Menu
If you love walking you will love walking in the Wye Valley, and what better chance to learn about this beautiful area while getting your fill of exercise and fresh air, than by joining in the Ross-on-Wye Walking Festival – 3 days of guided walks along trails and footpaths offering a taste of the town and the surrounding countryside.
Ross on-Wye is acknowledged as the birthplace of modern tourism, drawing visitors for over 250 years. It sits at the heart of the River Wye along which the original tourists travelled by boat and later by train and on foot. Today the river and views are largely unaltered from that seen by William Gilpin when he travelled down in 1770 and wrote his guidebook “Observations on the River Wye”. Varied and picturesque background scenery – from the dramatic cliffs and wooded hills of the lower Wye to the rolling farmland and towering border hills; or the ancient Forest of Dean; much remaining as it was in those past years.
An early morning walk where we will identify birds by sound and sight. We can’t guarantee what will be around but egrets, kingfishers and grey wagtails are often seen. Binoculars would be useful. Numbers very limited.
Walk sponsored by the Bridge House Hotel.
Distance: 3 miles, easy
Time: 9:00am to 11:30am
Not suitable for dogs
This linear walk from Peterstow follows the Wye as it meanders back to Ross. We reach the start point on a number 33 bus visit Sellack and Foy churches, cross the river on a suspension bridge and reach Ross along the Wye Valley Walk. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by the Old Court Hotel.
Distance: 8 miles, moderate
Time: 9:30am to 4:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
A walk along the beautiful River Wye taking in several features of interest including a picnic lunch stop at a Top Secret WW2 aircraft crash site. Initially easy & flat but steeper & more challenging towards the end. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Audreys Fish Bar
Distance: 8 miles, moderate
Time: 9:30am to 3:00pm
Suitable for dogs (some livestock)
We will explore the valley’s “dip and scarp” slopes influenced by the underlying rocks. Climb up to Hobb’s Quarry with a chance to find fossils and descend through Coleman’s Wood Nature Reserve. There are fine views over the village and surrounding hills.
Walk sponsored by Field Fayre – the Organic Store
Distance: 4 miles, moderate
Time: 10;00am to 1:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
Hidden passage ways, a secret garden, old railway lines, historic figures who made the town what we see today; all feature in this gentle stroll through time. Walk sponsored the King’s Head Hotel
Distance: 2.5 miles, easy
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
A lovely walk around the hills overlooking the River Wye, initially on the Wye Valley Walk towards Kerne Bridge and then over to the Domesday listed settlement of Howle Hill. Views to Goodrich Castle and beyond to the Black Mountains. Some stiles and short but steep hill.
Walk sponsored by the Inn on the Wye
Distance: 4½ miles, moderate
Time: 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Suitable for dogs
Beautiful, historical river and hillside.Circular walk from Lower Lydbrook picnic site. Green riverside pastures with a view of soaring cliffs of Symonds Yat. A track to climb to a ridge with different rural scenery on the return. Wonderful, peaceful, landscapes with fascinating industrial history.
Walk sponsored by Gelatis Ice Cream Shop
Distance: 5 miles, moderate
Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
A walk past Wyastone deer park to King Arthur’s cave then through high Meadow and a descent to Biblin’s Bridge and the river. We return through the woodland trust passsing a preserved lime kiln.
Walk sponsored by River Music
Distance: 5 miles, moderate/strenuous
Time: 2:05pm to 4:45pm
Not suitable for dogs
Initially walking along Offa’s Dyke path and down to the Wye Valley Railway, then through the recently re-opened 1km long Tidenham tunnel. Stopping at Tidenham church we follow large portions of the Gloucester Way with views of the Severn on our return. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Hanks Meat & Game
Distance: 11 miles, moderate/strenuous
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
Walk in the Wye Gorge and hear geological tales of floods and seas from previous millenia. Visit an iron-age fort, ancient caves and see what a victorian M.P. did to impress his guests. Bring a picnic.
Walk Sponsored by Truffles Delicatessen
Distance: 4 miles, moderate
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Suitable for dogs
From Pengethley we descend to the peaceful Hentland church and down to the Wye. We cross meadows to the Italianate church at Hoarwithy then we ascend through fields to the pretty village of King’s Caple with its church oppposite a Norman motte. Then back down to the river, across a spectacular footbridge via Sellack church and uphill to finish the day at the coffee shop at Pengethley. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by the Yew Tree Inn & Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company
Distance: 7.8 miles, moderate
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
The route includes a variety of woodland, farmland, and meadows; a church with a plethora of Scudamore family history – now used for ‘champing’, a walk along the banks of the Wye and several great view-points. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by the Garden Store & Engine Shed Cafe
Distance: 8.8 miles, moderate/strenuous
Time: 10.00am to 3:30pm
Not suitable for dogs
A moderate walk for distance but three sharp climbs with 1048 ft of total ascent. We follow Offa’s Dyke south to Highbury Wood & Wyeseal Wood then on to Bigsweir Bridge. Returning through Bigsnap Woods, Whitebrook & Lower Hael Wood. Bring a picnic .
Walk sponsored by Rossiter Books.
Distance: 9.4 miles, strenuous
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
A gentle country walk including the banks of the rivers Monnow and Wye, and the historical town of Monmouth. Visit a new renewable energy project and an old courtroom where Chartist leaders were sentenced to a horrific end.
Walk sponsored by Muddy Boots Software.
Distance: 6 miles, moderate
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
Ride on a restored steam train puffing through the Forest of Dean (ticket £17 pp payable on the day). Then a gentle circular walk through the ancient Forest of Dean with a lunch break at CAMRA’s 2018 pub of the year. Return on the next steam train to Norchard.
Walk sponsored by the PGL Travel Ltd
Distance: 4 miles, easy
Time: 10:00am to 3:15pm
Suitable for dogs
A chance to gain experience in photography on this easy walk along the river bank and through the town with the experts. Help will be available to take shots of landscapes and buildings, close ups and reflections. But can you find the best view which captures ‘The Spirit of Ross’ ?
Walk sponsored by Escape to the Great Outdoors
Distance: 2.5 miles, easy
Time: 10.00am to 12:30pm
Not suitable for dogs
Hidden passage ways, a secret garden, old railway lines, historic figures who made the town what we see today; all feature in this gentle stroll through time.
Walk sponsored by the Ginger Nut Cafe
Distance: 2.5 miles, easy
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
Starting from the old village of Fownhope with its twisted church spire and then onto nature reserves, woodlands, Capler Hill Fort and finishing with a lovely walk alongside the River Wye. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored Flying Colours Print Design
Distance: 7 miles, moderate
Time: 10:00am to 3:30pm
Suitable for dogs
From Garway village green we gently ascend Garway Hill with its sweeping views of the county. Returning via the former Templar church with a glimpse of an ancient dovecote.
Walk sponsored by Tudor Sweets of Ross.
Distance: 7.5 miles, moderate
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
A Sunday morning stroll in the heart of the Forest of Dean following the famous trail of woodland related sculptures and art installations ……with a short explanation of each.
Walk sponsored by the Red Lion Inn, Peterstow
Distance: 3.5 miles, easy
Time: 10:00am to 12:300pm
Suitable for dogs
Walk along woodland paths exploring the local geology/soils which have produced 3 soil types: neutral, calcareous and acidic and their associated plants, includin the remains of a small patch of acid heath, a rare and endangered habitat in this area. Some local archaeology added in too.
Distance: 5 miles, easy/moderate
Time: 10:00am to 12:30pm
Suitable for dogs
The morning starts with a walk from Foy church over the pedestrian river bridge to ‘Hole in the Wall’, then we join the Herefordshire Trail as it gently rises to Perrystone hill with good views of the Malverns. We visit the remote Norman chapel at Yatton followed by a short but steep ascent to reach How Caple church and then descend to the Wye meadows and follow the river to the start point. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Falcon House Bed & Breakfast
Distance: 10 miles, Strenuous
Time: 10:00am to 4:30pm
Suitable for dogs
This is a is moderate/strenuous circular walk passing through orchards, open farmland and woodland leading up to May Hill the highest point in Gloucestershire. Good views if the weather allows. The return route is via Acorn Woods. A few stiles. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Wharton Lodge Cottages
Distance: 9.5 miles moderate/strenuous
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Not suitable for dogs
We take the restored steam train (ticket £17 pp payable on the day) down to Lydney then walk to the historic harbour area. See where the coal and timber were loaded onto sailing barges in the 19th century. Gaze across the Severn estuary taking in both bridges and the decommissioned power stations. Enjoy your picnic or buy a snack from the coffee shop. Back to the steam train for a round trip through the Forest of Dean and return to Norchard.
Walk sponsored by the Dean Forest Railway
Distance: 3 miles, easy
Time: 11:30am to 4pm
Suitable for dogs
The 2022 Festival will be held over the weekend 23-25 September and you can book tickets from 1st April. All tickets £5 for adults, free to under 17 year olds. If you need help get in touch. Download the Festival Programme Flyer.
