- River Wye
Geobox|River
name = River Wye
native_name = Afon Gwy
other_name =
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image_size =
image_caption = The Wye at Hay-on-Wye
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country = Wales
country_
country1 = England
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length = 297
watershed = 4136
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source_name =
source_location = Plynlimon
source_district =
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source_lat_d = 52.467867
source_lat_m =
source_lat_s =
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 3.763019
source_long_m =
source_long_s =
source_long_EW = W
source_elevation = 741
source_length =
mouth_name =
mouth_location = Chepstow, Severn Estuary
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map_caption =:"This article is about the river that flows along or close to the Anglo-Welsh border." :"See
River Wye (disambiguation) for other rivers called Wye."The River Wye (Welsh: "Afon Gwy") is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between
England andWales . It is important for nature conservation and recreation.Description
The source of the Wye is in the Welsh
mountain s atPlynlimon . It flows through or past several towns and villages includingRhayader ,Builth Wells ,Hay-on-Wye ,Hereford ,Ross-on-Wye ,Symonds Yat ,Monmouth andTintern , meeting theSevern estuary just belowChepstow .The Wye itself is a
Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the most important rivers in the UK for nature conservation. Much of the lower valley is anArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The Wye is largely unpolluted and is therefore considered one of the best rivers forsalmon fishing in theUnited Kingdom , outside ofScotland .It is also a popular river with
canoe ists due to the relatively slow flowing water, making it good for beginners. TheSymonds Yat Rapids are more challenging. Walkers can enjoy theWye Valley Walk which follows the route of the River Wye from Hay-on-Wye to Chepstow along a series of well maintained way-marked paths.The lower convert|16|mi|km|0 of the river from
Redbrook to Chepstow form the border between England and Wales. A viewpoint near The Biblins on the Wye is known as 'Three counties view', the meeting place of the counties ofHerefordshire ,Gloucestershire andMonmouthshire .Tributaries
The Wye's tributaries include the rivers Lugg, Elan, Irfon, Monnow,
Trothy , Ithon,Llynfi ,Letton Lake, Tarennig (the Wye's first tributary) and Bidno.History
The Romans constructed a bridge of wood and stone just upstream of present day Chepstow. The River Wye was and still is navigable up to
Monmouth at least since the early 14th century. It was improved from there to a short distance below Hereford by Sir William Sandys in the early 1660s with locks to enable vessels to pass weirs. According to Herefordshire Council Archaeology, these were flash locks. [cite web| url=http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/agriculture%20_industry/navigation_wye_twnfc.htm| title=The Non-tidal Wye and its Navigation (from "Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club," 1958 pg 86-94)| author=I. Cohen| accessdate=2006-12-09] The work proved to be insufficiently substantial and in 1696 a further Act of Parliament authorised the County of Hereford to buy up and demolish the mills on the Wye and Lugg. All locks and weirs were removed, except that at New Weir Forge below Goodrich, which survived until about 1815. This was paid for by a tax on the County. Weirs were removed all along the Wye inHerefordshire , making the river passable to the western boundary, and beyond it at least toHay on Wye . A horse towing path was added in 1808, but only up to Hereford; previously, as on theRiver Severn , barges were man-hauled. Money was spent several times improving theRiver Lugg fromLeominster to its confluence with the Wye atMordiford , but its navigation is likely to have been difficult. The Wye remained commercially navigable until the 1850s, when commercial traffic moved torailway s. It is still used by pleasure craft.Canoeing and Kayaking
The River Wye is ideal for
canoeing andkayaking as it has sections suitable for all ranges of skills and free access all the way downstream fromGlasbury throughHay-on-Wye toHereford and theSevern Estuary [http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and-rivers/river-wye/boating River Wys boating (accessed 2008-04-270] .There are a wide range of canoe hire and supervised trips, as well as campsites at key points on the river.
Symonds Yat has a particularly popular series ofrapids that was purchased by theBritish Canoe Union in 2003 to preserve the rapids for recreational use [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2853463.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | River rapids sold to canoeists ] ] .The navigation on the tidal part of the Wye, below
Bigsweir , is under the control of theGloucester Harbour Trustees as Competent Harbour Authority.An annual
regatta is held atRoss-on-Wye for rowers and scullers of all abilities, next to the local rowing club.Cultural references
The Romantic poet
William Wordsworth includes an apostrophe to the Wye in his famous poem "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" published 1798 in "Lyrical Ballads ":"How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee,":"O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,":"How often has my spirit turned to thee!"
References
Further reading
*I. Cohen, 'The non-tidal Wye and its navigation' "Trans. Woolhope Nat. Fld. Club" 34 (1955), 83-101;
*V. Stockinger, "The Rivers Wye and Lugg Navigation: a documentary history 1555-1951" (Logaston Press 1996);
*P. King, 'The river Teme and other Midlands River Navigations' "Journal of Railway and Canal Historical Society" 35(50 (July 2006), 350-1.ee also
*
Wye Valley
*Wye Valley Walk
*Rivers of the United Kingdom
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