Broled two

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Nic Howes walked this route on Tuesday 18th April, 2023. The route follows the Frome valley at first and then crosses the watershed of Fromes Hill to enter the Leadon valley. Most of the route is on footpaths and bridleways and the few sections that do follow roads are quiet, although it is important to stay alert to fast approaching traffic. Waymarking is patchy, as is the norm, even on the Herefordshire Trail. Conditions underfoot are also variable: although some land is managed in a walker-unfriendly manner, this is the minority and thus the route is worthy of four stars. There is a great deal to see, with some fine vernacular architecture, much of it related to the area's long history of growing hops and orchard fruit.

The starting point is Bromyard Heritage Centre (photo one) and the route leaves Bromyard via a foot tunnel under the A44 and a short hill up to the hospital. A quiet surfaced lane leads to Little Froome Farm, beyond which an old greenway continues past blackthorn (photo two) towards a disused corn mill, the two chimney stacks of which may be seen on the left of the route.

On the left of the next section of the route, the infant River Frome wiggles around along the bottom of the much larger loops of its valley, suggesting that it might be a "misfit" stream. The large loops are thought to have been created by torrents of meltwater at the end of the last Ice Age; once the Frome's discharge reduced, the stream adjusted its channel to the lower discharge by forming smaller, tighter meanders along its course.

Beyond Avenbury, the route passes the house, hop barn and drying tower of Brook House Farm (photo three). Brook House Farm has specialised in hops and cider apples and has diversified to include "glamping" and other activities, such as recommended walk routes to local pubs (photo four): https://brookhouse.fm

There is a large hop field on the eastern side of the route (photo five - the yellow is dandelions) after passing Brookhouse Wood. There is more fine vernacular architecture at Upper Venn Farm (photo six). Further along, at Paunton Court the route passes Frome Valley Vineyard (photo seven): https://www.fromevalleyvineyard.co.uk

Continuing southwards, the route follows rows of hopbines, providing a good view of the anchored strings by each bine (photo eight). Next up, the route negotiates rows of orchard trees to then cross the River Frome with its pollarded willows (photo nine) to access the quiet lane through to Bishops Frome. The plotted route avoids the village centre by following a narrow footpath to cross a recreation ground and on to the church; walkers requiring refreshment in Bishops Frome may want to take a short diversion to the Green Dragon pub there.

From Bishops Frome church the route recrosses the River Frome and the wide floor associated with that stream's larger meltwater discharge during the Ice Age. The route begins the ascent of the watershed of Fromes Hill, meeting a lane and following it uphill past the Majors Arms pub, with its wonderful views (photo ten, NB limited opening hours). The lane climbs to the summit of Fromes Hill and meets the A4103 Hereford to Worcester road with its associated services, eye-catching T34 tank and Wheatsheaf pub (photo eleven).

From Fromes Hill the route continues south across fields and orchards to Catley Cross Farm with its collection of vintage farm equipment, including the baler in the centre of photo twelve. After Catley Cross Farm come more fields and orchards that lead through to the attractive village of Bosbury, where the church tower is separate from the rest of the building (photo thirteen). Intensive farming between Bosbury and Raven Hill Wood may present some challenges to walkers, necessitating particularly close reference to the map to stay on track.

Skirting Raven Hill Wood the route soon reaches Wellington Heath (where there is another pub) followed by a pull up to the edge of Frith Wood. Walkers' approach to Ledbury from Frith Wood is one of the best routes in and out of that town, following the Herefordshire Trail and Geopark Way. There are fine views of Stephen Ballard's viaduct (1859-60) over the River Leadon, followed by an unusual perspective of Ledbury station, from above the western tunnel portal. Just before descending into the town centre, the route passes an interpretation panel for the geology of Dog Hill Wood (photo fourteen).

The route finishes at Ledbury market house (photo fifteen).

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