Welcome to my travel guide for Yat Rock
This stunning viewpoint can be found within the beautiful countryside of Herefordshire; right along the borders of England and Wales. I’ve been visiting this place ever since I was young and still make a point to come back here as often as I can!
What it’s all about…
Yat Rock is an impressive rocky outcrop set high on a hill above the banks of the river Wye. Surrounded by forest and idyllic scenery it’s the perfect place to take in the surroundings of the Wye Valley before exploring this beautiful area further! It’s also the site of an ancient hill fort which was used as a lookout for many years.
What to do while you’re there…
Wander along the boardwalk to the end of the outcrop to appreciate the nearly 360′ views from this spot! Perched on a hill between the two valleys you can see the river Wye perfectly wind it’s way through the landscape below. It’s also a well known location for spotting some impressive birds of prey including Peregrine Falcons, Goshawks, Ospreys and Sparrowhawks!
Once you’ve taken in the view why not take a fairly short (but steep) walk down to the village of Symonds Yat below where several lovely pubs can be found on the banks of the river. Perfect for a refreshing pint before your climb back up (or down! Depending on where you choose to start from).
For a longer walk you can follow the trail from Symonds Yat right alongside the river towards the market town of Monmouth. Stopping off at the Biblin’s Suspension Bridge along your way (a travel guide for which is on it’s way shortly).
How to get there…
The postcode for Yat Rock is GL16 7NZ. It’s situated around 10 minutes off the A40 dual carriageway and around twenty minutes from Ross on Wye and Monmouth.
There is parking at the Forestry England site itself providing easy access. The car park is pay and display and is open from 8am until 9pm in summer and closes slightly earlier during winter months. Parking for up to two hours is £3 in summer or £2 in winter (they have separate rates for larger vehicles and motorhomes). This is a large car park which doesn’t have a height limit, there are also picnic benches in the forest and toilet facilities making it a good stop off.
Alternatively you can park down in the village of Symonds Yat East (HR9 6JL) and follow the trail up behind the Royal Lodge to Yat Rock. There are car parks at both ends both of which have a minimum charge of £4 and (on my last few visits) only accept coin payments so make sure if you plan to park in the village you have some change handy! There is no height limit on these car parks however but it can get very busy and the access road is quite narrow, particularly to the car park next to the Royal Lodge so personally I would avoid this in a larger vehicle.
If you are happy with a longer walk and would rather not pay for parking, you can park on the Monmouth side of the trail along the river Wye (see details in the wild camping section below) and follow the path to Symonds Yat.
Nearest places to grab a bite…
Yat Rock itself has a cafe on-site which can be found at the top of the car park, near to the viewpoint, offering a range of drinks, snacks and sandwiches.
There is also a lovely pub called The Saracens Head Inn which can be found in the village of Symonds Yat below offering both a lunch and dinner menu. Their food is lovely and I have eaten here many times!
Where to stay…
If you would like to enjoy this beautiful area for a little longer:
Wild Camping (NP25 3NH) – Whilst it’s not possible to stay overnight at the car parks next to Symonds Yat there is a lovely free parking area (mentioned earlier) just outside the town of Monmouth at the end of Hadnock Road.
Nestled in the woods alongside the river its a lovely quiet and peaceful spot! It’s also right at the start of the Peregrine trail leading to Symonds Yat (around a four mile walk). This flat trail follows the old train track, several ruins of which can be found along the way. It’s also a popular route with cyclists and is a well marked level trail.
Campsite goers – If you’re happier under canvas or prefer the facilities that come with a campsite Doward Park Campsite and Steretts Campsite can both be found nearby.
Hotels and B&B’s – The Saracens Head Inn mentioned earlier offer B&B accommodation. The Old Court Hotel also offer rooms nearby.
Other places nearby…
The Wye Valley offers so many places to explore including forest, castles and abbeys. The historic market towns of Monmouth and Hereford are also lovely places that are definitely worth a visit!
A paddle along the river wye is a lovely way to see the area and there are several companies offering canoe hire nearby.
Thanks for this info. Its great that you include where to park. I will be travelling alone and for my first trips it will be handy knowing where to go.
Thanks Diane! I’m so glad it’s helpful. I travel on my own too and all these places are spots I would be happy to park up at and feel safe by myself.