Hereford

Nic Howes trialled this route over two days, Saturday March 11th 2023 for the northeast section from Didley to Hereford and Sunday March 12th 2023 for the southwest section from Ewyas Harold to Didley. Beyond the sewage works the route crosses the busy A465 to reach the B4347 bridge just downstream of the confluence of the Dulas Brook with the River Dore, which continues for another kilometre to its confluence with the River Monnow....

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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. 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):. 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). 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....

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The route is a "curate's egg"; its direct line may appeal to some and includes a great deal of roadside walking that may not appeal to others. The route is roadside walking all the way from Hereford to Lugwardine, including the A438 Lugwardine Bridge over the River Lugg, which has no footway and so needs great care to stay alert to traffic flow from both directions. Beyond Hynett Farm the route descends gently to a pond and brook, beyond which lies a miniature railway layout (Photo 3) that is itself a few metres from the single track Network Rail link between Hereford and Ledbury (Photo 4 - look, listen and take care when crossing). The long section of roadside walking continues along relatively quiet, wide lanes, crossing the A465 and A417; between these two main roads the lane passes the entrance to Chase Distillery and climbs towards Crozen. Once past Red Hill Coppice, Broxash Wood appears (Photo 10) and the route continues along its lower edge, emerging into a field through a gate and following the outside, lower edge of Broxash Wood. Access to the PROW across the garden of Firbush Cottage is not possible across the overgrown stile (Photo 14) but it's a simple matter to divert round the left hand boundary of the curtilage to reach the drive that leads to the tarmac public road network that the route now follows into Bromyard (Photo 15)....

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A good clear footpath leads south off the lane after New Hall, with Baynham's Hill Wood as a backdrop to the view (Photo four); the friendly farmer at Court Farm confirmed that the footpath through his workplace was an ancient route for people travelling on foot to church, school, shop and work. Another ancient greenway leads through from near Court Farm to the lane to Nupton, from where a well-maintained private drive leads steeply uphill towards Nupton Hill Farm before the route keeps straight on at a hairpin bend and heads across a field to reach the trees of The Vallets, at which point great views open up the the north, including Titterstone Clee Hill (Photo five). The route passes over the ridge of Badnage Wood, with its many large oak trees; once over the ridge, wide views open up to the south and include the Woolhope Dome (see Herled two) and May Hill (Photo six). The route continues on the lane until branching off it at a footpath that leads across fields to Whitecross School (Photo nine) beyond which is a pedestrian crossing that lies just south of the former road bridge over the Hereford to Hay-on-Wye railway line The route passes Brooks Restoration Project interpretation boards by Trinity School and then Yazor Road (Photos eleven and twelve), before reaching the "splitter weir" where the Widemarsh Brook dives under the footbridge while the former leat that once fed the City Ditch continues ahead over a concrete threshold (Photo thirteen)...

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Weoher as originally plotted (now Weoher one) uses farm access drives that aren't public rights of way, specifically at Butthouse and at Hill Farm; the route also makes a deliberate diversion to the Nags Head at Canon Pyon, that is now closed....

nichowes

The route follows the Herefordshire Trail from Ledbury to Ridge Hill, although I could see no waymarks for the Trail leaving the starting point at Ledbury Market House. The route continues across farmland with some short sections of road walking; on my walk, one empty field had a sign alerting walkers to the presence of a bull and at least two others were cropped with no rolled or marked path. A short route section beside the fast, dangerous, noisy A4172 passes the entrance to Oasis Lodges (Photo three) https://www.oasislodges.co.uk. After Putley church the route passes the fine front of Putley Court (1712) and then contours across the bottom of the dip slope of the Woolhope Dome, rocks of Silurian age? Opposite a road junction, the route turns off the tarmac into an impressive holloway/green lane that passes through a historic landslip of 1575, aptly named The Wonder:. The route follows the green lane, contouring across the dip slope (note to geologists: following the strike) until turning right at a "T" junction with another track. At this point I willingly admit to uttering "Wow!" at the sudden discovery of yet another Herefordshire place that I'd missed in my 44 years living in the County: Photo nine shows the route ascending a track that crosses the bare rock of the dip slope of the Aymestry limestone, so the exposed layers of sedimentary rock appear like thick overlapping roof slates. A lane is accessed via a cattle grid and then the route crosses Broadmoor Common to enter a short, narrow road section with no pavement on a blind bend - walkers should stay alert to approaching traffic. The route emerges from the holloway and passes several houses around The Pound to reach the Woolhope to Mordiford Road, which it follows for a short distance to Scutterdine; at this point it turns left down a track to a stream, with a diversion to Scutterdine Quarry, a Designated Local Geological Site with a fine exposure of the Woolhope Limestone. The flood embankment leads to the northeast corner of Hampton Bishop village and then the route leaves the embankment and crosses fields to the entrance gate of The Court; the view back from these fields reveals the outline of Backbury Hill, providing a silhouette of the northern edge of the eroded Woolhope Dome (dip slope on left, scarp slope on right) The route now follows a lane round a bend, turns right to cross a field, crosses the B4224 again by a lay-by close to The Bunch of Carrots pub and mounts the flood embankment of the River Wye via steps...

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Please see Nic Howes' Review for Herled one....

nichowes

From Dewsall to Much Dewchurch the route passes some luxurious properties that prompted me to reflect on the meaning of "levelling up", and how this oxymoron came to be assimilated into the formal name of a Government department. Photo 1 shows the drive up which the route approaches Dewsall Court and Photo 2 shows The Lawns; the correct line of the footpath between these two locations is a little difficult to follow, and careful use of the OS map app was necessary to stay on track. The route also passes close to the remains of a moated house, where I saw a pair of swans and their cygnets (Photo 6, with Bryngwyn Manor in the background). At Old Bryngwyn the route turns right along a former carriageway connecting Bryngwyn Manor with a neighbouring - much older - large house, The Mynde (carriageway Photo 7, lake, house and island "temple" Photos 8 and 9)....

nichowes

An improvement on Leoher 2, with a better route out of Leominster and a better route in to Hereford. I would say that, because I developed it! Let's see what others think....

nichowes

This is a good route apart from the first section from Leominster to Upper Hill, which uses too much road walking and misses out features of interest at S&A Brierley, Brierley Wood and the great hill fort that overlooks Ivington and Brierley. I will soon submit a variation of this Leoher route that includes the above....

nichowes

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

Kate C

The sun was shining as I left Hereford but black clouds were gathering and the heavens opened as I left the city and entered the countryside. The paths were well marked for the whole route and I only wandered off course once, which was probably my own fault. It's a long route and the terrain was quite difficult due to the bad weather so its not for everyone....

grifftinfoilhat

This route is about 70% off road / 30% road and has a good variety of terrain. It's easy to navigate and there there were no obstacles or path blockages along the way. Some parts were muddy due to rain but nothing too difficult to deal with....

awv

The route unnecessarily spends too long on the relatively busy, fast B road between Dinedor and Holme Lacy. As it approaches Ross-on-Wye, the route ignores the safest (controlled) crossing of the A40 dual carriageway at Wilton roundabout. I will submit my preferred alternative, which I have walked in full....

nichowes

The "Wildside" HERROS route appears as a downloadable pdf with full 1:25000 OS maps and a full route description on HWT's website at: https://www.herefordshirewt.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/Slow%20Way%20from%20hereford%20to%20Ross-on-Wye_Nic%20Howes.pdf....

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