Welcome to the southernmost part of the Diocese of Hereford, where, close to the winding River Wye, you will find six ancient churches, waiting to be discovered.
Two hundred and fifty years ago British Tourism was born in this very place with Gilpin’s Wye Tour from Ross down to Monmouth and beyond.
Our route takes you from Dixton (Monmouth) to Ross. And there are a variety of ways to travel. The adventurous may like to hire a canoe from one of the many companies which offer this trip and paddle down the Wye. The 34 bus between Ross and Monmouth stops near to all six churches allowing you to walk from one to another without having to retrace your steps.
The entire area falls withing the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so superb scenery is guaranteed, whichever way you look. Red kites and peregrine falcons may soar above you while kingfishers and otters can be found near the river.
The Wye Valley Walk offers a route from which detours to the churches can be made. It includes riverside walking as well as climbing up into the hills where superb views from the Welsh Mountains to the Malvern Hills can be had.
Detailed itineraries for walks can be found on this site.
Useful information
Bus route 34 timetable
Buses from Ross to Monmouth normally run six times a day from Monday to Saturday with four buses on a Sunday.
Wye Valley National Landscape.
There is plenty of information on the Wye Valley National Landscape website about this area (formerly the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), including walking, canoeing and cycling trips. In addition there are two leaflets, Celtic Churches and Landscapes of Belief.
Herefordshire Council Walking leaflets
A link to a list of downloadable circular walks in Herefordshire can be found on the Herefordshire Council website.
Goodrich Castle
An English Heritage castle well worth visiting. You will find its chapel with a new stained glass window!
Wye Valley Visitor Centre
Here is a Butterfly Zoo (open all year) and the Jubilee Maze (created for the Silver Jubilee in 1977) miniature golf and a café (open March to October). More here.
Welsh Bicknor Church
Take a detour along the Wye Valley Walk from Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat West, and visit the closed church at Welsh Bicknor, set on the banks of the Wye. Using the alternative driving route from Kerne Bridge, park at the Stowfield Cable Works and walk across the old
railway bridge to reach the church.
Ross and Archenfield Deanery is grateful to the Wye Valley National Landscape for financial help in producing this website.
The Wye Churches Trail 