THE old market town of Ross-on-Wye has a wealth of interesting features for visitors, and provides them with a warm welcome. It still holds its traditional cattle and country markets, and industry, too, has spread some tentacles, but the accent is very much on catering for the visitor, with the town having so many attractions.

The town is set high on a sandstone cliff overlooking a large loop in the River Wye, and dominating any view is the tall spire of St Mary's Church, which not only reflects elegantly in the waters of the river but is especially attractive when illuminated against the night sky. Near the church there are some superb views from Prospect Gardens.

A panoramic view of the river and over miles of open countryside into Herefordshire is one not to be missed. The old town is very attractive, with its Tudor timbered houses clustered around the 17th century market hall, where the traditional markets are held every Thursday and Saturday.

Other visitor attractions include the Lost Street Museum, which houses a recreation of an

Edwardian street using original shop-fronts and fittings.

In Kyrle Street is the Button Museum, the only one of its kind in the country, which displays a vast range of buttons used on uniforms, costumes and everyday dress over the last 200 years.

Close to St Mary's Church is the Candlemakers, where ornate, decorative and personalised candles are designed and manufactured for export to over 450 countries. And beside the churchyard is a weather station where the monitoring instruments can be seen in use.

The town's many shops range from small quaint-looking craft workshops, including a potter, to several of the larger High Street chains.

There are various ways to explore the area. You can hire a bicycle, take a leisurely mini-bus tour, go for a river cruise which operates in the summer from the Hope and Anchor, or travel by another relaxing mode of transport, a hot-air balloon.

From Ross there are sculpture trails to follow in the Forest of Dean and the visitor can ramble along Offa's Dyke. There are caves to explore and open farms with preserved species which make for worthwhile visits. And, of course, there are vistas of those blue remembered hills, the Welsh mountains.

Some great country pubs, almost untouched by time, offer old-fashioned fare and service, and there are renowned ancient inns, and restaurants catering for many tastes.

If you are a keen salmon fisherman, there is plenty of sport to be had in the River Wye, which is renowned for its salmon catches.