Ross-on-Wye (Welsh: Rhosan ar Wy) is a small market town (population 10,500 in 2011), located on the river Wye in the English county of Herefordshire. The town is also part of the Wye Valley (Welsh: Dyffryn Gwy), an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Forest of Dean.
Ross-on-Wye is probably best known as a vibrant centre for the English antique trade, hosting a twice-weekly antique market and featuring a number of antique stores in the town. Each year, the town also plays host to the increasingly prominent Ross-on-Wye International Festival, attracting many big names in entertainment.
Get in
By car
Ross-on-Wye is on the A40 road from Fishguard to London. The M50 motorway starts near Ross-on-Wye.
By bus
Stagecoach run services from Hereford and Gloucester every hour or so. There is a Nick Maddy Coaches service to Monmouth every other hour and a Stagecoach route to Monmouth four times a day.
By train
There is no railway station in Ross. The nearest one is Ledbury around 8 miles north east.
Get around
See
- Parish Church of St Mary's, Church St, HR9 5HN, 51.913189°, -2.585365°, +44 1989 562175. usually open during daylight hours, services Su 8:00, 9:30, Th 10:00. Built between 1280 and 1316 with a prominent spire visible for miles around. There is a children's guide to hunt for images of Hedgehogs (a symbol of Ross-on-Wye) in the church. 2018-08-13
- Goodrich Castle, Castle Ln, Goodrich, HR9 6HY (6 miles south-west of Ross-on-Wye), 51.874633°, -2.61373°, +44 1600 890538. adults £6.20, children £3.70, concessions £5.60
Do
- The Phoenix Theatre, Palace Pound, Saint Mary's St, HR9 5HT, 51.913796°, -2.586159°, +44 1989 564570. A small 63-seat amateur theatre. Hosts the occasional film too. 2018-02-10
- Bandstand Concerts, Caroline Symonds Gardens, Wye St., 51.91298°, -2.59014°. Sundays in July & August. Outdoor summer concerts, in a bandstand which opened in 2005. 2018-07-29
Buy
Eat
- Yaks n Yetis, 1 Brookend St, HR9 7EG, 51.915963°, -2.582061°, +44 1989 564963. Nepalese restaurant 2016-11-28
- Zam Zam Café, 23 High St, HR9 5BZ, 51.913605°, -2.58376°, +44 1989 764030. 2016-11-28
- Burger Star, 34A Gloucester Rd, HR9 5BS, 51.913863°, -2.582661°, +44 1989 562083. Small burger chain-restaurant. 2016-11-28
- Seven Seas Fish Bar, 22 Broad St, HR9 7EA, 51.915483°, -2.58257°, +44 1989 763103. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 3-10PM. Best Chippie in town
Drink
- The Hope and Anchor Inn, Wye Street, HR9 7BU, 51.914818°, -2.587683°, +44 1989 563003. 2016-11-28
- The Crown & Sceptre, 6 Market Place, HR9 5NX, 51.914706°, -2.58407°, +44 1989 769407. M-F 10PM-late, Sa Su 11PM-late. 2016-11-28
- The Mail Rooms, Gloucester Road, HR9 5BS, 51.913817°, -2.582093°, +44 1989 760920. Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM. Formerly the town's post office, now a Wetherspoon pub. 2016-11-28
Sleep
- The Hope and Anchor Inn, Wye Street, HR9 7BU, +44 1989 563003. £50-80 per night 2016-11-28
- Field Cottage Peterstow, Peterstow, HR9 6LG ( W of Ross), 51.9171°, -2.6545°, +44 7418 310062. Self-catering Victorian-era cottage with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is also a one-bedroom annex. £200-300 per night 2022-01-08
- New Inn, St Owen's Cross HR2 8LQ (5 miles west of Ross), 51.9197°, -2.6714°, +44 1989 553387. Coaching inn revamped in 2020, now an upscale restaurant with rooms, great reviews for the cuisine. B&B double £160 2023-03-27
Stay safe
Ross On Wye is a safe town to visit for tourists. Other than the usual drunk people in pubs on weekends and staying away from dark places at night, you will be fine. The emergency number is 999 for police, fire and paramedics. The non emergency one is 101. Crime rate is low in the town centre. LGBT people should be careful as the town centre is more conservative than Hereford and Gloucester. LGBT people may receive comments or stares for showing affection.
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