Visit Ross
Ross-on-Wye, perched above the Wye Valley in Herefordshire, is where UK tourism began.
Welcome to Ross-on-Wye
Perched on a rugged sandstone cliff overlooking the stunning Wye Valley in Herefordshire, an area celebrated for its outstanding natural beauty, Ross-on-Wye holds a special place in the history of British tourism. From around 1770, visitors began arriving to experience the famous Wye Valley tour, making the town one of the earliest destinations for leisure travel in the UK. The movement was inspired by a local clergyman whose pamphlet praised the valley’s remarkable scenery and encouraged travellers to explore it.
As you stroll through Ross-on-Wye’s medieval streets and alleyways, you follow the same paths once taken by Georgian visitors eager to discover the landscape. Artists and writers, including J. M. W. Turner and William Wordsworth, also drew inspiration from the town’s historic character, its Tudor buildings, and the gentle river journeys along the Wye towards Chepstow.
The town’s emblem is the hedgehog, a nod to the wildlife of the surrounding countryside, and you can find various references to this little creature throughout the town.
Today, Ross-on-Wye is known for its thriving independent shopping scene giving the town a distinctive and welcoming character.
Standing proudly in the centre of Ross-on-Wye, the Market House is one of the town’s most recognisable and historic buildings. Built between 1650 and 1654 from local red sandstone, it replaced an earlier wooden structure known as the Booth Hall and has served as the focal point of the town’s market life for centuries. The Market House went under much needed repairs in 2024, and along with the required stonework, interpretation boards were installed which give a great insight into the history of the town.
Ross-on-Wye continues to attract canoeists, anglers, walkers, birdwatchers, shoppers, and history enthusiasts alike. Nearby highlights include Wilton Castle (Herefordshire), Goodrich Castle, and the dramatic viewpoint at Symonds Yat Rock. The town also serves as an ideal base for exploring the wider region, including the Forest of Dean, the cathedral cities of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester, as well as the landscapes of the Brecon Beacons and the Malvern Hills. Hotels and B&Bs in the town welcome thousands of visitors each year who come to experience this historic gateway to the Wye Valley.
