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On Monday the 19th of October 2020 we left Ross On Wye where we had stayed overnight and drove 20 minutes to Symonds Yat Rock Car Park GL16 7NZ. Prices (£3 for 2 hrs,£5 for up to 4 or £7 for all day). We had avoided paying for parking since we've been away and could see little other choice here.
So having paid to park we made our way over to Symonds Yat Rock, passing the Café on the way. we cross over the road by means of a little wooden bridge and onto the rock.
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Symonds Yat Rock overlooks a spectacular gorge through which the River Wye snakes. This rock is a good 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. Nearby cliffs are the nesting place of Peregrine Falcons that soar above the valley of the River Wye 120m below. It is also the site of an Iron Age hill fort and the film location used for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
Symonds Yat Rock was used as a location for some episodes of Series 5 of the BBC television drama Merlin.
The views across the Gorge was just amazing!
Archaeologists have uncovered bones from hyenas, sabre-toothed cats and a mammoth in and around the caves of the valley and human habitation can be traced back to 12,000 years ago with findings of their tools and clothes.
In the Iron Age the forts on the Great Doward and Yat Rock provided secure, defensible settlements for the local residents. During Roman times these forts became focal points in the region and the importance of the iron here and in the Forest of Dean made this a valuable prize for the conquerors. Offa's Dyke, built in the 8th century to separate England and Wales, runs close to Symonds Yat.
The first recorded use of Symonds Yat in connection with the area is in a Patent Roll of 1256, where the place appears as Symundesyate and Symondesyate. This may contain the Old English personal name Sigemund or a very early surname deriving from it. Yat represents the Old English word geat (pronounced "yat"), meaning 'gate' and describing the gorge. Although a popular local belief, it is not true that the addition of Symonds was made in the 17th century in reference to Robert Symonds of Sugwas and Evesfield, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1685, who was indeed a member of the family who owned the lands from Wormelow near Hereford to the border regions in which surround the Yat. The area is also shown as Symons Yate on maps in 1665, Symons Yat in 1717 and Symmonds Gate in 1830.
The Old Court Hotel in Symonds Yat (West), which was built in the 16th century,was the ancestral home of the Gwillim family and was home to John Graves Simcoe, who was governor and one of the founding fathers of Upper Canada.
The Yat Gorge was mined for iron ore and remains of a smelting works are located down stream of the Symonds Yat Rapids. The ironworks at New Weir date from the 1590s and were operated by the White family until 1753, when George White leased the site to John Partridge, an ironmonger from Ross on Wye. Partridge combined the ironworks at New Weir with his forge at Lydbrook which smelted pig iron from his furnace at Bishopswood. The works closed when the lease ran out in 1798 and the adjacent weir and lock buildings were demolished and the lock filled in 1814.
After spending some time soaking up the views we head off and down a steep path down to The River Wye. It was halfway down that Pete said his knee was hurting again after it had on yesterdays walk. We were a good part down and going back up wasn't an option for him.
Once down his knee was ok on the flat but incline and decline were not. So we decided to walk on and I'll try and find a path that doesn't climb so steeply back up top. We see the Saracen Head Inn on our right but we walk on left. The Hand ferry here wasn't operating again till next year.
The ferry at Symonds Yat has always played a huge part in the life here. In 1800 there were 25 hand ferries between Ross and Chepstow just like those outside Ye Old Ferrie Inn and the Saracen's Head today. They were introduced in Roman times to link the forts of the Doward and the Yat and have served military, civilian, tourist and horse traffic over the years.
A little further up were the Symonds Yat rapids
Symonds Yat Rapids are a grade 2 man-made feature at Symonds Yat used by canoeists and kayakers for whitewater training and playboating.
We on alongside the River Wye, now away from the car park and pub, it is dead quiet, there is not a sound beside the river running alongside us, utter bliss!
We follow the Wye looking for possible places to swim. Not seem likely so far, no easy access and the river was moving fast.
We make it to the Rope Bridge at Biblins.
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 signs requesting that no more than 6 cross at a time.
Once over we turned left and walked past Biblins Youth Campsite.
The Biblins Campsite provides a back-to-basics experience for children, young people and community groups. Nestled in the Wye Valley, the 18 acre site hugs the river and is surrounded by ancient woodlands. Whether you plan a social group camp or educational school visit, Biblins offers one of the finest locations for outdoor learning in the country.
I think we have strayed into Wales a little way, not sure. But Wales is currently out of bounds due to the ongoing Covid19 madness, Oops!
We finally find a spot to swim, although the river still had a fair amount of pace about it.
The water was a little chilly but not too bad, the outside temperature today was about 11c, so I expect the river was a degree or two warmer.
After a fantastic swim we walk back crossing back over the bridge and back along the path again.
We pass a small cave above us, I originally wanted to climb up to King Arthurs Cave but with Pete's knee as it was, this was ruled out.
I find a track that leads back up but not too steeply, so we take this.
Unfortunately I missed the path that would have lead us across, so we continue up the track. But checking the map this is going to add some distance to the walk, but is a gentle climb and this is what we needed.
We eventually reach the top after a relentless walk up the track.
At the top we pass Bracelands Campsite and onto the road for a short stretch before taking a footpath that runs parallel with the main road.
After much walking, we reach a steep decline and Pete's knee was hurting again and he slowly made his way down. Then we were back on the flat and we made our way back to the car park much to both our relief.
A touch under 7.5 miles a lovely walk, marred by Pete's injury. I did feel sorry for him suffering in pain at times.
