Shepherd's huts near Hereford

In the 18th century, the Wye Valley was where modern UK tourism began as people flocked to the picturesque landscapes described in William Gilpin’s Observations on the River Wye. This steep-sided woodsy AONB straddling the England-Wales border begins five miles southeast of Hereford, at Mordiford, then stretches 37 miles south to Chepstow. The region boasts glamping pods, small farm campsites, and motorhome sites, plus some of England’s best kayaking.

July and August are popular, warm, sunny months, when you can expect temperatures to be above 20°C. However, delaying your visit to early autumn, when the weather can still be decent, means you can experience apple harvest season: a 50-mile driving and cycling route around the nearby Herefordshire countryside explores the region’s renowned cider-making hotspots. Hereford’s proximity to the Welsh mountains means wet weather is more likely than in Southern and Eastern England.