Pether one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Pether here.

Nic Howes trialled the western section of this route on Thursday , March 2nd, 2023, from Peterchurch to Preston-on-Wye. Nic knows the eastern section well, having walked and cycled out of Hereford this way many times.

This is the second review of Pether, which is a great walk, packed with interest and variety and many great views. There is relatively little walking on tarmac, and the lanes concerned carry little traffic. Waymarking is patchy, as is the state of stiles, gates and conditions underfoot; this is always the case with different landowners and whether or not their land management is walker-friendly. There is little arable farming on this route, which minimises the difficulty that this land use often brings to walkers.

The Nags Head at the western end of Peterchurch is a walker-friendly pub, with a contingent of local walkers being regular visitors. The route starts in the centre of the village, opposite Golden Valley Post Office and Stores. After winding between private properties the route escapes the outskirts of Peterchurch and climbs across pastures and through a small wood to reach the ridge of Mowbage Hill, from which there are great views back over Peterchurch (photo one). The view stretches from Skirrid Fawr on the left, then swings across Black Darren and Red Darren, Black Hill, Hay Bluff and on to the hills above Painscastle in the distance on the right.

The route crosses from the southwest facing flank of the ridge to the northeast facing flank; on the way it passes through Greenway Farm with its fine range of abandoned vehicles and machinery, including a 1967 combine harvester in a barn. From the top of the northeast facing flank it is possible to look across the site of Hereford to the distant Malvern Hills. The route descends a steep flight of steps through Godway Wood (photo two).

After leaving the wood the route descends more gently, across pasture into Blakemere; this is Ice Age Pond country, including the large Mere Pool nearby: https://www.herefordshirewt.org/iceageponds The OS maps show no footpath along the track past Church House Farm but signs confirm that there is a right of way for pedestrians. Just before emerging onto a public road there is a collection of old brick buildings that include what was probably once a pair of purpose-built dog kennels (photo three).

The route now follows a minor road that carries little traffic, although most rural drivers and cyclists remain unprepared to encounter walkers sharing the roads, so listen out for drivers and riders approaching at speed. Near the end of the section of road walking, the route passes the entrance to The Flits, one of Herefordshire's three National Nature Reserves (photo four):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/herefordshires-national-nature-reserves/herefords-national-nature-reserves

A bridleway leads the route right off the surfaced lane at Pope's Place; looking back west from the bridleway the wooded slopes on the higher part of Moccas Park may be seen (photo five). Moccas Park is another of Herefordshire's National Nature Reserves, well worth a visit in its own right (with permission from the contact given on the web link above). The bridleway no longer cuts along the hypotenuse of the triangle approaching Huntley Court and emerges from that farmyard opposite an attractive Methodist chapel building in Preston-on-Wye (photo six).

The route leaves Preston-on-Wye via Hacton and emerges on top of a river bluff overlooking the floodplain of the River Wye (photo seven); the floodplain at this point was once occupied by a huge meander bend that is now abandoned as a waterlogged "oxbow lake" feature that has been incorporated into the farmed landscape to some degree.

The route follows a bridleway along the top of the river bluff, with fine open views north across the River Wye floodplain. The bridleway emerges onto a busy surfaced lane at Bridge Farm, named after the nearby Bridge Sollers that spans the river.

Care is needed crossing the even busier A438 Hereford to Brecon road to access the quiet lane through the village of Bishopstone, along the course of a Roman road that leads straight to the site of a Roman town, Magnis. A Roman mosaic floor uncovered at Magnis has been reconstructed - vertically - on the wall of the foyer of the City Museum and Art Gallery in Broad Street, Hereford.

From the site of Magnis, the route follows the Wye Valley Walk into Hereford via Sugwas Pool and Breinton, a beautiful walk that is ever popular with citizens and visitors alike. This landscape was modified by a glacier during the last Ice Age (see Ice Age Ponds link earlier for interpretative details, including annotated LIDAR maps) and later by landscaping for the owners of several country estates. Much of the route through Breinton follows the Brian Hatton Trail, a local walk devised by researcher and enthusiast for this Hereford artist, Robin Thorndyke:

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/4294/brian_hatton_trail

For some reason, the route as plotted by a Slow ways volunteer in April 2021 deviates from the left bank of the river Wye to head north to the Broomy Hill pumping engines, an interesting museum although not always open.

Very long (25K), some wonderful views, last stretch is by the river Wye. Only one stop for drink / food.

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