Welcome

Please come and visit our beautiful and relatively unknown corner of England. We have walks of all standards and distances, which you can download/ link to your map app to explore the local town and surrounding countryside – forests, hills, rolling farmland, wildflowers and wildlife, the amazing River Wye and of course our buzzing little town with a range of independent shops and vintage trail.  Only an hour from Birmingham, Cardiff or Bristol.  Keep active; Keep happy…  and keep in touch … Follow this link to see some great local walks

Ross-on-Wye has long been recognised as the birthplace of modern tourism, drawing visitors for over 200 years.  It sits at the heart of the River Wye along which the original tourists travelled by boat and later by train and on foot.  It is the only town in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Today Ross-on-Wye is recognised as an accredited “Walkers are Welcome” town – offering something special for walkers and others who love the outdoors.  The 2024 Walking Festival will be held on 27th September to 29th September. Tickets are now available.

While, for today’s visitors there is so much more to do and see, the varied and picturesque background scenery – from the dramatic cliffs and wooded hills of the lower Wye to the rolling farmland and towering border hills, or the ancient Forest of Dean – it remains much as it would have been in those past years.

Ross-on-Wye itself sits high above the Wye with the conspicuous 13th century tower of St Mary’s Church, the 17th century Market House (currently selling local arts and crafts) and various Tudor framed buildings.  It retains the old market town feel with mainly small independent shops, cafes and restaurants.

Ross-on-Wye lies midway between the cathedral cities of Gloucester and Hereford (the latter with the amazing Mappa Mundi and the Magna Carta) and the ancient Cistercian Abbey of Tintern. To the north of the town are many varied border castles; and the whole county has a network of interesting churches, from Saxon & Norman to the Italianate and even a thatched-roof Arts & Crafts church.

For the more active there is walking, cycling, canoeing and a host of other outdoor activities and events, catering for all levels of expertise. There are studios and galleries to visit, and the annual Hereford Art Festival; the Borderlines Film Festival; an annual Beer Festival by the river; the lively Ross Regatta and so much more.  And above all, Ross-on-Wye is a friendly and down-to-earth place where it is easy to relax and escape from the pressures of modern life! 

To find out more about the wonderful walks in and around the area, the places to stay, things to do or how to get here, click on the relevant links.  We hope you will come and enjoy our Welcome!   To get in touch

This site is managed by unpaid volunteers. If you have enjoyed the walks please consider making a small donation towards our overheads. Go to justgiving.