Dramatic cliffs, superb views and riverside walking with a wrapping of internationally protected woodlands and sprinkling of industrial ruins.
Calculated time: 2h05[?] 
Distance : 5.72km
Vertical gain : 152m
Vertical drop : 161m
Highest point : 159m
Lowest point : 42m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : English Bicknor
Starting point : N 51.838349° / W 2.610102° (D/A) From the main road in English Bicknor just to the South of the Church, take the dead end road called Balls Hill, signposted ‘Coldwell Walks’. Walk to the bottom of the hill and turn right on the road following the Coldwell Walks sign.
(1) After only 50m take the footpath on your left. Cross a stile and continue ahead to a gate. Take a diagonal left to a second gate. Pass through a third gate and cross the field to a stile. After the stile, continue ahead along a track. After 700m, you come to stile and the track ends shortly after in a field. Head diagonally left up through the field aiming for the right hand end of the hedge. When you reach the corner of the hedge continue ahead keeping the hedge on your left.
(2) When you reach the road, turn right and walk the short distance to the Forestry Commission ‘Yat Rock’ car park on your left. Walk a short distance until you reach the pay and display machine and signs on your right. At that point, turn right along the footpath. Walk through the car park past the wooden fingerpost to the refreshment hut. Walk past the refreshment building to the far left hand corner of the picnic area and take the steps that lead steeply downhill. The steps emerge onto a track. Turn right and walk up to the road. Turn left and walk, with care, down the road for approx.150m. (A)
(3) Turn right onto the public footpath near the bollards. Follow the footpath with care as it winds down through woodland for approx 1km before reaching the river bank and the Wye Valley Walk. Turn right along the Wye Valley Walk, with the river on your left.
(4) When you reach a metal kissing gate, turn right up a track that is bordered on the left by conifer trees and the right by broad leaved trees. Continue to follow the track as it climbs up away from the river. The track passes through a gate and continues on through woodland.
(5) The track eventually becomes a lane. Continue up the lane for approx 400m. About half way up, in woods to your right, is a strip of common land with two derelict lime kilns being restored as part of a community project. (B) After the kilns reach a T-junction. Turn left and retrace your footsteps back into the village of English Bicknor.(D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 146m - Main road in English Bricknor
1 : km 0.29 - alt. 127m - Bottom of the hill
2 : km 1.93 - alt. 158m - Woodlands Road
3 : km 2.67 - alt. 118m - Public footpath
4 : km 3.71 - alt. 43m - Metal kissing gate
5 : km 4.82 - alt. 95m - Lane
D/A : km 5.72 - alt. 146m - Main road in English Bricknor
Bus route: 35; 745
Bus stop : English Bicknor Village
Refreshment : Café at Yat Rock car park
More information at The Wye Valley AONB here.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
(A) At 600ft above sea level,Yat Rock viewpoint is a tourist hotspot attracting thousands of visitors every year to admire the views. The name comes from a local word for ‘gate’ or ‘pass’ or, rather more confusingly,‘rock’.''
''The viewpoint is at the tip of a triangular six-acre Iron Age hill fort and there is evidence of nearby caves being used by Mesolithic hunters. The river below was once heavily industrialised with iron ore mining and smelting. These days it is one of the best canoeing sites in Southern England and the rapids were bought by canoeists in 2003.
(B) Lime kilns were once common in the limestone areas of the lower Wye Valley and Forest of Dean – there were at least 10 in English Bicknor alone. The stone would be heaped on roaring fires rising to temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius, leaving behind ‘lump lime’ used to fertilize fields or mixed with water to produce ‘lime putty’ mortar or ‘lime wash’ used to waterproof walls, bleach paper or preserve leather.
Global average : 4.33/5
Number of opinions : 3
Description quality : 4.67/5
Routemap quality : 3.67/5
Walk interest : 4.67/5
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 12/09/21
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
As noted by others parking seemed impossible until the spot opposite the school was found. A very pleasant walk, easy to follow. Quiet apart from the Yat Rock car park area, but you can take advantage of the facilities there. The path(s) zigzaging down to the river at 3 had just been cleared and made obvious. The only downside was the long climb back up from the river which got steeper at the end!
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 17/06/21
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Average
Walk interest
: Very good
We really enjoyed this varied and interesting walk, with the views from Yat Rock spectacular.
The directions were a bit frustrating, especially as there are several exits from the path down from Yat Rock -- we went to the foot of the path as indicated, but then had to use Google Maps to get back on track, adding over a mile to the walk, so more specific instructions would have been helpful. As a previous reviewer said, car parking was difficult to find though obvious when we got to the Primary School Car Park itself, so an update to this would be good.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 08/09/20
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Very good
Finding a parking space isn’t obvious so we parked on a grass verge opposite the Primary School in EB. A pleasant stroll initially through pastures with a gradual ascent with wonderful views from the top. Symonds Yat was a welcome break with toilets, refreshments and fantastic views of the River Wye meanders. The route down through the Forest from the road to the river was narrow and a bit overgrown in places which added to the adventure. Open meadows then welcomed us as we ascended back up to EB. We were blessed with fine weather which enhanced the journey with its outstanding views.
2.6km
+115m
-114m
1h05
Easy
Starting point in English Bicknor - Gloucestershire A steep descent and ascent from the car park at Yat Rock to the River Wye at Symonds Yat East.
12.42km
+391m
-383m
4h40
Moderate
Starting point in English Bicknor - Gloucestershire Follow in the footsteps of the Wye Tourists down to the Wye. Cross the river at the Biblins visiting Little Doward Hillfort, King Arthur’s Cave and New Weir Forge. Return on the hand ferry at Symonds Yat West.
16.88km
+88m
-103m
5h05
Easy
Starting point in Whitchurch - Herefordshire A choice of short or long walks along the River Wye towards Monmouth.
6.52km
+134m
-128m
2h15
Moderate
Starting point in Whitchurch - Herefordshire A walk through the woods to a local landmark, returning along the Wye Riverbank.
1.9km
+115m
-118m
0h50
Moderate
Starting point in Whitchurch - Herefordshire A short but energetic climb to a stunning viewpoint over the Wye Valley.
4.59km
+21m
-23m
1h20
Easy
Starting point in Whitchurch - Herefordshire A circular walk on good surfaces, mainly level along the beautiful Wye Valley at Symonds Yat. The River Wye seen from the world famous viewpoint at Symonds Yat Rock forms an almost complete loop. The river here flows 31⁄2 miles yet progresses less then 1⁄4 mile towards the Severn. This walk starts below Symonds Yat Rock in the steep sided, wooded gorge at the pleasant village of Symonds Yat East.
4.09km
+151m
-148m
1h35
Moderate
Starting point in Whitchurch - Herefordshire Short alternative route to the viewpoint of Yat Rock.
7.54km
+128m
-122m
2h30
Moderate
Starting point in Whitchurch - Herefordshire A wide meander of the Wye followed with Yat Rock as a highlight.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
