Symonds Yat Rock
Symonds Yat Rock is one of the finest viewpoints in England, a limestone crag towering 150 metres above the River Wye on the border between Herefordshire and Gloucestershire at a point where the river makes an extraordinary horseshoe meander around a thickly wooded peninsula below. The viewpoint has been famous for the quality of its panorama since at least the eighteenth century when the Wye Tour, an early form of organised scenic tourism, established the Wye Valley as one of the great picturesque landscapes of Britain. The view from the rock encompasses one of the most dramatic river landscapes in England. The Wye curves below in a great loop, its green-brown water reflecting the sky and the dense woodland that clothes the valley sides. The cliffs and hanging woods of the Forest of Dean rise on the Gloucestershire side while the rolling Herefordshire farmland extends on the other, and the sheer scale of the valley as seen from this height makes the effort of the walk up from the car park entirely worthwhile. On clear days the Brecon Beacons and the mountains of mid-Wales are visible on the horizon. The rock and surrounding area are managed by Forestry England within the Forest of Dean, and the viewpoint is accessible via several walking routes from the two car parks in the valley below. The approach through the mature mixed woodland of the Forest of Dean is pleasant and the ascent, while steep in places, is well-managed with steps and handrails on the most difficult sections. Perhaps the most significant wildlife spectacle at Symonds Yat is the pair of peregrine falcons that has nested on the cliff face here every year since 1982. During the spring and early summer breeding season, the RSPB maintains a staffed observation point near the viewpoint with telescopes trained on the nest site, allowing visitors to watch the fastest bird in the world rearing its chicks at close quarters. The observation point is one of the most visited peregrine watching sites in Britain. The Wye Valley Walk and the Offa's Dyke Path both pass near the rock, providing opportunities for longer walking in this exceptional landscape.