Welcome to Ross-on-Wye

Ross-on-Wye, as the name suggests, is located on the River Wye, in the county of Herefordshire, approximately 119 miles west of London and 11 miles north-east of Monmouth.

The town has a population of around 7,500. Administratively it is within the local government district of South Herefordshire.

Situated atop a red sandstone cliff, not far from the border with Wales, it is an attractive and peaceful rural market town which is an excellent base from to explore the beautiful scenery of the Wye Valley. It owes much of its development and character to the efforts of 17th-century resident and benefactor John Kyrle who Alexander Pope paid tribute to as the 'Man of Ross'. Visitors are afforded superb views of the surrounding hills from the town's Prospect Gardens.

The earliest record of a settlement here dates back to Roman times, when the town was known as Ariconium, an important smelting centre for iron. The present town dates back to the 11th century. By the 14th century it had grown in size due to its iron trade, and site as a major route from London to Wales. The town experienced a savage outbreak of the plague in 1637 when 300 townspeople were buried by night without coffins; the spot is marked by a rare Plague Cross. Ross-on-Wye, known simply as Ross until 1931, developed as a tourist centre during the 18th century.

Historically the town's economy was based upon agriculture and this is still important. The service industry, including tourism, is the largest sector of the local economy, employing around 61% of all workers.

The name Ross is the Celtic word for promontory or headland, describing the town's position today. The town was recorded as 'Rosse' in the Domesday Book of 1086.