Hay on Wye to Boughrood

Fifty eight miles left of the Wye Valley walk and this section from Hay on Wye to Boughrood will reduce it by eight. We retraced our steps from the last walk to take us back to the edge of the town to start the walk. From here we descended to the river and crossed the bridge heading to Wycliff woods where we followed the river to Llowes. The last half mile, being along the A438 was hard on the feet.

From here we set off across country, eventually returning to the river just outside Glasbury.  The views of the Brecon Beacons are just wonderful even though they were sometimes covered in low cloud. It was here we stopped for lunch on the shingle beach. It drizzled lightly for a short while but undeterred we carried on with coats and umbrellas.  It didn't last long and we then took a walk to the other side of the bridge to the River Cafe for a hot drink and in one case a large portion of some very rich chocolate cake.(No names mentioned!)

The final stretch took us along the river before setting out across the fields to Pistyll. A few more open fields and we returned to the river just before Boughrood and a well earned drink at the almost closed pub. On learning that there were five thirsty walkers the lights were rapidly put back on. After fetching the cars half the party returned home whilst the other half stopped off in Ross on Wye for dinner. The Kings Head Hotel served some fantastic fresh cooked food superbly presented for a very reasonable price. This has to be worth another visit, highly recommended.

Bredwardine to Hay on Wye

What a wonderful day. Ideal walking and picnic weather. We started with a quick visit to the shop (and loos) at  Brobury House and gardens and walked down the road to the bridge and crossed the river Wye. A short walk across the field and up to the church before setting off up the 1 in 4 hill to the summit of Bredwardine Hill passing Woolla's Farm and fantastic views across the valley. We continued climbing until we reached Merbach Hill and Common at 1043ft
.

Once again we came across a number of wild flowers as well as wildlife. Even some late bluebells peeped out between fronds of bracken on the hill. We also saw numerous foxgloves and orchids. Views of the river helped us spot a heron as the buzzards circled above. From the common the path became very narrow as it descended to the valley floor at Castleton and its remnants of a Motte and Bailey Castle (well - just the earth mounds and ditches).

From here the walk follows part of the old railway before meeting the road at a bridge. Taking the road for a short while we then set off across some fields to emerge at the small village of Clifford Common. Here we took a very overgrown path alongside a cottage and emerged in a field ready for our lunch. After crossing a brook and skirting the cows and bulls we crossed the golf course on the last leg of the walk.

By now some of us were suffering as this walk covered just over 9 miles! After crossing the golf course and a number of fields we emerged on the outskirts of Hay on Wye to cross Dulas Brook bridge into Wales. We couldn't resist calling at the first shop we found for a well-deserved ice cream before walking through the town. We arrived at the car park and the craft centre cafe for a welcome drink, to rest our weary feet and recover the cars.

Chepstow to Tintern Station

At last we have been able to complete the first section of the walk. This was postponed because of the closure of the walk due to landslides. We all met up at the castle car park for a photo of the group with Chepstow Castle as the backdrop. The walk started by passing the castle on the way up to the main road to the school before taking the path into woodland. This path takes a gradual climb through Alcove Wood where a great view of Chepstow can been seen from the view point.

From here it was on to Pierce wood with beautiful views looking down to the river. As we had made a late start we stopped here for lunch before heading towards the Giants Cave. All through the woods there were swathes of spring flowers to be seen, wood anenomes, bluebells and celandines. A breathless climb eventually took us up some steps to Wyndcliff car park. After crossing the road we took another long climb on the Valentine Morris' Piercefield walk eventually arriving at the Eagles Nest view point.

Still keeping to the woodland walk we entered Minepit wood where a fenced shaft, part of the old mine workings, could be seen to one side. From here we began the descent to Tintern through Blackcliff Wood before crossing an open field to Limekiln Wood. This particular stretch was very treacherous as the path seamed to have been washed away leaving a very steep rocky path almost like a riverbed with loose rocks everywhere.

It was here we heard a strange creaking noise. This was coming from one of the trees swaying gently in the wind, very unnerving! Eventually the path levelled out and become more normal before exiting onto the road behind The Abbey Hotel in Tintern. A short walk up the High Street and we cut through the church into an open field beside the river Wye. After crossing a couple of wooden footbridges and climbing another set of steps we were onto the old disused railway embankment of the Wye Valley Railway and our final destination.


Here we were met by other friends in time for a picnic party in the grounds of the old Tintern Station. This was a time to unwind, nurse our sore feet and fill up on calories before returning home.

Sugwas to Bredwardine 20th March

Some were inclined to stay in bed this morning but heavy rain in Woodmancote was no deterrent to the walkers who were rewarded with a largely fine day.

Quite a lot of this walk was on tarmac and was in some areas gruesomely populated with squashed toads!



Only a couple a glimpses of the river Wye,but picnic lunch at Brobury Scar provided magnificent views.







Wonderful wild snowdrops provided a fine display.

The walk ended by Brobury House where the girls managed to discover a material shop, and the boys discovered that the pub in Bredwardine was closed!

The track - Sugwas Pool to Bredwardine

Sugwas Pool to Bredwardine

For this section of the walk we had to split into two groups, walking on different days because of a clash of events. This post is from the second walk on the 10th of April - a bright sunny day where temperatures reached 20 degrees. Almost two thirds of this walk is along public roads with the middle section in open country. The Wye comes into view in just two places as the path meets bends in the river.

Starting out from Sugwas we turned right and headed up a side road to Kenchester and Bishopstone and eventually back down to the main road again at Byford. Along here we noticed the large pools - one of which had a heron eying up its next meal. Crossing over the road took us down to the church where we stopped for a rest and searched for a Geo-cache which should have been in the graveyard but seemed to be missing. It was in the wall along this road we came across the wall pennywort ( see photo).

After passing through the village we walked through the orchards of Bulmers the cider makers. Members of the first group of walkers had led us to believe that the trees would be in blossom but they still have some way to go. After a while we came across our first view of the river. From here we moved on to Monnington Walk, created in in the mid 1600's to commemorate the owners election as an MP. This lovely walk is lined with pines and yews and made an enticing spot to stop for lunch.


Monnington Walk looking towards The Scar.






The path then leads uphill to The Scar about a hundred feet above the river and the wood contains a number of very old oaks. One of these overhangs the river which was where we found another geocache. The Scar provides a wonderful view of the river as it loops around from our destination at Bredwardine.






View from The Scar of the river Wye.








From here we came back onto the public roads which take us down eventually to the bridge at Bredwardine. This single track bridge built in the mid 17oo's was the first stone bridge built across the river Wye in Herefordshire. A path at the far end of the bridge took us up to the church and the end of the walk.

The track: Hampton Bishop to Sugwas Pool

Using Trimble outdoors on my phone - this was the track we took.

Click on the 'trip details' below to see elevation data/more detail

Hampton Bishop to Sugwas Pool

After all the January bad weather it was fortunate we picked a sunny February day to make this section of the walk. We started off at 10.30am with a clear blue sky and set off for Hereford. The first part of the walk took us along the raised bank, known locally as The Stank, before descending to the river. This bank was built as a flood defence following the disastrous flood in 1960. After a short while we came back up to the road to enter Hereford and as we joined the river again we were presented with the splendid view of Victoria bridge and Hereford Cathedral.


After crossing the bridge we took a short break here beside the river before following it round to cross at old disused railway bridge. As we continued along the river bank with the Water Works museum on our right we saw in the field a small gauge railway track laid out. Further on on a sign said the path was closed due to a land slip. However, we continued anyway knowing there were accessible fields on our right. As you can see from the picture this was a case of "elth and safety" as it was clearly possible for sensible adults to navigate the obstruction.



We left the river at the Breinton Nature Reserve and set off up a track and over the hill and down to the river. Here we came across the wonderful sight of the snow drops growing along the bank. There were even a couple of daffodils out as well. We then climbed steadily up to the road through newly planted orchards. We then took the road to The Travellers Rest at Stretton Sugwas for a well earned Sunday lunch before returning home with some very sore feet.