Brockhampton to Hampton Bishop

Well it is now truly winter and after the wettest November since records began we were grateful for a cold dry winters day. We all met up at the Village Hall in Brockhampton and after shuffling the cars set off for the view point to regain the Wye Valley Walk. I did not take long before we missed a turning and sailed on down the hill oblivious to our mistake. Unable to get back on track we had to retrace our steps and follow a very muddy track down to the main road.

This section of the walk took us away from the river and across country once more. After a while we entered Pagets Wood and then to the nature reserves on Common Hill where we walked along the ridge. It was here we came across a couple of deer grazing quietly amongst the trees.

After coming out of the woods we crossed more open country until we came to Mordiford and the river Lugg. Here we crossed the bridge and embarked upon the last couple of miles to Hampton Bishop and the warm welcome of the Bunch of Carrots public house beside the river Wye. Here we sat down for well earned carvery of either roast pork, turkey or beef washed down with some locally brewed ales.

Ross to Brockhampton

Why can't the weather forecasters get it right? It was supposed to be a sunny, but windy day. They forgot to mention the rain. Still, it was light and intermittent and did not spoil our lunch or the day.This section is almost all on the flat with much of it spent close to the river. Leaving Ross behind presents a good view of the town and church. The canoeists were out in force as were the swans. After a while we came across the disused railway line with its stone pillars still standing in the waters of the Wye.

The foot bridge at Foy looks like it's been there for quite a while providing a means to get to the church on the opposite bank (Foy Bridge of 1876 was washed away by floods and replaced in 1921 apparently). As we approached Hole in the Wall and the PGL leisure centre (named after its founder Peter Gordon Lawrence) we came across a shrub in the hedgerow covered in bright coral pink seed heads. This turned out to be a Spindleberry bush.

An amazing sight was that of an old tree which from a view point on the opposite bank looked just like an angel with a prayer book. Later on we stopped for lunch on the bend in the river near Court Gardens and lo and behold the sun came out. Once again we saw a pair of buzzards circling this time over Capel Woods.

The approach to Brockhampton took us up to about 100 metres on a slow climb to the view point. From here we could look back along the river and the surrounding countryside. Before returning home we took a short walk to the village to see the church and its collection of wonderful embroidery and goldwork.(This church has now been replicated in a Japanese tower block in Osaka for weddings!) See.http://www.brockhampton.com/church.htm for details.

The track: Kerne Bridge to Ross on Wye

The actual track that we took:

Kerne Bridge to Ross on Wye

Another lovely sunny day, September has been a good month for walking. A number of the group were unable to make this walk although some will tackle it separately to ensure they complete all the sections.



This section of the walk does not follow the river Wye but heads off across country. We started with a steep climb up through Warren Wood to Leys Hill using what is obviously an ancient path with trees on both sides and many rabbit warrens dug into the banks on the east side. This is a very pretty walk with lots of nice secluded properties perched on the hillside. Eventually the path leads downhill to emerge onto the road at the village of Coughton.



From here we started the steep long climb to the top of Chase Wood. A bird watching hide in the field below hinted at something interesting. It was then we saw a pair of buzzards above the tree line. Eventually we reached the top and later emerged into farm land where we stopped to admire the view towards Ross and the A40 and and had our lunch. For some reason the path is not so well signposted here and we ended up emerging from a field only to see a sign "MOD Property Keep OUT". Luckily it did not seemed to be mined, it was only the bullocks that gave as a bit of a stare.



The path then took us along some quiet paths to the south of Ross town centre and down to the riverside car park. From here we drove back to Kerne Bridge and a well earned drink at the Inn on the Wye.

Stage 3 Symonds Yat to Kearne Bridge

What a lovely day for a walk! We all met up at Symonds Yat and transfered the cars to Kearne Bridge before setting off on the very steep walk down to the river. The rest of this section of the walk is on flat ground that follows the river. The first part follows the old dissused railway line to the factory and blocked up tunnel. I have to say there was not a lot to see except for the Japenese knotweed that now grows everywhere. However, there were a lot of canoeists on the river today (Sat 8th Aug).


Before crossing over the river at the disused factory where the railway is supported on very rusty beams, we had a welcome break and a drink whilst every one caught up. It was then on through the fields until we arrived at the church. It was here under the shade of the trees that we had our lunch. Alongside the church was the remains of an old cider mill. The old stone and some of the press screws still in evidence. No sign of the apple orchards though although there were a couple of plum trees. Sadly the fruit was not ready for picking.




The last section of the walk took us though a wooded area which was very pleasant. This is where the tunnel exits. Someone has knocked a way through but why anyone would want to walk in a dark dank tunnel rather than the wood must be crazy. On exiting the wood a short walk in a field took us up to Kearne Bridge where we recrossed the river and headed to the Hotel for a well earned drink.



With the sun still shining we sat under the wooden shelter at the hotel and drank their excellent cider and beers. The view from here takes in the remains of Goodrich Castle which we did not venture to visit, perhaps another time. After having partook of our refreshments we walked down to the village hall to collect the cars and head off home, another section having been completed.

Stage 2 Redbrook to Symonds Yat

With a poor weather forecast it was touch and go whether to begin this section of the walk or not. Still, nothing ventured nothing gained. As it happened the day brightened up and we even had our lunch whilst we bathed in the sunshine. This was quite a stretch at almost 11 miles especially for those of us not used to all this walking.

Not much in the way of wild flowers on this section but we did see our fair share of wildlife. Swans nesting on the river with cygnets also in tow, damsel flies in the meadows, a heron taking off, cormorants nesting in a dead tree and a deer in the woods near Symonds Yat.

The sun was still out when we arrived at Symonds Yat East, where a welcome cream tea was the order of the day followed by another cup of tea upon reaching the top after a steep climb. It was here that the rain started again but not enough to spoil a wonderful day out with friends.

First Stage

Finally..... after much consideration and deliberation over the years we got started on THE WYE VALLEY WALK!!!

Saturday 25th April thankfully turned out dry for our first part of the walk. We began (not at the beginning as most would have expected) but from Redbrook to Tintern as there were two diversions between Chepstow and Tintern due to a landslide and maintenance of the path.

On reflection, I think we chose well as we could not have asked for better scenery. The bluebells were out in all their glory carpeting the woods in a bluey haze with the wild garlic trying their best to out do them! Also primroses, violets and wood anemones.

The walk initially took us alongside the river and then up on to the old railway track before quite a steep climb up into woods giving us some great views back down to the river. We stopped for lunch in Bargain Wood and then continued down to finish at the Old Station at Tintern for a well earned celebratory picnic.

Picnic at The Old Station, Tintern

But.... will you ever forget this.............

Stage 1 Redbrook to Tintern

Today was the start of this fabulous walk. The group will endeavour to complete a different section each month. Today nine of the group started out from Rebrook and were joined by another at Bargain Wood for a lunch break. We ended the walk at The Old Station, Tintern, for a picnic.