where is the wye valley

The Wye Valley is a scenic valley located on the border between Wales and England. It follows the River Wye, the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom, starting in mid-Wales and stretching about 134-150 miles southward through Powys, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Monmouthshire, eventually reaching the Severn Estuary near Chepstow. The valley features a dramatic limestone gorge, native woodlands, historic castles, abbeys, and market towns. Notably, the lower part of the valley, from just south of Hereford to Chepstow, is designated as the Wye Valley National Landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that covers around 326 square kilometers (126 square miles). This area is protected for its landscape, wildlife, and cultural heritage. The Wye Valley is renowned for outdoor activities like walking, cycling, canoeing, and caving, making it an important destination for nature conservation and recreation. Key locations include Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth, Symonds Yat, and Tintern Abbey, which lie within this picturesque border region between England and Wales.