River Wye given a Latin name "Vaga", an adjective meaning 'wandering'. The Tithe map references a Vagas Field in both Whitchurch and Chepstow. Philologists such as Edward Lye and Joseph Bosworth in the 18th and early 19th centuries suggested an Old English derivation from "wæg", "wave". The source of the Wye is in the Welsh mountains at Plynlimon. It flows through or past several towns and villages including Rhayader, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford (the only city on the River Wye), Ross-on-Wye, Symonds Yat, Monmouth and Tintern, meeting the Severn estuary just below Chepstow. Its total length is . The lower of the
Wye River, Victoria parks, the Seasonal Foreshore, located close to the main beach, and the BIG4 Wye River Holiday Parkin the valley, which is privately owned and operates all year round. There is one pub, the Wye Beach Hotel (formally known as "The Rookery Nook Hotel") and a general store Wye General which also contains the post office and a cafe. In recent years, the numbers of Southern Right Whales and Humpback Whales seen around the shores are increasing as the whale populations recover as well as other species such as Bottlenose Dolphins. Wye River has a Country Fire Brigade and a Surf