Ross-on-Wye

Red sandstone cliffs drop straight into the Wye as it curves through this handsome market town, creating some of the finest river views in the Welsh borders. Ross-on-Wye sits proud on its limestone bluff, with the spire of Saint John's church puncturing the skyline above Georgian terraces and timber-framed buildings that speak of centuries trading wool and cider.

Symonds Yat Rock delivers the knockout punch - a limestone outcrop offering sweeping views over the Wye's famous horseshoe bend. It's a proper climb up there, but the panorama stretches for miles across the Forest of Dean and into Wales. King Arthur's Cave lurks in the wooded slopes below, though the legendary king probably never set foot in this ancient limestone cavern that archaeologists reckon was occupied 25,000 years ago.

The surrounding countryside feels ancient and wild. Coppett Hill rises to the south, its butterfly-rich grasslands managed as a nature reserve, while The Jackets forest spreads dense and dark across the valley sides. For something completely different, the Wild Woods Centre runs bushcraft courses and woodland adventures - perfect if you fancy learning to whittle or build a shelter.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The A40 sweeps you straight in from the M50, while regular buses connect with Hereford and Gloucester. Ross makes a cracking base for exploring the Wye Valley's wooded gorges and the Forest of Dean's ancient tracks.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in the thick of it. Doward Park Campsite and Bracelands Campsite both sit within the forest itself, while sites like Whitemead Forest Park offer direct access to walking trails that wind through oak and beech woods down to the riverbank.