Crossing the wye

Symonds Yat West

Symonds Yat West is on the Herefordshire side. It has a large caravan and camping site (Sterretts Caravan Site), and a small amusement park owned by Kimberly Danter (Daughter of Henry Danter and family member of the famous UK showmen the Danter Family). Symonds Yat West amusement park used to have a small fun fair which was removed in 2010 due to lack of service. It used to contain outdoor dodgems, twister, casino royale miami, flying jets, octopus, bouncy castles, ski jump, etc. Most rides were moved up to Stourport on Severn theme park also owned by Henry Danter. You can find some of the old rides now at Murco's Petrol Station (High Noon Services) on the approach to Symonds Yat coming from Monmouth (S Wales).[7] Symonds Yat West also has visitor attractions including a maze (The Amazing Hedge Puzzle) built in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II,[8] and the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo.[9]

River crossings

Two hand ("pull") cable ferries enable foot passengers to cross the river, powered by ferrymen who pull the ferry across the river using an overhead cable.[10] The only connection by road is upstream over Huntsham bridge; this is a five mile trip. One ferry is operated by the Saracens Head Inn and the other is operated by the Ye Old Ferrie Inn.

Biblins Bridge

A suspension bridge was built over the river by the Forestry Commission using local oak timbers in 1957. Linking Symonds Yat East to the Biblins camp site, the bridge was fully refurbished in 1997 and rotten timbers and the two support towers were replaced. Although it is designed to take up to 30 people, it has a badly weathered sign requesting that no more than 6 cross at a time.[11]

Symonds Yat Rock


The view north towards Ross-on-Wye from Symonds Yat Rock
Symonds Yat Rock overlooks a spectacular gorge through which the River Wye snakes. This rock is the perfect viewpoint from which to watch raptors. A pair of Peregrine Falcons that nest annually within sight of the rock can be watched through telescopes set up by the RSPB. Buzzards, goshawks and hobbies are also regularly seen and it is sometimes possible to see migrant raptors such as ospreys and European Honey Buzzards.