The Saracens Head Inn, Symonds Yat East, Herefordshire, HR9 6JL | Tel: 01600 890435

Places to See

There are lots of places to visit in the area from Ancient Castles and Abbeys to Historic Market Towns.

Castles and Ancient Monuments

Herefordshire and the Wye Valley is steeped in history. Thanks to the Normans during the 11th Century, we have plenty of ancient castles and monuments around the area.

Goodrich Castle stands in open countryside above the River Wye. The castle is one of the finest and best preserved of all English medieval castles. Boasting a fascinating history, spectacular views from the battlements and a delightful tearoom, Goodrich Castle promises a great day out for everyone, for information visit their website click here.

Tintern Abbey is one of the most spectacular ruins in the country. It’s a medieval abbey which sits on the banks of the River Wye in Tintern, for information visit their website click here.

Raglan Castle is a late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire, for information visit their website click here.

Skenfrith Castle is a ruined castle in the village of Skenfrith in Monmouthshire. The fortification was established by the Normans in the wake of the invasion of England in 1066, to protect the route from Wales to Hereford, for information visit their website click here.

White Castle also known historically as Llantilio Castle, is a ruined Norman castle near the village of Llantilio Crossenny in Monmouthshire, for information visit their website click here.

Grosmont Castle is a ruined castle in the village of Grosmont, Monmouthshire. The fortification was established by the Normans in the wake of the invasion of England in 1066, to protect the route from Wales to Hereford (see also Three Castles Walk), for information visit their website click here.

Hereford Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Hereford in Hereford, England. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world created around 1300 by Richard of Holdingham. The map is listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, for information visit their website click here.

Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the River Severn. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter, for information visit their website click here.

Kilpeck Church is a Church of England parish church in Herefordshire. Pevsner describes Kilpeck as “one of the most perfect Norman churches in England”. The church was built around 1140, it may have replaced an earlier Saxon church at the same site, and the oval raised form of the churchyard is typical of even older Celtic foundations. For more info click here and here.

Dore Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey in the village of Abbey Dore, Herefordshire. A large part of the original medieval building has been used since the 16th century as the parish church. For more info click here.

Towns in the Area

  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Monmouth
  • Hereford
  • Chepstow
  • Hay-on-Wye
  • Ledbury
  • Abergavenny