5 Wonderful Things to do in the Wye Valley
Canoe down the tranquil River Wye, admire the view of the magnificent Tintern Abbey ruins from Devil’s Pulpit and walk in the endless green countryside; there are many wonderful things to do in the Wye Valley, read on to discover everything you need to know and the best Wye Valley activities.
Straddling the border between England and Wales is the gorgeous Wye Valley.
This Area of Outstanding National Beauty has somehow managed to keep itself to itself and remain off the beaten track compared to other AONBs and national parks in the UK such as the Peak District and Lake District.
It’s the perfect place to escape the crowds, the hustle and bustle of daily life and explore unspoiled landscapes and endless beauty.
There are many wonderful things to do in the Wye Valley you’ll need at least a couple of days to make the most of your time here.
Spend the morning canoeing down the tranquil River Wye and the afternoon admiring historic ruins from one of the many impressive viewpoints, or hike through the picturesque valley stopping off at a cosy countryside pub for lunch. Read on to discover more of the best Wye Valley activities!
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In this guide to wonderful things to do in the Wye Valley, we’ll start with everything you need to know including where to stay, how to get around and the best time to visit. We’ll then share the best places to visit in the Wye Valley. Feel free to use the contents as required.
Contents
Everything You Need to Know to Visit the Wye Valley
Where to stay in the Wye Valley
If you’d like to base where to stay in the Wye Valley on your plans then use the map below to find the best location.
Getting around the Wye Valley
Due to how rural and expanse it is, getting around the Wye Valley will be easiest and quickest by car. This also gives you complete freedom and flexibility when you’re here and you’re not tied to limited public transport times and routes.
If you’d prefer to have a car-free visit, this is definitely possible with a bit of planning. Follow these links to see bus schedules and routes in the Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.
By train, there are four railway stations in Monmouthshire; Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Severn Tunnel Junction. From these stations, you’ll be able to jump on buses to get to where you want to go.
The best time to visit the Wye Valley
For the weather, the best time to visit the Wye Valley is May to September. However, as we’re in the UK, the weather is unpredictable at any time of the year.
With the summer months also come the crowds. Although the crowds are a lot less than in other UK national parks, some spots can become very crowded and accommodation prices shoot up. If you can avoid the summer holidays, we’d recommend doing so.
Spring and autumn are fantastic times to see the best places to visit in the Wye Valley. With spring comes fresh buds blooming and animals being born and autumn brings vibrant colours of orange, red and gold.
Things to do in the Wye Valley
Go Walking
With miles of walking trails weaving their way across meadows and woodlands, through ravines and gorges and next to rivers and streams, one of the best things to do in the Wye Valley is go walking.
From gentle riverside strolls to long-distance, multi-day challenges there’s a walk to suit everyone. Exploring the valley on foot is the best way to discover stunning viewpoints and majestic wildlife and appreciate the landscapes.
If you’re feeling really adventurous, one of the best walks in the Wye Valley is the Wye Valley Walk. This is a long-distance trail following the course of the River Wye for 299 kilometres from its source in Mid-Wales to Chepstow where it joins the River Severn.
Doing this trail in one go would take the best part of two weeks, however, there are many smaller walks you can choose from if you’re just here for a short visit or want to base yourself in one area.
Admire the View at Symonds Yat
Symonds Yat is an internationally renowned viewpoint, making it easily one of the best things to do in the Wye Valley.
High above the valley, you can see the River Wye meandering its way through the surrounding countryside far off into the distance.
Our Top Tip: Symonds Yat is east-facing making it a perfect spot for sunrise.
From here, there are many walking and cycling trails around the headland and down to the riverfront.
If you can, visit Symonds Yat in the off-season. It’s one of the best places to visit in the Wye Valley and becomes extremely busy in the summer. There is parking, however, the tight one-way road can become a frustrating bottleneck.
Our Top Tip: you’ll find The Saracens Head directly under Symonds Yat Rock and is one of the best spots along the river for a drink. It also has a hand ferry crossing to Symonds Yat East, however, it’s often closed.
Canoe on the River Wye
Straddling the border between England and Wales is the tranquil River Wye.
Seeing the river meander its way through hilly countryside, rocky outcrops, enchanted woodland and green meadows from a canoe or kayak, is hands-down one of the best things to do in the Wye Valley!
The majority of the river is calm and peaceful making canoeing on the River Wye the perfect leisurely activity for anyone who loves the outdoors. There may be a couple of sections with very slight rapids, but these are super easy to navigate with no experience.
If you’re looking for something a bit faster and want to get the adrenaline pumping, there are some larger rapids towards Chepstow. We’d recommend having experience if you plan on heading there.
Visit Devil's Pulpit
Visiting Devil’s Pulpit is one of the most intriguing things to do in the Wye Valley.
Devil’s Pulpit is a viewpoint with a magnificent bird’s eye view over Tintern Abbey (see below) and the village of Tintern sitting peacefully on the River Wye.
The trail is through stunning dense woodland along the Offa’s Dyke Path; a 285-kilometre trail linking the Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow in the south with Prestatyn on the North Wales Coast.
Legend has it that the Devil taunted the monks and occupants of Tintern Abbey, tempting them to desert their order!
Explore Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131 by Cisterian Monks who, without much architectural appetite, settled for a simple timber building.
In 1269, thanks to the wealthy Marcher Lords, Tintern Abbey was rebuilt and expanded into a masterpiece of British Gothic architecture.
Unfortunately, only a year later the abbey surrendered in the first round of the dissolution of the monasteries and was abandoned. Today Tintern Abbey sits a majestic ruin in the charming village of Tintern and is one of the best places to visit in the Wye Valley.
Opening times vary depending on the time of year you’re visiting and you can check times and book admission tickets on the website.
Our Top Tip: parking is £5 payable by card only which can be refunded if you spend a minimum of £5 on your visit.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our post on things to do in the Wye Valley. If you have any questions or just want to say hi, leave a comment or connect with us on social media 🙂