Herefordshire

Herefordshire is an enticing proposition for walkers who love peace and tranquility. As perhaps the most rural county in England, Herefordshire offers a wealth of unspoilt countryside where you can find solitude in which to reflect on the beauty around you. Herefordshire displays a rich diversity of character and landscape. To the east its gentle rolling countryside, green fields and rounded hills, interspersed with charming 'black and white' villages, exhibit many of those features which we think of as typically and traditionally English. To the west, with its rugged hills and dramatic views, the county becomes more Welsh, not only in appearance but also in its climate and its people.

Herefordshire is one of the English Marches counties, ancient borderlands with Wales whose idyllic landscapes belie their often violent history. The dramatically sited castles hint at this turbulent past and can provide an interesting focal point around which to plan a walk.

Writing about Herefordshire Sir Nikolaus Pevsner observed "Wherever one goes, there will not be a mile that is visually unrewarding". Remarkably, with the exception of Hereford's suburbs, this is still largely true today. However, choices must be made.

For open hill walking the western side of the county is the obvious first choice, giving a taste of the Black Mountains in the foothills south of Hay on Wye. The high land all along the western borders gives splendid views across the county. Offa's Dyke National Trail lies just over the Welsh border and sections can be incorporated into walks from Hay on Wye and Kington.

Perhaps the most beautiful walking is to be found in the Golden Valley, the peaceful unspoilt River Dore valley just east of the Black Mountains and running from near Hay on Wye to Pontrilas. Paths follow the riverside meadows and lead enticingly up the wooded western hillsides where spectacular views are to be had. Combine this with the rich heritage at sites such as Abbey Dore Abbey, and Arthur's Stone and you are sure to enjoy time spent in this lovely area.

The beautiful Wye Valley must also lay claim to be one of Herefordshire's most attractive walking areas. The whole river, during it's long journey right across the county from Hay on Wye to Ross on Wye, is worthy of exploration and, of course, you can do this following the Wye Valley Walk. Within Herefordshire the most dramatic scenery of the valley is in the south near Ross on Wye, in particular the stunning view from Yat Rock at Symond Yat.

The western side of the Malvern Hills and the countryside around Ledbury provides beautiful woodland, superb views and plenty of Herefordshire's peace and tranquility.

Long Distance Paths Traversing Herefordshire
Three Choirs Way; Wye Valley Walk; Offa's Dyke National Trail

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Hereford & the Wye Valley Walker's Guide by: David Hinchliffe. The area covered by this comprehensive walker's guide divides naturally into four sections: Herefordshire, The Malvern Hills, The Wye Valley and The Forest of Dean. Each section has an introduction to the area embracing flora, fauna and history and includes a selection of interesting walks ranging from 2 to 10 miles. Locations for Herefordshire are: Richard's Castle and High Vinnials; Bringewood Forge and Downton Castle; Croft Ambrey; Mere Hill Wood; Harley's Mountain; Hergest Ridge; Offa's Dyke; Merbach Hill and Arthur's Stone; The Cat's Back; Vagar Hill; Weobley; Monnington Walk; Abbey Dore; Skenfrith, Grosmont and Garway; Pembridge and Eardisland; Westhope Hill; Bringsty Common; River Tame and Sapey Brook; Ledbury and Wellington Heath; Hereford City.
	100 Walks in Hereford and Worcester compiled by: Van Greaves. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The wide choice of routes are spread fairly equally across both counties so no matter where you find yourself, a walk in this book will not be far away. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Hidden Herefordshire - Country Walks by: Julie Meech. In this book of twenty walks Julie Meech explores an area which maintains a special identity and possesses many features that make it ideal for a day's rambling. A churchyard awash with spring daffodils, a river bordered with ancient willows, a unique Norman church with comic, grotesque and erotic carvings, a fourteenth century dovecote with 666 nesting places, a Neolithic burial chamber, countless medieval timber-framed buildings, a chance to see the rare Red Kite - these are but a few of the delights that you will encounter as you explore Hidden Herefordshire. The walks are circular and range in distance from five to ten and a half miles, with a longer Black Hill walk of sixteen miles.
	Walks around the Malverns by: Roy Woodcock. This book of twenty walks covers the entire range of hills and the neighbouring commons, together with some of the delightful countryside nearby. For the energetic there are walks up to and along the main ridge where stunning new views emerge every few minutes. In addition to the routes using steep paths there are many fairly gentle walks that explore the wooded slopes around the lower parts of the hills, and also go west around the historic town of Ledbury and east to the fine riverside area of Upton upon Severn. The distances range from 2 miles to 8 miles, plus a 'leg stretcher' of between 10 and 16 miles (depending upon starting point) that takes in the full length of the ridge and ascends all the Malvern peaks.
	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Walks by: Brian Conduit. 28 routes with OS Explorer mapping, colour coded for difficulty, varying from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes. The walk locations include: Newland; White Castle; Newent and Acorn Wood; King's Caple, Sellack and Hoarwithy; New Fancy and Mallards Pike Lake; Wynd Cliff; Chepstow and Lancaut; Mordiford and Haugh Wood; Wench Ford, Danby Lodge and Blackpool Bridge; Ruardean and Astonbridgehill Inclosure; Goodrich Castle; Tidenham Chase and Wintour's Leap; Ross-on-Wye and Penyard Hill; Dymock and Kempley Green; Newnham, Blaize Bailey and Soudley Ponds; Tintern Abbey and the Devil's Pulpit; Speech House, Cannop Ponds and Edge End; Bredwardine, Arthur's Stone and Dorstone; Symonds Yat and Highmeadow Woods.
	50 Walks in Worcestershire & Herefordshire by: Nick Reynolds. 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles, each with fascinating background reading. There are clear, easy-to-follow route descriptions, including detailed sketch maps, for every walk. The walk locations include: Broadway; Cleeve Hill; Tardebigge; Badsey; Hanbury Hall; Clent Hills; Bredon Hill; Huddington Court; Droitwich Spa; Worcester; Kingsford; Upton upon Severn; Ombersley; Stourport on Severn; Great Witley; Abberley; Powick Bridge; Wyre Forest; Martley; Ravenshill; Suckley Hills; The Malverns; Mamble; Ashperton; Frome Valley; Woolhope; Tenbury Wells; Hereford; Coppet Hill; Ross-on-Wye; Aymestry; Downton on the Rock; Kilpeck; Orcop Hill; Abbey Dore; Hergest Ridge; Harley's Mountain; Lime Brook Valley; Weobley; Black Hill; Clifford; Golden Valley; Merbach Hill; Olchon Valley.
	Pub Walks in Herefordshire by: Eleanor Smith. All the inns are in Herefordshire and surrounded by excellent walking country. Every walk begins and ends at a particular pub. They vary in length from 2.5 to 6.5 miles and each route is described in detail with its own accompanying sketch map. There are walks over unspoilt, open countryside, through woodlands and among Herefordshire's sunny orchards, and some easy-going ascents to spots with splendid views over the whole county and beyond. All 30 recommended pubs are described in full, with a photograph, and details include opening times, parking facilities, how to get there, food specialities and the range of ales and ciders. This title is temporarily out of print.