There may be an alternative route created eventually (photos two and three show a plethora of confusing signage) but it's a tiny diversion to stick to the tarmac as far as the point at which the route turns off to follow the Herefordshire Trail southwards, immediately after crossing the infant River Dore. Soon after Wilding's the route follows the Herefordshire Trail across the flat floodplain of the River Dore. The route now continues along the Herefordshire Trail and provides great variety and views as it climbs southwards out of the Dore Valley towards St Margaret's; photo eight shows the view back into the Golden Valley from near the ridge summit. The route continues along the Herefordshire Trail east of St Margaret's, turning off a drive to skirt the southern edge of a house as directed by way marks. The route exits Elan Arw Wood and descends across the park land of Bacton Manor (photo thirteen, looking back along the route) to a lodge, at which point it turns left along about 1km of road walking - crossing the River Dore at Moorhampton Bridge - to the turning into the former Dore workhouse (now Riverdale) yard (https://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/1295.aspx). The route leads down an avenue between fruit trees to the left bank of the River Dore, which it follows downstream to Abbey Dore Court. The route continues to follow the Herefordshire Trail through the curtilage of Dore Abbey, exits through a lichgate, crosses the road and climbs across fields towards Ewyas Harold Common with good views behind across Dore Abbey and Gilbert's Hill Wood inside PATA....

nichowes

The route follows the Herefordshire Trail along the left bank of the Dulas Brook, passing an example of river dynamics, where an eddy current has eroded the bank, leaving a fence suspended in mid-air (photo two). Although the route follows a road for several miles, the traffic is light and some great views open up from the ridge crest, including the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park from near the summit trig point at 176 masl (photo five). Between Upper and Lower Ridway Farms the route follows the valley (photo seven) of a tributary of the Worm Brook , itself a tributary of the River Dore. After Kilpeck, the route departs from the Herefordshire Trail and crosses fields, a tributary of the Worm Brook and the Hereford to Abergavenny railway line (photo eleven) to reach Didley, where there is a bus stop for the X3 service from Hereford to South Wales, passing Pontrilas (for those wanting to split Ewyher into two sections). Once across the A465, the route crosses what feels like former parkland to reach the edge of Thruxton; depending on the time of year, some of the fields on the route may be challenging to cross (photo twelve). Across the busy B4349 the route follows quiet Church Lane to Clehonger church (photo fourteen) before turning onto a well-trodden path across fields to pass north of Belmont Abbey and enter a modern housing estate on the western edge of Hereford....

nichowes

Lots to see on this route with plenty of valleys, woodland and the river. Mostly walking across pasture so not too heavy going. Dore Abbey is a good place for a break....

Neil Summersgill

I would give 4 stars but the path near Ewyas Harold Common is blocked (reported). There is also a path through an orchard so would would be good to walk in May when the blossom is out....

Neil Summersgill