Reservations

Luxury Travel

Reservations

Luxury Travel

A Postcard From Wye Valley

By Laura Gelder

A Postcard From Wye Valley

By Laura Gelder

This is a feature from Issue 8 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.

Border patrol

The River Wye is born in the rugged mountains of mid-Wales and flows south for about 150 miles before meeting the River Severn, but just before that it meanders along the rural border of  England and Wales, past dramatic gorges, dense forest, and historic castles.
For my trip to the Wye Valley, I stayed in a tiny whitewashed cottage in Symonds Yat, a village that comes in two parts since  it straddles the river the river. To get from my cottage in Symonds Yat West to the Saracens Head Pub in Symonds Yat East, I had the choice of aa three-mile walk via the nearest bridge or the hand ferry. The captain of this open boat stood up to grab the wire above, pulled us across the fast flowing river and delivered us safely in time for a hearty lunch.

From here is was a short but extremely steep walk up through the woods to Yat Rock for the area’s most famous view. On the way we passed the distinctive red and white Scandinavian-looking house featured in the TV show Sex Education, which is filmed all around here.

Find King Arthur's Cave, a limestone hollow hidden in the forest near Symonds Yat

Cross countries view

Bursting out of the tree line, gasping for breath, I reached a natural stone podium and gazed down upon the Wye as it painted a vast horseshoe shape through the landscape. On the other side, green fields with grazing cattle sloped right down to the river where a group of kayakers paddled slowly around the bend. The forest stretched for miles in every direction and the river flowed towards patchwork fields melting into the distance. From the other side of the rock I saw my cottage, part of a toy village below.
Because it forms the border between England and Wales, the Wye is lined with several forts and castles, but probably its most famous monument is Tintern Abbey, which lies  in ruins on the Welsh side. The soaring arches and columns still stand firm 900-years after it was built but the lichen-covered grey skeleton is now open to the elements, transformed into a cathedral to nature.

The Devil's Pulpit is a rock viewpoint which juts out of the forest, high above Tintern Abbey

Book your staycation with us and  donate 5% of your holiday price to the charity of your choice at no extra cost to you. Click the button below to get in touch with us!

This is a feature from Issue 8 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.