Top 20 Natural Monuments around Monmouth

Love it here

Symonds Yat is a wonderful place to come, but even better to catch it in the autumn when the trees are in full colour, with the sun on them to make them really shine.

The Wye was voted the nation’s favourite river in 2010. It starts not far from my home town in Brecon in mid-Wales and trundles south for some 150 miles before meeting the Severn. I have forgotten how many times I have cycled it, run it and kayaked it. Simply my favourite place on earth!

Jump off the bike and head on foot down the footpath east of the road to reach the Symonds Yat Rock. Symonds Yat Rock harbours the remnants of an Iron Age hillfort, erected roughly 2,500 years in the past. Presently, this locale stands as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, where traces of the fortifications endure as a series of embankments and trenches. In more contemporary times, Yat Rock and the Wye Valley have gained renown as the birthplace of British tourism. Beginning in the 18th century, they achieved popularity thanks to the efforts of Reverend William Gilpin, a trailblazer of the 'Picturesque' movement. His literary works left an indelible mark on the appeal of English landscape painting and served as inspiration for Romantic poets. Symonds Yat Rock viewpoint enjoys a well-earned reputation as one of the nation's prime spots for observing peregrine falcons. Yet, with a touch of patience, a multitude of bird species can be sighted here. Goshawks offer close-up viewing, sparrowhawks are frequent denizens nesting among the valley's trees, while soaring buzzards often grace the skies. Spring and autumn migrations frequently draw ospreys to this locale, with tawny owls occasionally spotted. Meanwhile, nearby nesting sites typically host barn owls, ravens, and kestrels.

The fourth-longest river in the UK, the Wye stretches 155 miles (250 km) from its source on Plynlimon in the Cambrian mountains to the Severn estuary. For much of its length, the Wye marks the border between England and Wales, with the lower section being designated an AONB. The Wye is important for nature conservation and recreation, but, particularly in recent years, is severely affected by pollution.

This pretty, wooded area with its network of small caves - the result of former quarrying - is a nature reserve with a rich variety of flora and fauna. Horseshoe bats and rare invertebrates such as the cave spider and hibernating herald moths make their homes within the caves.

Puzzlewood (grid reference SO578092) is an ancient woodland site and tourist attraction, near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. The site, covering 14 acres (5.7 ha), shows evidence of open-cast iron ore mining dating from the Roman period, and possibly earlier. Over a mile of pathways were laid down in the early 19th century to provide access to the woods, and provide picturesque walks. The area contains strange rock formations, secret caves and ancient trees, with a confusing maze of paths. The site is listed as a regionally important geological site in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review'. The geological features on show at Puzzlewood are known as scowles. Scowles originated through the erosion of natural cave systems formed in the Carboniferous Limestone many millions of years ago. Uplift and erosion caused the cave system to become exposed at the surface. This was then exploited by Iron Age settlers through to Roman times for the extraction of iron ore. It is usually impossible to date open-cast extraction precisely, although ores with a chemical signature consistent with those from the Forest of Dean were certainly used to make tools and weapons in the late prehistoric period. Over 3,000 Roman-era coins were found by workers in 1848. The coins were stored in three earthenware jars in a cavity in the rock formations. The origin of the coins is unknown. Puzzlewood has been used as a filming location for both film and television in recent years. Notable examples include: Films Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016) A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016) The Secret Garden (2020) Television Doctor Who (2005-present) Merlin (2008-2012) Wizards vs Aliens (2012-2014) Tree Fu Tom (2012-2016) Atlantis (2013-2015) Da Vinci's Demons (2013-2015) Hidden Kingdoms (2014) The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) Cursed (2020-present)

I was silly and forgot my tortch before first light don't do the same!