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Wilton Court - Ross-on-Wye

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Classy and comfy riverside hotel

The beautiful Wye Valley is often ignored by urbanites wanting a weekend away from it all, which is a crying shame. After all, its rolling hills, craggy gorges and cliffs offer total escape, its winding river with occasional rapids and the chance for adventure is one of the most picturesque in the country and the market towns and villages that sit in the valley are as charming and explorable as any in the Yorkshire Dales. And all of this can be found less than 3 hours from London (even less from Manchester and Birmingham).

If the beauty of the Wye and the Welsh borders does tickle your fancy, the lovely Wilton Court Hotel is the perfect place to stay, sitting as it does right on the river’s banks. A beautiful Elizabethan building, looking across the river to the historic market town of Ross-on-Wye, Wilton Court offers cosy luxury, with some of the best views in the business. Embracing its 16th-century origins, Wilton Court has a real sense of history about it – the ten en-suite bedrooms are furnished with antiques and decorated in arts and crafts wallpaper to complement the beams and latticed windows in the original part of the house. Beds are big, comfy and difficult to leave behind, while little extras such as bathrobes, DVD players and squishy armchairs make your stay even cosier. All offer stunning views, either over the river or over the hotel gardens.

Downstairs, the hotel’s position is the star, with terraces for riverside, al-fresco drinking and dining, and huge windows to appreciate the view when its cold and the fireplaces are roaring. The hotel restaurant, The Mulberry, is a bastion of local produce, with much of the menu made with Herefordshire and Monmouthshire ingredients. Mouthwatering, predominantly British, dishes are lovingly-prepared, with great puddings and a healthy wine list. The more informal Wilton Bar, with its fireplace and riverside terrace, offers a delicious lunch menu – perfect for pre-or-post walking.

Where is it?

Wilton Court sits right on the Wye, next to the historic stone bridge into Ross – in fact before the bridge was built it used to be the main fording point. A ten-minute walk will take you into the heart of the town, set high on a sandstone cliff overlooking the river. The higgledy-piggledy streets of historic timbered and stone buildings are now home to small shops, café, galleries and antiques emporiums, with the ancient market place at the centre of it all. It’s a great place to potter, but a must-visit is Grandma Peggy’s (www.grandmapeggys.co.uk Tel: 01989 764 264), an amazing old-fashioned sweet shop, with rows and rows of sweets in jars, Art Deco fixtures and fittings, 1940s music and staff in 1940s dress. Just make sure you brush your teeth afterwards…

But it’s the landscape that’s the real star around here and the valley in particular. Seven miles from Ross-on-Wye is the dramatic Symonds Yat rock, towering above the river. Not only does it offer great views of the valley, but it’s one of the best spots to view Peregrine Falcons in the UK, usually between April and August. The little village beneath it, meanwhile, is the best place to hire canoes to explore the Wye and its exciting bends and not-too-scary rapids. The Wyedean Canoe and Adventure Centre (www.wyedean.co.uk Tel: 01594 833238) offers hire, tuition and a guide if you need one. Land-lubbers are well-catered for too, with miles and miles of trails making for fab walking territory. The Wye Valley walk, from source to mouth, (all 136 miles of it) might be a bit much for a weekend stroll, but there are plenty of shorter, circular routes to follow. Cyclists will also think they’ve died and gone to heaven, with the stunning 30-mile Wye Valley Ride offering an almost perfect day on two wheels. A full route map can be downloaded from www.herefordshire.gov.uk. Bikes can be hired from Pedalaway (www.zen95973.zen.co.uk Tel: 01989 770357) in Llangarron, 5 miles from Wilton Court.

A lovely 5-mile walk or cycle from Ross-on-Wye takes you to the pretty little village of Goodrich, home to the romantic medieval ruins of Goodrich Castle (www.english-heritage.org.uk Tel: 01600 890538). Sitting on a dramatic ridge overlooking the Wye, Goodrich was just one of the many fortifications that became a vital part of keeping the Welsh and the English separated. Unfortunately, nothing, not even mighty Goodrich, was strong enough to stop Tom Jones and his leather pants conquering the knicker-throwing English masses.

Where can I eat?

The Mulberry at Wilton Court is a bit of a no-brainer as an eating option. Not only is the food great, but there’s nothing better than enjoying a lovely meal and a bottle (or two) of vino, safe in the knowledge that your bed is within stumbling distance.

If you are looking for an alternative, however, there are plenty of delicious options in the area. For something a little more rustic, but equally fantastic, The Lough Pool Inn (www.loughpool.co.uk Tel: 01989 730236) in Sellack, a five minute drive from Ross-on-Wye, is an uber-popular country pub that’s worth the drive. In pretty Herefordshire countryside (perfect for a post or pre-lunch walk), its simple, but vibrant menus have made The Lough Pool a real local favourite.

A bit further afield, but definitely worth the journey is The Bell at Skenfrith (www.skenfrith.co.uk Tel: 01600 750235), about 15 minutes’ drive from Wilton Court. A local culinary hero, the award-winning restaurant at The Bell offers simple British dishes that allow the amazing local ingredients to speak for themselves. Even the majority of the veggies, herbs and salads are all organically grown in The Bell’s very own kitchen garden.

If you’re into a bit of picnicking, you can’t go wrong with Truffles Delicatessen (www.wyenot.com/truffles Tel: 01989 762336) in Ross-on-Wye, an amazing deli that sells everything from cheeses to medieval mead. Ask about their huge range of local produce if you really want to get down with the Herefordshire homies.

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A beautiful Elizabethan building, looking across the river to the historic market town of Ross-on-Wye, Wilton Court offers cosy luxury, with some of the best views in the business.