There’s a little secret about the Wye Valley that regular visitors already know....
September might just be better than summer.
The school holiday rush is over, the roads are quieter and the countryside is beginning its slow transformation towards autumn. Yet the days can still be warm enough for outdoor adventures, riverside lunches and long evenings in the garden.
If you love exploring rather than queueing, September is a wonderful time to visit.
Walk Without the Summer Crowds
The Wye Valley and Forest of Dean are made for walking, and September brings some of the loveliest conditions of the year.
Follow woodland trails through the Forest of Dean, tackle part of the Wye Valley Walk or head towards famous viewpoints such as Symonds Yat Rock.
The trees are just beginning to change colour, the temperature is usually far kinder for longer walks than during a summer heatwave, and popular routes are noticeably quieter.
Best of all? You can finish your walk at a country pub without discovering that every outdoor table was claimed three hours ago!
Get Out on the River Wye
September doesn’t mean packing away the outdoor adventures.
Canoeing and kayaking along the River Wye are fantastic ways to see the landscape from a completely different perspective. Paddle through peaceful stretches of countryside, watch for wildlife along the banks and stop for a picnic along the way.
Prefer to stay on dry land? Follow the river on foot, find a waterside pub or simply pick a beautiful spot and watch the world – and the occasional canoe – drift past.
Explore the Forest of Dean
There’s plenty to keep families and groups busy in the Forest of Dean too.
You could hire bikes and tackle one of the forest cycling trails, spend a day exploring Puzzlewood, head underground at Clearwell Caves or enjoy one of the area’s many outdoor activities.
September is particularly good for families with younger children who aren’t tied to school holidays, as many of the area’s most popular attractions become much more relaxed once August is over.
Discover the Towns and Villages
Not every day needs to involve hiking boots.
Spend a lazy morning browsing the independent shops of Ross-on-Wye, explore Monmouth, wander around Coleford or discover some of the smaller villages dotted throughout the valley.
Then find a pub, café or restaurant, order something delicious and enjoy having absolutely nowhere you need to be.
That, surely, is what holidays are for.
Make September a Proper Get-Together
Of course, the best thing about the Wye Valley isn’t any single attraction.
It’s having time to enjoy it all together.
Bring the children and grandparents. Gather old friends. Celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary. Or simply organise the weekend everyone has been talking about organising for the last three years.
Big House Holiday Lets has 16 fantastic large holiday houses across the Wye Valley, Forest of Dean and surrounding countryside, giving groups the space to stay, eat, laugh and relax together under one roof.
And with summer over and September waiting, this could be the perfect time to discover why the Wye Valley is even better when things get a little quieter.