craig Goch, Garreg Ddu, Pen y Garreg, Caban Coch, Claerwen and Dol y Mynach. You can visit each of the reservoirs and dams, with Craig Goch regarded as the most impressive of the six.

With beautiful landscapes, the land caters well to walking, cycling and watersports.

• The Gloucestershire Way, Wysis Way, Wye Valley walk and Offas Dyke National Trail are some of the long-distance walks available. You’ll find shorter walks around your campsites, and from most towns and villages you visit.
• The Peregrine Path, a level cycling route between Hadrock Road, Monmouth and Symonds Yat East is popular. There are shorter cycle-friendly routes and plenty of bike hire shops. Ask at your campsite for any cycling route tips and advice.
• The River Wye offers great watersport opportunities. White water rapids, canoeing, kayaking and boat tours are all activities for you to get involved in. Wyedean Canoe and Adventure Centre and Wye Pursuits are just two of the companies running watersport activities.

Family attractions in the Wye Valley

1. Let young imaginations run wild at Puzzlewood. In Gloucestershire woodland, you’ll find the sights that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Puzzlewood was also featured in Merlin and Doctor Who. There are rabbits, cattle, goats, ducks, and even ponies to meet in the woodland. As you wander the paths, see how many varieties of tree you can find. There are oak, beech, yew, lime and ash trees as well as plenty of other fauna and flora.

2. See every stage of a butterfly’s life at Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo. Walk through their environment and see how many different types you can spot. As well as the butterflies, you can explore the amazing Hedge Puzzle which was planted in 1977. Enter the maze and see how quickly you can find your way out. There’s also mini-golf and laser tag if you’re looking to fill a little more time.

3. Symonds Yat West Leisure Park is an open green space by the river with plenty to do. Hire a boat, enjoy a picnic, urn off steam in the children’s play area or try your hand at mini-golf. With go-karts, a paddling pool and skateboard park, there’s plenty to do for both young and older children.