We visited Ross church: it’s 13th century gothic with thin columns and simple windows with some early stained glass. The many memorials on the walls include one to the Man of Ross and a creeper to commemorate where one of the trees he planted came right through the church wall. Other memorials in the form of tombs with figures on top.

It was a short ride to Goodrich Castle: this has a massive light stone Norman keep; the rest was built from dark red stone in the 13th century by the Valence family (the same stone appears on all the churches in the area and the walls in Ross). It was a good visit with excellent explanations (on signs) of the chapel, big halls, kitchen etc. Brilliant view from the tower.  The buildings were slightly fortified but appeared mainly to be for entertaining friends. It had been damaged in the Civil War and never properly repaired. The visit was enhanced by a group of school children rehearsing a historic event with song, dance and colourful flags.

We went on and over a bridge into Symonds Yat East where we stayed at Garth Cottage - the landlord Mark Edens was very friendly.

Symonds Yat is divided by the River Wye - you stay on the east side if you want to go up to Yat Rock to see the peregrine falcons. The west side looks to have more houses and places to stay, but the east side seemed more peaceful - anyway it has three pubs and two B and Bs!  A simple ferry links the two - the ferryman takes it across by hauling on a cable - you have to wave when you want to be picked up; the ferry boat is moored outside the Saracen’s Head.

We did walk up to Yat Rock and saw a peregrine through an RSPB telescope; the pair had laid eggs this year, but their young had died of cold. Then we walked about 1.5 miles downstream to the rope suspension bridge and crossed to the west side of the Wye, walking through a camp site and on to the village here we summoned the ferry man who eventually emerged from the Saracens Head.

After a meal, we retired to our room which has a big window with view over the river; the water in the river was quite high.