Arthur's Stone & Wye Valley Way

After a month of house moving activities it was time for a "proper" walk. I had been glancing through the Kittiwake books of the local area.

There was a walk From Dorstone to Bredwardine and back via Arthur's Stone - a Mesolithic burial site. I adapted this to double its length by including a diversion to go over Little Mountain. Before returning to pick up the Wye Valley Way.

I parked down the church lane at Bredwardine, and walked up to the church and picked up the Three Rivers Ride - a bridleway.

the path disappeared into the undergrowth, traversing the bank above the river Wye below.

There was an old Motte & Bailey hidden behind some trees, which I diverted to see.

Now the path veered away from the river over to a green lane.

A short section along the B4352, until another green lane climbed up to sheep pastures.

This was supposed to be a byway lane, but very much overgrown. Up across sheep fields to the wood on the far side.

Up the hedge line before crossing to the field next door, and up to the woods at the top of the slope.

Around the edge of the woods and angling across a cow field.
The onward path supposedly went over the fence but although there was an old gate - it did not work and was covered in barbed wire.

I crossed the fence (and electric wire)to the barley field behind.
There was no sign of the path, so I followed the tractor trace.
On the far side there was the remains of a stile so it was the right direction.

Next was a grass field leading to more Barley, but this had a defined path.

Across the lane to the site of Arthur's Stone - a Mesolithic burial site

Continuing down the slope behind the tomb dropping through several sheep fields.

Ending up at Fayre Ways stud farm, and onto a back road.
This was just outside Dorstone village.

The back road divided into a driveway and a green lane - Spoon Lane.
This lane was almost impassable as it was so overgrown with the tracks hidden 

I followed this lane to a back road (Scar Lane) leading to  Little Bage village.

Through the village and along a path opposite Scotland Bank.
This started another climb through sheep fields.

A continuous climb through the fields and into some woods where it flattened out.

Slightly more open as I approached the buildings of Pen-y-Llan

This was the entrance to Little Mountain reserve area. After passing several ponies I was then into a maze of tracks between ferns.
I headed to the highest point.

At the top was a small scar of rocks.

Over the far side I dropped down on a general heading following several tracks throguh the maze.

Finishing off at Llanerch-y-coed, and taking the path through the woods above a stream.

Down through grass fields and a small wooded area to reach the next buildings.

At Pen-y-lan, I followed the drive down to a back road, and hence on to the B4348, at a church.

Down the side of the church and across grass fields to reach Windle park.

Through the woods adn around the edge of a grass field to Windle Park farm.
This was a strange collection of paths, but the correct path showed itself.

Over a disused railway line and into the fields beyond.

Another Barley field (tractor trace again) led to a grass field with side track.

I had wanted to take the next path, but this dropped into a potato field with no obvious way over.
So staying on the farm track until it zigzagged through the potatoes and out at Walnut house.

Along the back road to access the drive to Croft farm. Along this I rejoined the Wye Valley Way - a green lane that climbed up between fields.

Up to the woods at the end of the lane and then onto the even steeper slopes leading through the woods to Merbach hill.

The path climbed up through the trees to more open (but fern filled) tracks - still steeply climbing.

The path did not go to the trig point, but bypassed it, before descending down the opposite end to the grass fields below.

Down to Woola farm on the track, after turning into the sheep fields. Skirting the side of Benfield park.

Onto the driveway behind the farm (a bypass path led around the farm itself). Up to the drive to Benfield farm.

Splitting off into the pasture dropping towards Brewardine.

I lost the path near a cottage - it all looked private, so diverted through a field and down to a nature reserve.
This had a steep path dropping down the side in the direction I wanted to go.

One last field that dropped down to the B4352.

Back into the village of Brewardine, turning opposite the pub, to get to the church lane, and the car parked in the shade.