The pastoral and undulating Wye Valley stretches from Mordiford south east of Hereford down to Chepstow. It is considered the birthplace of British tourism because the first organized tour began on the River Wye in the 18th century.

I joined the Wye Valley when I crossed the Severn Bridge on May 8th and travelled through it on May 9th. I camped in Mordiford on the evening of May 9th.

I left the hotel in Tintern fairly late, after eating breakfast and cleaning my chain. I headed north with a campground in mind.

My route generally followed the river and passed through some small villages and the larger town of Ross on Wye where I stopped for a much needed coffee.

One of the highlights of the valley for me was Symonds Yat Rock. I would never had stopped had it not been for some sage advice from a former colleague who grew up in nearby Coleford.

Symonds Yat Rock

Symonds Yat Rock is a Scheduled Ancient Monument’ that housed an Iron Age fort. It was built approximately 2500 years ago. The viewpoint is considered one of the best places in the UK to see peregrine falcons as well as a number of other birds. While I was there a man was watching a falcon with binoculars.

After leaving the rock, I continued following the Wye to Mordiford through gently undulating and not so ‘gently’ undulating terrain.

Around 5pm, I sailed into the Lucksall Caravan and Camping Park in Mordiford where I pitched my tent and had dinner in the campsite cafe.