Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WYE river VALLEY
The River Wye snakes its way south
from the Welsh mountains through
some of the most scenic landscapes in
the region, emptying into the Severn
estuary at Chepstow on the Welsh bor-
der. The most enticing sections are the
upper reaches around Hay-on-Wye, and
the lower river, where it cuts through
the magical woods of the Forest of
Dean. You'll need a car to make the
most of the area.
A good place to base yourself is
Ross-on-Wye, a small town 16 miles
southeast of Hereford. Perched above a
loop on the river, Ross is a relaxed, arty
place, with a handful of 17th-century
buildings and plenty of cafes and B&Bs.
It's just 7 miles south along the river
from Ross to Symonds Yat Rock, a
stupendous viewpoint over the entire
valley.
Some 20 miles west of Hereford,
Hay-on-Wye straddles the Welsh-Eng-
lish border, a tiny but attractive riverside
town celebrated the world over thanks
to books. Hay's first secondhand book-
store opened in 1961, and now virtually
the whole place is given over to the
trade—it's the greatest market for used
books in the world. The Hay Festival
(www.hayfestival.com) takes place over
10 days in May and attracts major names
in the world of literature and the arts.
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portion of a once great Benedictine monastery, fictional setting of the Brother Cadfael
tales by Ellis Peters. Visitors can see displays devoted to the abbey's history as well as
the remains of the 14th-century shrine of St. Winefride. Look for Wilfred Owen's
name on the war memorial inside—the poet was a parishioner here before his death
in World War I.
Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. &  01743/232723. www.shrewsburyabbey.com. Free admission; dona-
tions of £2 requested. Mon-Sat 10:30am-3pm, Sun 11:30am-2:30pm. Shrewsbury Abbey is just off
Robertson Way and Monk Moor Rd., at Judith Butts Lane.
Shrewsbury Castle CASTLE Built in 1083 by a Norman earl, Roger de Mont-
gomery, this red sandstone castle was designed as a powerful fortress to secure the
border with Wales. The Great Hall and walls were constructed during the reign of
Edward I, but 200 years ago, Thomas Telford extensively remodeled the castle. Today,
it houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum, which includes a rather dry collection
of pictures, uniforms, medals, and weapons associated with various Shropshire regi-
ments; it's enlivened by a lock of Napoleon's hair and an American flag captured
during the seizure and burning of the White House during the War of 1812.
Castle St., Shrewsbury. &   01743/361196. www.shrewsburymuseums.com/castle. Admission £2.50
adults, £1.50 seniors, free for students and children 18 and under. Sept 10-Dec 22 and Feb 13-May 26
Mon-Sat 10:30am-4pm; May 27-Sept 9 Mon-Sun 10:30am-5pm. Closed Thurs all year, and Dec 23-Feb
12. Call ahead, as hours may change.
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre MUSEUM This center depicts the
complex geology, ecology, history, and culture of Shropshire through the illuminating
Secret Hills exhibition. Engulfed by meadows and topped off with a green grass roof,
the center features an Iron Age roundhouse and a stunning life-size model of a mam-
moth, a replica of the actual mammoth skeleton found at Condover, near Shrewsbury,
in 1986. You'll also learn about Shropshire's many medieval castles, and see a pan-
oramic movie shot from a balloon floating over the surrounding hills.
 
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