This small English town beside the Welsh border offers access to abundant natural beauty.
In Herefordshire near the Welsh border, Ross-on-Wye is perched on the Wye River within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). With the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire on one side and the Welsh county of Monmouthshire on the other, campers staying in Ross-on-Wye have many options for getting outdoors and enjoying the natural beauty in this part of England and Wales. Caravan parks can be found around town, while simple tent sites, cabins, and glamping opportunities dot the surrounding regions.
Spanning the border into both England and Wales, the Wye Valley AONB is an area of limestone gorges, woodlands, hillforts, castles, and abbeys, as well as wildlife. Ross-on-Wye falls within the English part of the region and is a good base for canoeing, cycling, paddle boarding, horse riding, hiking, and fishing adventures up and down the valley. While Ross-on-Wye has limited camping options, there are many more throughout the AONB.
In southwest Worcestershire, northeast of Ross-on-Wye, this popular natural area combines dramatic hills and pastoral countryside. At 1,394 feet, the highest point in the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the Worcestershire Beacon. Climb this on a clear day to see across to the Cotswolds and into Wales. You can visit on a day trip from Ross-on-Wye or stay in and around the AONB at your choice of campsites, caravan parks, farm cottages, and glamping sites.
Also known in Welsh as Bannau Brycheiniog, this mountainous national park in Wales is not far west of Ross-on-Wye. Hiking and climbing are especially popular, and the park contains several of Wales’ highest mountains, including the tallest mountain in South Wales, the 2,907-foot Pen y Fan. There are many places to camp within and around the park, although wild camping is only permitted with permission from landowners.
Summer is the best time to visit Ross-on-Wye, as this is when the weather is most suitable for outdoor activities and tent camping. There are plenty of cultural attractions and outdoor activities to enjoy in cooler weather too, so check out cabins, caravan hires, and glamping options outside of summer.