Symonds Yat has some great walks, suitable for all abilities with fantastic scenery and plenty of reasons to stop.
Discover Walks in This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Whether you enjoy a leisurely stroll or an organised group walk, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley has many places you can visit with footpaths and trails galore. The Wye Valley itself is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), so you will be guaranteed some stunning scenery. Our holiday homes have some fantastic routes that start right where you’re staying!
Don’t forget to bring a camera with you and we’d feel honoured if you shared your experience with us on our Facebook page!
Walking has Something for Everyone
Walking is one of the most popular outdoor activities in the area for both visitors and residents. Whether you do it for pleasure, fitness or to experience nature firsthand you’ll find a walk to suit all abilities and ages. We’ve listed some of the walks below.
Want to find walks in the Forest of Dean?
A great way to discover the Forest of Dean is through the Forestry Commission’s very own Forest Xplorer app. It’s free of charge and is indispensable when wanting to explore forestry sites in the area. With GPS location, so you always know where you are and which sites are nearby, as well as downloadable maps for when you lose signal, there is also detailed information on the forests and their wildlife and fauna.
Wye Valley Walk – Following the River Wye
If you are looking for a pleasant afternoon stroll, week-end break, or a 2 week walking holiday then the Wye Valley Walk is well worth considering.
This beautiful 136 mile (218km) trail follows the river valley from Chepstow in Monmouthshire to the slopes of Plynlimon in Powys, criss-crossing the border between England and Wales. The walk is waymarked with the distinctive leaping salmon logo.
- Walk Route – Chepstow-Monmouth-Hereford-Hay on Wye-Builth Wells-Rhyader-Plynlimon
- Distance – 136 miles
You can tackle the whole route or take it a chunk at a time by incorporating it with visits to other places along the way.
If you’re looking for accommodation for your group then one of our big cottages offers you the opportunity to stay a bit a longer and recover after the walk in one of the hot tubs provided at each house.
Walks from River Wye Lodge
River Wye Lodge is located right next to the River Wye with views our over the riverbank. Located on Ross Road in the village of Lydbrook it is a crossroads between the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean.
To Goodrich
This route takes you to Goodrich where there is an outstanding castle nearby. As River Wye Lodge is actually in the middle of this route you can choose to tackle it in two different directions. Heading east is the longer journey and will take you through Symonds Yat, where there will be plenty of opportunities to stop for a break and appreciate this picturesque village. If you head northwest the walk is much shorter, but will take you over Kerne Bridge, where you can stop at the fantastic Inn on the Wye, then continue into Goodrich.
Walks from Holly Tree House
Holly Tree House is located in a secluded area in the hills of Symonds Yat West, offering great views across the River Wye. There are a number of trails here that take you through some wonderful scenery with great panoramas.
There are two hand-pulled ferries in Symonds Yat West that will take you across the River Wye to the start point of the walks found at the links below. You can either choose the closer crossing by following the steps to the riverbank on Ferrie Lane to take the ferry from the Saracen’s Head Inn or take a 10 minute walk alongside the river to Ye Old Ferrie Inn and cross there.
Symonds Yat Trail
This walk is a fairly straightforward route of around 1.2 miles which takes in the the Iron Age Fort and as well as taking you through a sample of the woodland around Symonds Yat Rock.
View details of the Symonds Yat Trail
Symonds Yat Rock to The Biblins
You may want to do the reverse trail for this walk so that you can decide whether to recross the river towards the end of the walk rather than at the beginning. Along the way, the route takes you to the top of Symonds Yat Rock, where you can look out over the whole of the area, through the Iron Age Fort and to the Biblins Bridge. The Biblins, as it is known locally, is a wooden suspension bridge. Some people love it and some people hate it as it has a reputation of swaying as people cross it. The bridge also recommends that only six people cross it at a time. The route is steep in parts and is described as a moderate 2.8 mile walk.
See trail map for the Symonds Yat Rock to The Biblins walk
(cover image courtesy of TimFromWales blog)