Special Sub-Topic: A Journey along the River Wye Click Here To Play: A Journey along the River Wye

Where does the River Wye rise?

Plynlimon. At 752 metres(2,468ft),the Plynlimon massif is not particularly high but five different streams rise on its slopes; the Gwy, Hafron, Rheidol, Severn and Wye. An old Welsh folk story tells the tale of these five 'daughters' and their journeys to the sea.

Rhayader, Newbridge on Wye, Builth Wells, Llangurig: which of these settlements does the River Wye flow through first?

Llangurig. The small town of Llangurig lies on the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth road and is the first real settlement the River Wye flows through. Rhayader is some ten miles downstream, Newbrdge and Builth lie further down the valley.

Which of these rivers is not a tributary of the River Wye?

Teme. The River Teme is a tributary of the Severn. The Elan joins the Wye some three miles south of Rhayader, the Ithon meets the Wye a few miles further downstream and the Lugg has its confluence south of Hereford.

The River Wye is the third longest river in England and Wales.

false. The River Wye lies fifth in the list of longest rivers in England and Wales. Ahead of it, in order, are the Severn, Thames, Trent and Great Ouse.

The town of Hay-on-Wye is famous as a centre for selling which products?

Second-hand books. Hay-on-Wye hit the headlines on April the first 1977 when one Richard George William Pitt Booth declared it an independent nation with himself as 'king'. This brilliant publicity stunt was one of many which helped Hay set itself up as a bookshop 'capital'. A more lasting endorsement is the annual Hay festival which draws tens of thousands of visitors to the town for ten days every June.

Which is the only city that lies on the banks of the Wye?

Hereford. The cities of Gloucester and Worcester both lie on the River Severn. Monmouth is a town on the Wye but Hereford is the only city.

An unusual creature found in the Wye Valley is the allis shad. What sort of animal is it?

Fish. Allis shad is a migratory species of fish found only in a few clear fast-flowing rivers, one of which is the Wye. They are found most commonly in the lower and middle Wye, occasionally they venture further upstream.

"Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" is a poem written by which Romantic poet?

Wordsworth. The ruined Tintern Abbey lies a few miles downstream of Monmouth. this was one of the first poems Wordsworth composed, appearing in Lyrical Ballads, published in 1798.

After the River Wye leaves Ross and Monmouth it passes a large area of ancient woodland to the east. What is this area called?

The Forest of Dean. The Forest of Dean covers some 110 square kilometres and lies in Gloucestershire. It is an ancient woodland which remained fairly isolated for centuries due to it lying between the Wye and the Severn.

At Symonds Yat there is a spectacular gorge where the RSPB have set up a viewing platform. Which particular species of bird can be seen there?

Peregrine. Peregrines have nested at Symonds Yat for many years and you can get great views of them from the viewing platform. The Wye and the Severn rise a few short miles apart, go about their very separate ways and eventually join together at Chepstow.