The River Wye

river Wye
Guide to the River Wye (Afon Gwy).
The River Wye used to be reputed as the best salmon fishing river in England and Wales. It also offers grayling and brown trout fishing in the middle and upper reaches of the river.

Although renowned for its salmon fishing, the River Wye also boasts excellent coarse fishing with an abundance of different species, including barbel, chub, perch, pike and roach.

The Path of the River Wye

The River Wye rises in Plynlimon, on the Cambrian Mountains in Powys, Mid Wales, only a few miles from the source of the River Severn.

The river's first tributary, the River Tarennig (Afon Tarrenig) joins the Wye at Pantmawr, a couple of miles downstream from the source.

The river winds its way in an east southeasterly direction, running more or less parallel to the A44. The first major settlement on its banks is the beautiful village of Llangurig, which offers accommodation, restaurants, pubs, and of course plenty of fishing on the river.

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The Wye's course then takes it in a more southeasterly direction, running parallel to the A470 as it heads towards the historic market town of Rhayader. Around 3 miles upstream of Rhayader, one of the Wye's tributaries, the River Marteg (Afon Marteg) joins the river's flow.

The river enters the town of Rhayader from the west, passing the Wyeside Caravan and Camping Park. Rhayader is a great place from which to base your fishing trips on the River Wye, the idylic town offers all an angler needs for that relaxing fishing holiday. The river at Rhayader holds brown trout, grayling, pike, chub, dace and of course salmon.

The Wye then heads in an east southeasterly direction for about a mile, before taking a south southwesterly course until it meets another of its tributaries, the River Elan.

From the Elan confluence, the river heads south southeast, again running virtually parallel to the A470, passing through the village of Llanwrthwl and onto the town of Llandrindod Wells.

The River Wye then meanders its way southeast, meeting another tributary at the town of Builth Wells, the River Irfon. Builth Wells offers all the angler needs for a pleasant fishing trip, including accommodation, restaurants and fishing tackle shops.

Continuing in a southeasterly direction, and once again running almost parallel to the A470, the river passes the villages of Llanfaredd, Alltmawr and Erwood, before reaching Boughrood.

After flowing past Boughrood castle, the river changes course, leaving the A470 behind and heads northeast passing the villages of Pipton, Glasbury and Llowes, then onto the beautiful town of Hay-on-Wye.

river Wye 2
Hay-on-Wye lies on the border of England (Herefordshire) and Wales (Powys), the town boasts some beautiful swims on the river, along with all the facilities any angler would need for that perfect fishing trip on the River Wye.


Continuing on its north easterly course and forming the border between Wales and England, the river flows for about 4 miles passing between the villages of Bronydd and Priory Wood, then onto the village of Rhydspence. At Rhydspence, the river leaves the border behind (for now) and heads into England, it takes an easterly course passing the south edge of the village of Whitney-on-Wye.

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The River Wye then meanders its way taking an east southeasterly course, flowing near the Herefordshire villages of Pen-y-Park, Winforton, Willersley, Letton, Bredwardine, Staunton-on-Wye, Moccas, Monnington-on-Wye, Byford, Bridge Sollers, Lulham, Canon Bridge, Ruckhall and Breinton.

The Wye then flows into the beautiful catherdral city of Hereford (from the west), which offers much more than just great fishing on the River Wye. Hereford is an ideal place for that family break with plenty of shopping and activities for the kids, and it just happens to be on arguably one of the best rivers in England and Wales.

After the river leaves Hereford behind it starts to wind its way south passing the villages of Hampton Bishop and Dinedor, before heading northwest and being joined by the River Lugg at Mordiford.

From the Lugg confluence, the Wye heads in a southerly direction passing the western flank of the village of Fownhope, and then meanders past the villages of Ballingham, Brockhampton, King's Caple, Baysham, How Caple and then onto the town of Ross-on-Wye, where the village of Bridstow lies on the opposite bank of the river.

river Wye 3
Leaving Ross-on-Wye the river continues meandering its way south passing the villages of Hom Green, Glewstone, Pencraig, Walford, Goodrich, Kerne Bridge, Welsh Bicknor, English Bicknor, Whitchuch and Simonds Yat. Around a mile and a half downstream of Simonds Yat the river heads west and once again forms the border of England and Wales, this time for about 2 miles, before entering Monmouthshire to flow through Wales once again.

Maintaining its southerly course the River Wye flows through the picturesque town of Monmouth, where there are some beautiful stretches with fighting-fit fish for both the game and course angler. Around 2 and a half miles downstream of Monmouth, just north of the village of Redbrook in Gloucestershire, the river once again forms the border of England and Wales, which it will become for the rest of its journey.

The Wye continues south passing Welsh villages on the western bank and English villages on the eastern bank. The Welsh villages include Whitebrook, llandogo, Tintern, Chapel Hill and Saint Arvans. The English villages on its path between Redbrook and Chepstow include Saint Briavels, Hewelsfield, Woodcroft, Tutshill.

The river reaches its confluence with the River Severn with the town of Chepstow on its Welsh bank and Sedbury on the English bank.

Species of fish found in the River Wye include:

Fishing Clubs & Societies with fishing rights on the River Wye

River Wye Counties & Tributaries

  • Flows through counties:
    • Powys
    • Herefordshire
    • Monmouthshire
  • Tributaries include:
    • River Tarennig
    • River Marteg
    • River Elan
    • River Lugg
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