The Wye Valley is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in recognition of:
- Exceptional Landscape - dramatic limestone gorge and some of the most outstanding native woodlands to be found in Europe.
- Impressive geology - from Silurian limestones to a plateau of Old Red Sandstone.
- Historic legacies- Iron Age hill forts, Norman Castles, the first Cistercian Abbey in Wales and a pioneering industrial heritage in iron, brass, wire, tinplate and copper works.
- Wildlife - a quarter of Britain's population of lesser horseshoe bats, a growing population of peregrine falcons, goshawks, ravens, rare whitebeam, nightjar and lesser known fish like the shad and twaite.
Villages in the area include Goodrich overlooked by its impressive castle and the riverside settlements of Symonds Yat, Redbrook, Brockweir, Llandogo and Tintern with its wonderful Abbey.
The stunning landscapes and spectacular scenery have inspired artists and writers such as William Wordsworth, JRR Tolkein, Dennis Potter and JK Rowling as well as the many visitors who return every year.
Use footpaths to explore the woodlands and discover hidden beauty spots or if you prefer more rugged pursuits, there's a choice of cycling, canoeing, rowing, horse riding, rock climbing, abseiling, caving, off road driving and fishing.
If you wish to take a course in painting, drawing, sculpture, writing or photography there is The Wye Valley Arts Centre in Llandogo which offers 1,2 and 4 day courses (www.wyearts.co.uk). For horse lovers there are racecourses at Chepstow and Hereford and Cheltenham is only an hour away with The Gold Cup Festival in March.
Golf courses nearby include St. Pierre near Chepstow, Celtic Manor near Newport, Forest Hills near Coleford and The Rolls at Monmouth.
Within easy distance are Bath and Somerset across the Severn Estuary and in the other direction the beautiful Cotswolds and Stratford upon Avon.
