쉬운 로스 온 와이 주변 하이킹 및 워킹 코스

Fabulous and iconic Sandstone building, centrepiece of Ross on Wye.

The view of Ross on Wye on its hill as seen from the end of Wilton Bridge. Dominating the scene is the spire of the church of St Mary the Virgin, which is one of the biggest churches in Herefordshire. Using the words of Ross on Wye.com, the spire towers 205 feet into the air and dates back to the 14th Century but was rebuilt in 1721 and the pinnacles were added using funds supplied by John Kyrle. The spire was repaired in 1852 after lightening struck it and more repairs were needed in 1911. More recently, the top of the spire was rebuilt in 1952 using funds donated by the public.

In the words of the National Tranport Trust - Wilton Bridge is an exceptionally fine red sandstone bridge. In 1597 an Act was passed authorising its construction. It was completed within the next 2 years. There are five semi- circular arches each with 3 ribs and massive cutwaters on each side, carried up and splayed back from the outer angle at parapet level forming semi-hexagonal refuges. At the point where the splay dies out is a moulded string which is mitred and carried up to the angle against the spandrils of the arches and then mitred and carried across to form a label above the arches. The voussoirs of the arches are chamfered and joggled and have various masons' marks. On the upstream side the bridge has been widened but now the parapet has been replaced by a wooden handrail. The South East approach to the bridge has been rebuilt in ashlar with 2 flights of stone steps to the river bank. The sundial, formerly in one of the refuges has disappeared, and only the base of the pedestal remains. All in all it is a fine bridge, and has done well to weather the floods that happen most winters - as evidenced by the erosion of even the top stones on the arches.

You can see the remains of the railway bridge pillars which look as if they should be part of the old town walls or a castle. There are good information boards that give a lot of detail of the railway and life back then.

The Market Hall is a magnificent sandstone building at the top of the hill at the junction of Gloucester Road and the High Street. This building stands on sandstone legs as opposed to the Oak pillars of the Ledbury Hall - sandstone having the advantage of being stronger and not susceptible to attack by wasps! The building catches the early light beautifully, glowing a deep red.

The walk alongside the Wye from the canoe club to Wilton bridge is lovely and rightly popular. For photographers there are only a few places where you can get an unobstructed view as there is a fair amount of bushes and small trees on the river bank that get in the way.

A lovely little town built on hilly ground so the streets go up and down, with the Market Hall on stilts in a prominant location.

The River Wye meanders into Ross-on Wye under the busy A449. The Wye Valley Walk follows this stretch of the river bank on its 138 mile (222 km) from the source of the river to the Bristol Channel.