A walk around Symonds Yat
On Thursday we headed north along the A40, past Monmouth and across to Symonds Yat (east to be precise), the intention, a pleasant walk along the bank of the river Wye, past where canoeists come from all over the country to paddle the white-water.
We started in Symonds Yat East but immediately crossed to West via a unique ferry, powered by one man and a line between the banks.
The ferry at the Saracens is one of two hand-pulled ferries on this short stretch of the River Wye, the ferries at Symonds Yat are enshrined in locally history and they make up a traditional way of life.
Travel back in time to 1800, and the Wye was a busy place for industry, it also posed a potential barrier between the two sides of the river, and this is a river that has always commanded respect with many losing their lives when swimming or attempting to cross. An interesting 19th century child’s gravestone at St Margaret’s Church, Welsh Bicknor is testament to the dangers of the Wye. It describes cause of death by drowning in the river, locals will have more recent memories of such tragic stories.
During the early 19th century, there were 25 hand ferries between Ross and Chepstow, many of which were similar to the present day Saracen’s ferry.
It is thought by historians that the ferries were introduced in Roman Times to link the forts of the Doward and the Yat. They have certainly served Military, Civilian, Tourist and Horse traffic since this era.
The ferry outside the Saracens is a hand pull cable ferry. The ferryman uses the overhead tensioned cable which is connected to the boat by a rope, this is to prevent the boat from drifting down stream should the ferryman lose control of the boat, which is what is what apparently happened many years ago with the boat drifting down to the rapids. Health and safety is far more stringent these days.
While the ferry appeals to tourists, it is still today a very useful and important part of local life for those wishing to travel between Symonds Yat East and West. The only connection by road is upstream over Huntsham bridge (a five-mile trip).
By foot the other option is a three mile round-trip walk down to the Biblins suspension bridge and back. The suspension bridge was built in 1957.
View from the Biblins suspension bridge
This is another beautiful area and I can imagine the crowds in high summer may well overrun it - we were lucky - it was a good October day and very few people about.
Once back at Annie`s Cottage, I took a wander down the hill to the Cross Dermond Coffin Stone.
The stone was used by bearers on foot to rest the coffins of the deceased upon during the uphill walk to Penallt Old Church. A cross was once socketed into the adjacent stone . The notice informs us that psalms were sung and refreshments taken on board too. Rightly so.!
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