Ye Old Ferrie Inn Rides

Description

RIDE DESCRIPTONS

WYE VALLEY FORESTS AND STONES

This moderate ride will take you high above the river, to take you to some great vistas of the Wye Valley & beyond.

3-4 hrs / 20km

Min age 12

We start are tour by following the bank of the River Wye south to Biblins Bridge, at this point we will dismount & cross a rope suspension bridge from England onto the Welsh side of the river. We will then carry on along the riverbank on the bed of an old railway line to the base of our first climb of the day.  The climb will take us away from the river & up into the forest, the trail is narrow in places, but has a pretty good surface all the way up to join a large forest track.  After a short while we will encounter the Suck Stone, a huge bolder at the side of the trail, reputed to be the largest detached block of rock in the British Isles made from a conglomerate Old Red Sandstone and Quartz, weighing in excess of 30,000 tons!

We will continue the ride making good use of the extensive network of forest tracks, pausing often to find hidden outcrops of rock that offer amazing views of the Wye Valley & beyond.  After a few kilometers of fairly flat riding, we will eventually reach Yat Rock, this triangular outcrop of rock was once a hill fort providing sanctuary for its iron age residents. It’s easy to see why they chose this spot high above the river as it first flows north the loops almost full circle south into the narrow gorge. The site also a great vantage point to watch the resident peregrine falcons & other birds of prey as they hunt along the sheer cliff faces.

WYE VALLEY RIDE TO MONMOUTH

If you fancy something a bit more mellow, this is a great family ride with no significant climbs encountered.

2-3 hrs / 20km

Min age 12

The Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth railway once ran along the riverbank in Symonds Yat East, it closed in the 1960s but now provides a great way to see the river. This easy mountain bike ride will require a moderate standard of fitness on mostly gravel tracks & is a great way to get to the medieval border town of Monmouth & back.

As well as a great ride, you will get to cross the river Wye over some very different bridges too, including a wire pedestrian suspension bridge, an 19c iron railway bridge & the only medieval fortified bridge left in the UK, Oh & a hand ferry too!

EXPLORER – SINGLE TRACK ADVENTURE

If you already ride MTB and want to taste much what the Wye Valley can offer, this is the ride for you.

4-5 hrs / 25-35km

Min age 12 (5’3″ Tall)

This fantastic loop that will start & finish at the YOFI, the route will take you high above the valley to some great viewpoints on the Welsh side of the river.  Taking in ancient bridleways & single-track descents we link them all together to provide an exhilarating ride that highlights the best the area has.