About the River Wye

Originating in the Welsh mountains, the River Wye is the fifth longest river in the UK. Much of the Wye Valley is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, and the river is regarded by anglers as one of the best for salmon fishing outside of Scotland. The Wye's flood plain also provides the perfect environment for dairy farming - particularly for the Hereford beef cattle strain - which means lots of delicious local produce on sale in the area's shops, restaurants and bars.

There's an active rowing club and every year sees a raft race and a regatta on the river. Canoeists and kayak enthusiasts are drawn to the Wye not just by the valley's often spectacular beauty but also the Symonds Yat rapids, which were purchased by the British Canoe Union in 2003 to preserve them for recreational use and were recently shored up.