Camping in Ross-on-Wye

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.