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.
