The River Wye with Will Millard

Writer and angler Will Millard begins his journey down the River Wye in the wild mountains of mid-Wales. He goes in search of the river's source on the slopes of Plynlimon, before learning how a local sheep farmer has diversified by turning some of his land into a destination for petrolheads. He explores how a legacy of heavy industry polluted the entire Wye catchment, acidifying its waters and damaging the ecosystem. Now an environmental charity is working hard to right the wrongs of the past with some basic chemistry and some heavy machinery. The way rivers are viewed is changing and Will takes a detour off the main river up one of its tributaries to reflect on the benefits of being immersed in nature. After spending a night in the wilds, Will explores how the waters that feed the Wye have been harnessed as a valuable natural resource. The upper reaches of the River Wye is also an important sanctuary for a diverse range of wildlife, but what we see today is just a fraction of what the river must once have been and could be once more. Will goes in search of a river-dwelling animal that hasn't been seen on a Welsh river for centuries. As an obsessive angler, Will couldn't make a journey down the Wye without trying to hook a fish or two. He's never caught Wye salmon, the river's most iconic species, but it's not going to be easy.

Writer and angler Will Millard is on the second leg of his journey down the River Wye. Here the river heads for a land between two countries. As it broadens and deepens, it becomes not only a river but a border. At Glasbury, Will joins a group of young people from across Britain as they take to the water. At Hay-on-Wye, Will learns how a place now famous for its literature festival, reinvented itself as a book town. As the Wye flows into England, the river enters a land of affluence and influence where its banks are lined with several large estates. The rich soils of the Wye valley brought great wealth to the area. Halfway through his journey, Will reaches Hereford, the only city on the Wye. Before he finishes this stretch of his journey, Will cannot resist another chance at catching a Wye salmon.

Writer and angler Will Millard is on the final stretch of his journey down the River Wye, as it meanders towards the sea and flows through an area of outstanding natural beauty. Will's first stop is in Ross-on-Wye where this stretch of the Wye valley is defined by steep-sided gorges, lined with pristine woodlands, and where the rich lands beyond continue to support the valley's farming industry. Will visits a cider apple farm to taste the Wye's most famous fruit. There are many iconic landmarks on this stretch of the Wye like Symonds Yat and past romantic ruins such as Goodrich Castle, and at Tintern Abbey, Will attempts painting a 'picturesque' masterpiece. As the Wye reaches the town of Chepstow, it becomes a tidal river joining the Severn estuary. In these turbulent waters, a hardy group of fishermen still use a technique that dates back to the 16th century.