The Beautiful Wye Valley - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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It’s a cold frosty day in winter, the trees are bare and the landscapes stark and my thoughts drift back to our beautiful green and pleasant land in summer.
Britain may not be known for spectacular mountains or dramatic backdrops, but is known for our countryside of green gently rolling hills and fields, with meandering flowing rivers offer much in gentle appeal and delight.
To conserve and enhance the natural beauty of our countryside we have 35 AONBs in Britain, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are fortunate to live in one of them in the Wye Valley, it was designated in 1971 in recognition of it’s exceptional landscape.
It also boasts many Norman castles and the first Cistercian Abbey in Tintern which was founded in 1131.
To protect an AONB there are strict planning controls in place and practical countryside management guidelines. We also have a Green Belt policy to control urban dwelling and to maintain areas of agriculture and forestry.
The Kerne Bridge over the river Wye is in the hamlet of Kerne and was built in 1828. There is a popular picnic site here and also a canoe launch site. Canoeing on the scenic river Wye from Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat, as the river twists and turns at a leisurely pace, is a popular activity with 2 pub stops en route!
The river Wye is Britain’s fifth longest river and part of it’s length forms the border between England and Wales.
It is one of our most scenic and unspoilt rivers from it’s source in Plynlimon, deep in the Welsh mountains, it flows 130 miles through Hay on Wye, Hereford, Ross on Wye, Symonds Yat, Monmouth, Tintern and finally Chepstow where it joins the Severn estuary into the Bristol Channel.
58 miles of the river flows through the valley with spectacular gorge scenery and dense ravine woodlands.
Symonds Yat is a popular tourist destination in the Wye Valley and comprises of Symonds Yat East on the Gloucestershire side of the river Wye and Symonds Yat West on the Herefordshire side. The two banks are connected by an ancient hand pull ferry, where the ferryman for a small fee pulls people across the river using an overhead rope.
Symonds Yat Rock is a scenic view point on the East side of the river some 120 metres above the river. It’s one of the most well known and photographed views in England.
Tourists and birdwatchers visiting the viewpoint between April and August hope to catch a glimpse of the Peregrine Falcons that nest on the cliff side. There are telescopes set up here provided by RSPB volunteers making it possible to actually see into their nests.
Wild Peregrines have long been associated with Symonds Yat Rock and have bred well here.
The river at Symonds Yat has cut a deep gorge in the limestone exposing many impressive cliff faces, an area that is popular with climbers.
The unusual name of Symonds Yat is said to come from Robert Symonds a 17th Century sheriff of Herefordshire and Yat is an old local word for a gate or pass.
The Wye Valley has so much to offer the visitor, scenic views, fabulous countryside, canoeing, wonderful walks, birdwatching and not forgetting some traditional English country pubs, well worth a visit!
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Good morning Sunnie, thank you for visiting, we are very fortunate to live in the beautiful Wye Valley. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the photos, have a wonderful day, best wishes Lesley
Oh, I agree with Sunnie, yes, heaven on earth, Lesley your country side is just breathtaking. And what incredible inspiration for your creativity, your photos are delightful. I love the Wye ferry photos and the beautiful riverside cottages. Thank you for sharing where you live, I totally understand why "Wye Valley" is an AONB. My votes to you MM.
Hi Annie, the riverside cottages are so pretty and the ones up on the bank have an incredible view! That photo and the ones of the ferry man, were taken while enjoying a pint at the pub - one of my favourite spots!
Many thanks for your comments and votes, enjoy your day and see you soon, best wishes Lesley
Beautiful pictures, enjoyed it.Wish I was there on the boat. Have a good day.
These are beautiful pictures, so like the Virginia countryside where I grew up, minus the lovely castle and abby ruins. I know your talent has the most to do with the pictures, but what camera are you using to get these great shots? Enjoyed this whole pictorial.
Hello vasantha, off to the pub on the ferry in the sunshine certainly sounds inviting on this winters day!
I'm so pleased you enjoyed the photos, many thanks for your comments, take care wishes Lesley
Hi Cyndi, I took these photos last year on my old camera, that was a Canon IXUS, I now use a Panasonic Lumix. Many thanks for visiting and your great comments, have a great day and take care!
Awesome pictures! You are really lucky to be living there. Your images have got a cooling effect and a feast for the eyes. Sharing with my friends here!
Oh! Wow! You have outstanding photos here. I like the Kerne Bridge as i used to be. It reminds of some places here. Good! Vote up!
Hi thumbi7, thank you for stopping by to visit and your lovely comments, I'm so pleased you have enjoyed the pictures, best wishes.
Hi christianajohan, it's nice to meet you, the Kerne Bridge has stood the test of time well, it is still in excellent condition! I'm so glad you liked the photos, thank you for visiting and your comments, they are much appreciated.
Nice to learn more of the country side of England. I spent some time there in the early to mid-70's with the Air Force at Mildenhall. There was much to see but I never had much time to see it. Thanks for sharing. WB
Truly beautiful M M ; the photos and information amazing and here's to so many more for a long time to come.
Take care and enjoy your day.
Eddy.
Hi Wayne, what a shame you didn't get the time to see more of the countryside - Suffolk is a lovely area.
Many thanks for stopping by and your comments, best wishes, Lesley
Hi Eddy, it's nice to see you, I'm so pleased you enjoyed this, I enjoyed the walk in your new hub in the wildlife park 'One Sunday in January' aren't we fortunate to live in such beautiful locations!
Take care and best wishes, Lesley x
Thanks for the beautiful trip down the Wye, the scene of many family picnics in my youth. Family members still live in the area. I wish I did!
MM, you live in a gorgeous part of the UK. We've talked about visiting the Wye Valley a few times and have never done it yet. Great photos as always, made me wish I was there.
As usual, a very lovely display of your great talent for photography MM. Very beautiful place. Take care. :)
Regards,
Angel
As a kid I would dream of English countryside whenever I read books based on them. Canoeing down river Wye must be a magical experience and I would love to do that, some day. Your pictures are lovely and I'm already seduced. Thanks and rated up.
Hello Gypsy, it's nice to see you, thank you for visiting the Wye Valley, it must have bought back lots of memories of Wales and this lovely area, I appreciate your visit and comments, best wishes.
Hi Jools, treat yourselves to a lovely break and visit the Wye Valley, you'll have a wonderful time!
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes Lesley
Hello Angel, thank you for your lovely complimentary comments, they mean a lot to me, take care, best wishes Lesley
Hi anginwu, one of the most peaceful and relaxing way of spending a summer afternoon, is a picnic by the river watching the canoeists, I must try canoeing myself sometime! I hope you will get to visit someday!
Many thanks for your comments and votes, take care Lesley
I knew I would see something beautiful when I read the title of your hub! It is a fantastic area with the green valleys and the rivers! It must also be a treat for anyone with historic interests. To see a ruin will always trigger my imagination about how it must have been for a long time ago and the people who lived there! Thanks for sharing this wonderful hub MM,
Tina
When I see England's beautiful country side it makes me feel home-sick. Vote up, awesome and beautiful, Joyce.
The countryside of England is very beautiful..I have always wanted to visit..The hand pull ferry is unique..I would love to own the house at the ferry site.LOL..Thank you..Your photography is outstanding..
I knew I'd be in for a treat when I saw your title. You never disappoint me with your Hubs and beutiful photos. I loved the ferry man! I voted this UP etc. etc.
Beautiful. I would love to visit someday. Voted up and Awesome.
Hi Lesley,
The tension of a busy day left me after reading about and viewing yout breathaking pictures of the beautiful Wye Valley.
Voted up and away!
Best wishes
Sue
I have not seen such beauty and splendor in awhile. I can almost picture the hobbits from the shire roaming the country side, riding the ferry and stopping in at the pub. I myself would just love to sit and take in the view from a place nearby and breathe in the peaceful setting. Enjoyed your hub!
Oh, if only I could visit! I love your photos and old churches and castle enthrall me!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hello Tina, it certainly is a beautiful area and there is so much history here. I aim to visit the castle ruins in the area this year and write about them.
Thank you for your comments, enjoy your day, best wishes Lesley
Hello Joyce, maybe you can come over for a visit one day? thank you for your comments and votes, it's always good to see you, take care Lesley
Hello Ruby, the cottages alongside the river are charming and enjoy wonderful views, property is very expensive here unfortunately!!
Thank you for your lovely comments, best wishes Lesley
Hi Mary, The ferry is run from the pub and you can sit outside with a nice cold beer on a warm sunny afternoon watching the ferryman do all the hard work!
Thank you for your comments and votes, best wishes Lesley
Hi Pat, it's good to see you and I hope you get to visit one day!
Many thanks for your votes and have a great day, take care.
Hello Sue, your comments meant such a lot to me thank you!
Hello teaches12345, after we have taken a walk in the area, we usually end up at the 'Saracens Head' it's a lovely old pub by the river, that's where the photos of the ferry man were taken, it's a beautiful setting to relax in!
Thank you for your comments, best wishes Lesley
Hello Susie, I hope you do get to visit one day!
We have some wonderful old castles in the area and I intend on writing about them this year!
Many thanks for your comments, best wishes Lesley
Beautiful pictures there Movie Master. It is always amazing to get lost in such natural beauty around you. The peace and the serenity surely makes it a heaven on Earth. Great work!
Hi sofs, it's a wonderful place to live, when you are able to lose yourself in your surrounding's beauty. It's both peaceful and inspirational!
Thank you for visiting and your comments, enjoy your day and see you soon, best wishes Lesley
So beautiful! Your photos make me want to paint landscapes. It's also interesting to learn about the origin of the name for Symonds Yat, making me wonder about all the interesting local words there must be in English speaking communities. Plynlimon sounds strange to my ears, just as Kissimmee might to yours. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your countryside with a bit of information on the history--Tintern founded in 1131--wow!
Hi RTalloni It's surprising just how much of the Tintern Abbey is still standing, that is just a small part of it in the picture, although in ruins now, you can still get a good idea of how beautiful it must have once been.
Yes, kissimmee does sound strange to me, but a lovely name!
Many thanks for visiting and your great comments, they are much appreciated, take care, Lesley
I agree Lesley The UK has some beautiful landscapes, I am always happy to find sights in New Zealand that often reminds me of the scenic beauty of the Uk.
Your beautiful photos bring a lot of nostagia to this heart.
Thank you for sharing
Hello Rosemay, I love to travel and visit other countries, the Rockies in Canada are just spectacular, but I am always pleased to come home to our beautiful green landscapes. I can understand how you feel, and you must visit my hubs whenever you like!
Thank you for your your comments, take care and see you soon, Lesley
What breathtaking photography! I've never seen a ferryman in action; how interesting! Thank you for another visual treat that has me longing for winter to pass swiftly so I can feast my eyes on some green (instead of brown) foliage and scenery.
Hello Donna, watching the ferryman is quite entertaining while supping a beer or two!
I agree, roll on Summer - everywhere is looking so dull and bare.
Thank you for visiting and your comments, they are most welcome, take care, best wishes Lesley
Hi Movie Master! What can I say? The photos are amazing! You just continue to get better and better! I am proud to be a follower!
Hello Dex, you are too kind...
Your support and encouragement has meant a great deal to me, as I become more confident with both pen and camera, I enjoy hubpages more and more!
Thank you, best wishes Lesley
Superb, Fantastic photos - Absolutely Marvelous ! You are truly a Genious my dear Lesley. Thank you so much for sharing all the Fabulous photographs with descriptions.
Very very informative and interesting. Voted Up and Awesome. Take care. Best Wishes, Kamalesh
G'day Lesley, you are showing us here a beautiful part of your country. Love you photographs I especially like the composure of the old Kerne Bridge image.
btw we have a Wye River located here in Victoria, I believe it was named after your own Wye River :-)
Rated up !
Hello Kamalesh my friend, it's always lovely to see you, your comments and support brighten my day. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the photos and your visit to the Wye Valley, many thanks for the votes, have a wonderful day and take care, best wishes Lesley
Hi agvulpes, it's nice to meet you. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the photos, what a conincidence you have a river Wye nearby! I am just popping over to your place to read some hubs. thank you for visiting and your comments, see you soon, best wishes Lesley
Hello MM, you open up such a charming, peaceful world for us. Your photographs are gorgeous, and the story of your peaceful countryside is to be envied.
Hello Mike, I'm so pleased you have enjoyed a little piece of beautiful English countryside, thank you as always for visiting and your comments, enjoy your day, best wishes Lesley
Wow...this was beautiful Valley and I love all stunning pictures here. I loved your narration and everything about Wye Valley. You have done a great job. Rated up (useful, awesome, beautiful, and interesting). Take care!
Blessing and hugs, Prasetio
Hello Movie Master! :) Your hub is beautiful and very informative. It's almost like walking through the countryside myself. Your pictures are excellent also. This is a very good hub and well written. I hope to visit some day! Voted up and beautiful! Thank you for SHARING such a wonderful hub!
Oh what peace... amazing to just look at the pictures... Lovely hub... thanks for sharing this. The picture of the Cistercian Abbey reminds me of a ruin very much like that in a different hemisphere.. I have a poem written somewhere about it.. I need to fish it out and put it up there.. thank you for bringing such lovely memories.. Have a blessed day. Shalom!
Hi prasetio, thank you for visiting our beautiful Wye Valley, I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, your comments and votes are much appreciated, have a wonderful day, best wishes Lesley
Hi sgbrown, I'm so pleased you enjoyed your virtual visit to the Wye Valley, I hope you get to visit here one day!
Thank you for your comments and votes, best wishes Lesley
Hello shimmering Dawn, the Abbey ruins are amazing I intend on writing a hub about it soon, I hope we will see your poem!
Thank you for visiting and your comments, they are much appreciated, have a wonderful day and take care, Lesley
The photos in this hub are wonderful, Lesley - so sharp and beautiful! They brought back lovely memories of my trips to the Wye Valley and Tintern Abbey as a child. You are so lucky to be living where you do!
Thank you so much, dear Movie Master, for allowing me to vicariously enjoy the beautiful Wye Valley through your eyes and your camera's lens. The scenery is truly magnificent, and your commentary very interesting.
I'll bet that Ferry Man never has to go to the gym to have strong arms and biceps!
Hello Alicia, I'm so pleased you enjoyed the photos and they bought back happy memories for you. I love visiting Tintern, we always park at the old railway and walk into town and then enjoy lunch at the pub looking out at the Abbey!
Thank you for visiting, your comments are much appreciated, take care best wishes Lesley
Hello Jaye, it's fascinating to watch the ferry man, it certainly takes some pulling to cross the river and he'd got the biceps to prove it!
Thank you for visiting and your comments, it's always lovely to see you, best wishes Lesley
Thanks for jogging some lovely memories with your beautiful photos. When I was a child we went on a school "camp" to St Briavel's Castle Youth Hostel. I remember Tintern Abbey well. We had a fabulous time.
Hello Judi, it's nice to see you, it's good to hear I jogged some lovely memories for you!
Thank you for visiting and your comments, have a wonderful day, best wishes Lesley
MM, absolutely beautiful. Voted up and all across. Only funny cause I know that has to be rough on the ferry man.lol Loved the tour. It is so beautiful there.
Hi Ricky, the vote for the ferry man is so funny! he is entertaining to watch - but that's certainly hard graft!!
It's always good to see you, so pleased you enjoyed the tour, many thanks for your votes and have a wonderful day! best wishes Lesley
Thank you for these exquisite photographs, and your excellent article. My family name is Welsh and I visited Wales once but did not get to come to the Wye Valley. I can see how beautiful it is.
Lesley, What a beautiful, gorgeous, stunning tour in compelling pictures and persuasive words to the Wye valley! Your photography is so exact that I can recognize the shapes of leaves! It's so great that you include such precise photos of the hand-pull ferry, which must be high on visitors' must-do must-see lists. Additionally, I love the way you anticipate visitor comforts by pointing out the double offerings of pubs for canoeists, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. It's a completely enticing, excellent, inviting package you outline replete with cultural/geographical/historical insights as well as pretty pictures.
Thank you for sharing, voted up + all,
Derdriu
Hello James, Wales is beautiful, what a shame you didn't get to see the Wye Valley, perhaps another time!
I'm so pleased you enjoyed your virtual visit and thank you for your comments, best wishes Lesley
Hello Derdriu, thank you so much for your wonderful comments, the Wye Valley has so much to offer the visitor, I enjoyed writing about this beautiful area!
Best wishes Lesley
Hi, absolutely beautiful, I am so ashamed to say that I had never heard of Symonds Yat, but what a great name! I live on the Thames, and I can see the similarities, loved your photos! what a great place to explore and just wander through, nell
Hi Nell, thank you for stopping by, if ever you get the chance the Wye Valley is a lovely place to visit!
Many thanks for your comments, take care best wishes Lesley
This reminds me of "Hands Upon The Water", a short story that has a lot of metaphorical references. Nicely written hub, voted up :)
Hello Londonlady, I'm not familiar with "Hands upon the water" I will check it out!
Thank you for visiting the Wye Valley and your comments, I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, take care and best wishes Lesley
Do you play in that water is the summer? I would have to; it looks fantastic. I have found out about a place near me and just counting the days until spring and warm enough so I can. Great hub and pictures!
Hello Pollyannalana, It looks so inviting doesn't it?! in some places though the current is quite fast, so can be a bit dangerous for swimming.
It's great to think spring is just around the corner, now long now!
Many thanks for your comments, they are much appreciated, take care and best wishes, Lesley
What an absolutely beautiful hub MM. The photos are so pretty and refreshing - took my mind off the cold snow outside. Thank you for sharing Wye Valley with us.
Sharyn
Hello Sharyn, I'm so pleased you enjoyed your visit to the Wye Valley, thank you for your great comments, enjoy your day and keep warm!
Best wishes Lesley
A nice review of a beautiful are, it brought back memories of family country walks and Plowman's pub lunches as a kid lol.
Socially shared, up and interesting.
Hello Brett, many thanks for visiting, your comments and sharing it's much appreciated.
Glad it bought back some memories for you - you can't beat a ploughmans lunch and a nice pint!
Best wishes Lesley
Awesome picture and the guided tour is special... I have my Fly Rod ready where are the best places to fish.... smiles
Hugs
Hi Rolly, I wish you could come visit with your fly rod!!
I'm so pleased you enjoyed the 'virtual' tour!
Many thanks for your comments, have a great weekend and see you soon, best wishes and hugs Lesley
wow I love this.. I want to visit England ... your pictures are so beautiful and your hub so interesting
Bless you '
Debbie
Hello Debbie, I'm so pleased you enjoyed reading and I hope you get to visit England one day!
Thank you for your lovely comments, have a wonderful day, best wishes Lesley
Just added a link to your hub from mine about the Romantic landscape and the Picturesque. Your photo of Tintern Abbey is beautiful! You have captured the atmosphere of the area in this hub.
Hello Vanderleelie, thank you for your lovely comments and adding a link to my hub, I will pop over to yours and have a read!
Best wishes Lesley
Lesley, I love all of your photos, always, and I especially am drawn to the special peace of the opening photo and the liveliness of your last photo of rapids; they show the contrast in river moods, from smoothly flowing serenity to the emphatic energy of rapids.
Your photo of Tintern Abbey recalls some of my favourite lines from William Wordsworth's "Lines Written A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey", one of many poems which my maternal Grandmother Laura knew by heart:
"Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods,
And mountains; and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye and ear, both what they half-create,
And what perceive;"
The pristine beauty of nature offers an incomparable feast for the senses, thoughts, and feelings, and you've captured that beauty here.
The hand-pulled ferry is enchanting. I dream of being in that ferry some day! Up + ABI + sharing.
Kind regards, Stessily
What a gorgeous hub this is. The photos are just remarkable. I can see how one would find peace and tranquility in a setting like this one.
Great hub - voted up
Yours truly,
John
So beautiful--you must treasure your ability to live in such beauty--thank you so much for showing it to us!
Hello Stessily, Aren't William Wordsworth's words beautiful - they describe the beauty of the Wye Valley perfectly. One can't help but be uplifted and inspired by the glorious countryside here.
Thank you for visiting, your votes and sharing it's much appreciated.
Enjoy your weekend, best wishes Lesley
Hello John, I'm so pleased you enjoyed your visit and experienced a taste of the peace and tranquiliity of the Wye Valley!
Thank you for your comments and votes, best wishes Lesley
Hello Audrey, we are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area, we love it here!
Thank you so much for visiting, take care and best wishes Lesley
You make me very homesick. I lived in Hereford for six years. My family live there, well two of my sisters and a brother live there. It's where I go back home'. Symonds Yat is wonderful! It's just beautiful there. Nice trip,thanks
Your hub is a treat for my eyes. I enjoyed viewing all your photos. Your place is so very beautiful. River Rye is so beautful and sparkling. The ferry is awesome. Bird watching must be a treat. Awesome and beautiful, vote up.
Hello Goodlady, thank you for visiting, these photos must have bought back a lot of memories for you!
Thank you for your lovely comments, best wishes Lesley
Hi Vellur, yes it is truly beautiful here.
Symonds Yat rock is very popular with bird watchers hoping for a glimpse of the Peregine Falcons.
Many thanks for your comments and votes, have a wonderful day, best wishes Lesley
I would give everything up.... to dwell in a place like this... beautiful pictures...
Amazing
Simply breath taking, we so often forget just how beautiful this country is, personally, I'm tired of travelling abroad, except for the odd trip to the Caribbean, we are planning more short breaks at home.
looking at you pics. help to make my mind up.
Voting up and beautiful.
Hi Rahul, it is beautiful here...
Many thanks for visiting, you are welcome to drop by anytime!
Best wishes Lesley
Hi tobusiness, I agree with you, we have just returned from a trip to the Lake District, the scenery was breathtaking - a hub in the making for sure!
Many thanks for your wonderful comments and votes.
Best wishes Lesley
Sunnie Day Level 8 Commenter 4 months ago
Dear Lesley,
I would say you live in a peice of heaven here on earth. Your pictures are beautiful. What a blessing to wake up to this every morning. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sunnie