Rising on the slopes of Pumlumon in the Cambrian Mountains, the river Wye (Afon Gwy in Welsh) flows for approximately 152 miles in a generally south easterly direction. It is the fifth longest river in the UK passing through Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, before joining the Severn Estuary at Chepstow.

The river is host an array of wildlife and is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for most of its length. Atlantic salmon are one of the listed migratory fish species for which the river is famous.

The Wye’s main tributaries include (in a downstream order) the Elan, Ithon, Ifron, Lugg and Monnow.

The Wye was voted the nation’s favourite river in 2010. However, like most rivers in the UK, it has faced an increasing array of issues and threats in recent years. Extensive work has been carried out by the Foundation and its partners to tackle these.

Catchment map