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
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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.
