Ross-on-Wye

Ross-on-Wye offers a good choice of accommodation for a Herefordshire break, from independent hotels in Georgian townhouses right on the Market Place to country house hotels just outside town with views over the Wye Valley. Many of the town centre options are within easy walking distance of The Prospect, the Market House and the river, making them a convenient base for exploring on foot. A little further out, guest houses and boutique inns in the surrounding villages — Kerne Bridge, Walford and Goodrich among them — put you closer to the river and the castle, at the cost of a short drive back into town.

For families or groups, self-catering cottages are widely available around Ross, ranging from converted barns to riverside houses with private gardens running down towards the Wye. Prices and availability tend to firm up quickly for the peak canoeing season between May and September, and again around half-term breaks, so early booking is worthwhile if you have particular dates in mind. Whichever type of stay you choose, Ross's compact centre means you are rarely more than a short walk or drive from the river, the surrounding hills and the town's shops and restaurants.

Ross makes an easy base for exploring the lower Wye Valley, with plenty to see in the town itself and some of the region's best-known landmarks close by.

• The Prospect — John Kyrle's early 18th-century pleasure garden on the cliff above the river, with panoramic views over the Wye's horseshoe bend towards the Welsh hills.
• Market House — the town's red sandstone landmark, built on open arches in the 1650s and now home to a gallery selling work by local artists and makers.
• St Mary the Virgin Church — the parish church whose tall spire dominates the skyline, standing next to The Prospect at the top of the town.
• Canoeing and kayaking on the River Wye — Ross is one of the classic put-in points for paddling downstream through the Wye Valley Gorge, past Goodrich Castle and on towards Symonds Yat.
• Goodrich Castle — a substantial red sandstone ruin a few miles south of Ross, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the county and a popular target for a riverside walk or paddle.
• Symonds Yat Rock — a dramatic viewpoint over a tight meander of the Wye a short drive from Ross, well known for its peregrine falcons and views into Wales.
• Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo — a small tropical butterfly house on the edge of town, popular with families looking for an easy half-day out.
• Wilton Castle — a ruined Norman castle just across the river from Ross, with gardens that open to visitors through the year.

Ross punches above its weight for a town of its size, with a good crop of independent cafes, delis and restaurants around the Market Place and along High Street. The Buttermarket and surrounding lanes host regular food and farmers' markets showcasing Herefordshire produce, from local cider and perry to cheese and cider-cured meats. Riverside pubs at Kerne Bridge and the surrounding villages are a popular stop for walkers and paddlers coming off the Wye, serving hearty pub food and local ales, while the town centre has a good choice of coffee shops and bistros for a lazier lunch between exploring the sights.

Herefordshire's stretch of the Wye Valley around Ross-on-Wye is well suited to camping, with a landscape of wooded river cliffs, water meadows and rolling farmland that makes for some genuinely scenic pitches. As with the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal here, so it is worth sticking to the area's many established sites, several of which sit right on the riverbank and cater specifically to the canoeists and kayakers who paddle down from Ross towards Symonds Yat.

Sites range from simple, low-key farm campsites with a handful of pitches to larger family-friendly grounds with better facilities, and glamping has a strong presence in the area too, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and pods offering a more comfortable way to spend a night by the river without giving up the views. Many sites are geared towards paddlers and walkers, with drying rooms, canoe storage and easy river access, reflecting the valley's popularity for multi-day trips downstream.

Because the terrain along the Wye is a mix of steep wooded valley sides and flatter riverside meadows, it is worth checking a site's exact setting before booking — some pitches sit right on the water and can be prone to river mist or, in wetter spells, occasional flooding, while others are set back on higher ground with views down into the gorge rather than direct river access.

The best camping season runs from late spring to early autumn, broadly April through September, when the Wye is at a comfortable level for paddling and the valley's woodland is at its greenest. Peak summer weekends and school holidays get busy, particularly at sites close to Symonds Yat, so early booking is recommended. Outside these months many sites close for the winter, though a handful of glamping options stay open year-round for those happy to trade river activities for quieter, off-season walking instead.