Herefordshire

Towns & Villages

ROSS-ON-WYE

Situated in south Herefordshire, this inspiring Georgian market town lies on a bend in the River Wye and is the key tourist centre for the Wye Valley region. It sits atop a sandstone cliff. A splendid public park called The Prospect offers fabulous views towards the Welsh hills. The garden area was provided in the 18th century by the local philanthropist John Kryle - so-called ‘Man of Ross’ - who also gave Ross its first public water supply. An old oak tree nearby was planted in the days of Henry VIII.

Ross-on-Wye from the River - Photo: Patrick Mackie CCL

St. Mary's Church - Photo: Philip Halling CCL

The town was a popular resort in Victorian times. At its heart is a 17th century market hall, which has been transformed into a heritage centre, while the local church spire is a landmark for miles around. A Plague Cross in the churchyard marks a mass grave for the victims of an outbreak of the terrible disease in the 13th century. Each year the town stages the Ross International Festival and a regatta and carnival.

The remains of 12th century Goodrich Castle - destroyed by Cromwell’s forces - lie in the village of Goodrich while at nearby Dorstone stands the remarkable multi-chambered Neolithic tomb Arthur's Stone, estimated to be 5,000 years old. The remains of a Neolithic settlement have also been found at Dorstone Hill.