On the northwest edge of the Forest of Dean, squeezed between the River Wye and the towering limestone outcrop known as Symonds Yat Rock, Symonds Yat is a tiny, endearing tangle of pubs, guesthouses and campsites, with great walks and a couple of canoeing centres. The river splits it into two halves, one in Gloucestershire and one in Herefordshire. They’re connected by an ancient hand-hauled ferry (adult/child/bicycle £1.20/60p/60p; dawn to dusk).
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
15.2 MILES
After Welsh marauders torched the original Saxon cathedral, the Norman rulers of Hereford erected a larger, grander cathedral on the same site. The…
24.09 MILES
Morgan has been handcrafting elegant sports cars since 1909. You can see the mechanics at work on two-hour guided tours of the unassuming shedlike…
16.92 MILES
Gloucester’s spectacular cathedral is among the first and finest examples of the English Perpendicular Gothic style. Benedictine monks built a Norman…
27.04 MILES
This mighty, innovative steamship was designed by engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843. You get to wander the galley, surgeon's quarters and…
10.03 MILES
The haunting riverside ruins of this sprawling monastic complex have inspired poets and artists through the centuries, most notably William Wordsworth,…
13.61 MILES
Imposing Chepstow Castle perches atop a limestone cliff overhanging the river, guarding the main river crossing from England into South Wales. It is one…
20.49 MILES
Fascinating Big Pit provides an opportunity to explore a real coal mine and get a taste of what life was like for the miners who worked here from 1880 to…
27.15 MILES
Set amid the iconic cranes of Bristol's dockside, this impressive museum is a treasure trove of memorabilia. It's divided into four main sections: People,…
Nearby Oxford & the Cotswolds attractions
0.2 MILES
Soaring 504m high above Symonds Yat East, this limestone outcrop has outstanding wraparound views of the River Wye and the surrounding countryside. It's a…
2.74 MILES
Seeming to spring seamlessly from its craggy red bedrock, Goodrich is a dramatic, partly ruined castle topped by a 12th-century keep that opens up…
3.69 MILES
In 1793, after the official suppression of the faith was relaxed, St Mary's was the first new Catholic church to be opened in Wales. Even then it needed…
4. Nelson Museum & Local History Centre
3.75 MILES
Admiral Horatio Nelson visited Monmouth twice in 1802, officially en route to inspect Pembrokeshire forests for ship timber, though it may have had more…
3.79 MILES
Fronting Agincourt Sq at the north end of Monnow St, this handsome Georgian building was built in 1724 to house sittings of the assizes court. It was here…
3.81 MILES
Inside Great Castle House, this volunteer-run regimental museum is a labour of love squeezed into a cupboard-sized space. It traces the history of the…
3.84 MILES
All that remains of Monmouth Castle is a scant section of wall that once enclosed the great hall and the adjoining tower. Despite being the birthplace of…
4.07 MILES
Monmouth's main drag, such that it is, starts at car-free Monnow Bridge, the UK's only complete example of a medieval fortified bridge. It was built in…