Lea

Lea is not a village of hotels, but its position on the A40 between Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester makes it a handy, low-key base for exploring this stretch of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire border. Most visitors staying in the area choose accommodation in nearby Ross-on-Wye, which offers a good spread of options from traditional coaching inns to smaller family-run guesthouses, all within a few minutes' drive of Lea. Staying in or around Ross also puts the wider Wye Valley within easy reach, along with the Forest of Dean and its network of walking and cycling trails.

For those who prefer a quieter, more rural stay, farmhouse B&Bs and small guesthouses can be found scattered through the villages surrounding Lea, offering a genuine taste of Herefordshire countryside living. These tend to be modest, personally run places rather than large hotels, which suits the unhurried character of the area. Whichever option you choose, you will be well placed for day trips to Symonds Yat, Ross-on-Wye's market and riverside, and the ancient woodland of the Forest of Dean, while returning each evening to a peaceful corner of the county well away from the crowds.

Lea's appeal lies in what surrounds it. Within a short drive you will find some of the best scenery and heritage sites in this corner of the Wye Valley.

• Symonds Yat Rock — a dramatic viewpoint above a horseshoe bend of the River Wye, popular with walkers and known for its resident peregrine falcons.
• Royal Forest of Dean — ancient woodland just across the border in Gloucestershire, with waymarked trails, cycling routes and sculpture trails.
• River Wye — a short drive brings you to stretches of the river ideal for canoeing, kayaking and gentle riverside walks.
• Walenty Pytel Gallery and Sculpture Trail — a rural gallery showcasing the work of the noted steel and bronze sculptor, set in the surrounding countryside.
• Ross-on-Wye — the nearest market town, with independent shops, a Saturday market and views over the river from the churchyard.

The Crown Inn is the village's traditional pub, offering a warm welcome and a proper country pub atmosphere, and briefly made national headlines in 2014 when police searched the premises during the hunt for the missing Nanteos Cup. For a wider choice of places to eat and drink, Ross-on-Wye is close by with a good selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Lea sits on the edge of the Wye Valley, within reach of the Forest of Dean, making it a promising area for anyone wanting to camp close to some of the best river and woodland scenery in this part of England. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's permission, so visitors need to book into a recognised campsite, farm site or glamping stay rather than pitching up on open land or riverbank.

The terrain around Lea is gently rolling farmland giving way to the steeper, wooded slopes of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean, so campsites in the wider area range from open farm fields to more sheltered, tree-lined pitches. Facilities vary accordingly, from simple, back-to-basics fields with a tap and a compost loo, through to fuller-service sites with showers, electric hook-up and on-site shops, so it is worth checking what is included before booking, especially if you are travelling with a tent rather than a campervan or caravan.

The best months to camp here run from late spring to early autumn, when the Wye Valley is at its most walkable and the river at its best for canoeing and paddling. Ground can be soft and paths through the forest muddy outside these months, so smaller tents in particular fare best in the drier half of the year. For those who would rather skip the tent-pitching altogether, glamping options in the wider area, including shepherd's huts, pods and yurts, offer a more comfortable way to enjoy the same woodland and riverside setting, often with a wood burner or fire pit thrown in for cooler evenings.