While towns and cities feel hot, crowded and slightly grumpy, the Wye Valley offers riverside breezes, shady woodland walks, cold drinks by the water and large holiday houses where everyone can properly spread out and relax.
A summer stay with Big House Holiday Lets is ideal for groups wanting a laid-back escape during warm weather. The big houses are perfect for families, friends and multi-generation gatherings, with spacious gardens, BBQ areas, games rooms, huge kitchens and plenty of outdoor seating for long summer evenings.
And because many of the properties are close to the River Wye, you’re never far from a cooler riverside walk or somewhere peaceful to sit with an ice cream and pretend you’re far more relaxed than usual.
And some have a pool...
Summer in the Wye Valley isn’t about rushing around trying to “do” everything.
It’s more about:
Slow breakfasts outside
Woodland walks before it gets too hot
Pub lunches beside the river
BBQ dinners in the garden
Watching the sunset with friends
Letting the dogs nap dramatically on cool kitchen floors
Speaking of dogs… Syd and Coco, the local black pugs in sunglasses, are reportedly handling the heat by refusing all unnecessary movement unless snacks are involved.
Probably sensible.
Places around Symonds Yat and the Forest of Dean are especially lovely during warm weather thanks to shaded trails, riverside paths and beautiful scenery that somehow always feels calmer than busier UK holiday spots.
And that’s the real charm of the Wye Valley in summer.
It doesn’t feel frantic.
It feels easy.
You can spend the day beside the river, return to your holiday house for a barbecue, then end the evening sitting outside with family and friends while the sky slowly turns pink over the hills.
That’s a pretty good way to survive a British heatwave.
