Brushes, Bottles & Backdrops: The Art-Lover’s Guide to a Creative Wye Valley Escape

🎨 Inspiration at every turn

Whether you’re painting watercolours or just dabbling in doodles, the Wye Valley is a walking gallery. From misty river views to crumbling castles and sun-dappled forests, it offers more natural backdrops than you could ever capture.

Set up your easel at:

• Symonds Yat Rock – iconic views and atmospheric light
• Tintern Abbey – moody ruins and dramatic stonework
• The River Wye itself – early morning reflections, herons, and calm
• Lydford Gorge & Forest of Dean – for wilder, woodier vibes

And if your medium is iPhone rather than ink, don’t worry – the Instagram potential here is off the charts.

🍷 Add wine, mix gently

This isn’t just about paintbrushes and plein air. It’s about slowing down, opening a bottle, and letting the countryside work its magic.

The Wye Valley is home to several vineyards and creative cafes where you can combine your love of art with your love of a good tipple:

• Parva Farm Vineyard, near Tintern – peaceful, scenic and locally run
• Three Choirs Vineyard, Newent – one of England’s oldest and best-known
• Wythall Estate, Ross-on-Wye – historic and beautifully rural

You’ll also find a host of coffee shops, galleries and artisan stores tucked into places like Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth and Hay-on-Wye. It’s easy to fill your weekend with sketchbook browsing and café-hopping.

🏡 Stay in a house that feeds your soul

At Big House Holiday Lets, we know the setting matters. Our large holiday homes across the Wye Valley offer the kind of peaceful base that creatives crave – big windows, gardens full of birdsong, tables perfect for sketching or journaling, and countryside views that demand to be painted.

Ideal homes for a creative retreat:

• The Anchor at Lydbrook – with riverside views and a games room for post-painting unwinding
• Cedars House, Ross-on-Wye – town-edge charm with creative spaces and light-filled rooms
• Forest House, Coleford – historic and elegant, with space to spread out your kit

Whether you're organising a group art weekend or just want space to sketch between rambles, our homes have room to breathe – and enough bedrooms to escape any creative block.

🧶 Workshops, galleries & creative hotspots

There’s more than nature to get your creative juices flowing. The Wye Valley is home to makers, artists and crafters galore – and many of them offer workshops or open studios.

Look out for:

• Made in Ross – a co-operative of artists in Ross-on-Wye, showcasing local work
• The Craft Renaissance near Usk – with workshops in pottery, painting and more
• Taurus Crafts, Lydney – a hub for handmade gifts and family-friendly art sessions
• Annual art trails – including h.Art (Herefordshire Art Week) in September, when studios open to the public

And if you're more observer than maker, just browsing these beautiful places will fill you with ideas (and probably leave you with a tote bag full of handmade goodies).

🛶 Creative downtime: walks, books & bubbly

Every good creative break needs downtime. In the Wye Valley, that could mean:

• A peaceful paddle down the river
• Wandering woodland trails with your camera
• A long lunch at No3 Ross-on-Wye or The Whitebrook (Michelin-starred!)
• Browsing books in Hay-on-Wye, aka the “Town of Books”

Let the quiet countryside settle your thoughts – and who knows, you might come home with a finished piece and a fresh new perspective.

📸 Pug guests, optional (but encouraged)

If you follow Big House Holiday Lets on socials, you’ll know that Syd & Coco – our two sunglass-wearing black pugs – are often found ‘supervising’ these getaways. We can’t promise they’ll join your art break, but you might just be inspired to draw them.

(And if you do, please send us your masterpieces – we’ll make them famous.)

🎒Your creative retreat checklist:

• Portable sketch kit or camera
• Your favourite tipple (though we can recommend plenty locally)
• Walking boots and cosy jumpers
• An open mind and a free weekend
• Your artistic friends – or come solo and escape it all

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, the Wye Valley is a haven for anyone who wants to make, create, reflect or simply relax.

Come for the views. Stay for the wine. Leave with something beautiful.

Big House Holiday Lets
w: bhhl.co.uk
e: enquiries@bhhl.co.uk
t: 01600 732050