The next heat wave is upon us ... so I had an early start, but even that rebounded later when it did not protect me as much as I had hoped.
I wanted to do a mash up of two more walks from the Kittiwake book .. One (route 14)from Eardisley to Brilley on the Herefordshire trail, and back via Woods Eaves. The second (route 13) was from Eardisley to Almeley via Hollywell dingle down to Kinnersley and back to Eardisley.
I would join the two up, starting at home and walking across to Kinnersley and picking up the second half of route 13, then around route 14, before starting the beginning of route13. At Almeley I would then split off and go across the fields back home.
Down the A4112 an picking up the footpath beside te chicken farm, and around the edge of the sweetcorn field.
Through the bean fields and into the orchard - the first of the altered paths that would be a feature of todays walk.
This path moved across a fallow field to the farm track leading to Kinnersley.
At the lane I now joined up with walk 13 at Lower Newton farm. over a stile - the first of the overgrown ones for today.
Around the crop field since the direct route had been covered with crops.
Into a cow field and a gate in the corner. through this and across the road. Behind the house another field
This opened to a sweetcorn field, with no obvious path. Around the edge - again the path should have gone straight across.
A stile in the hedge led to a rapeseed field. The path was again squeezed into the hedge.
ALong the edge of the rapeseed field beside a wood to a completely blocked stile. I managed to cross it by trampling the brambles.
Next was two grass fields, where I could follow a GPS track.up to a hedge on the outskirts of Eardisley.
the route then went through a new housing estate and a short twitten led to the main road through the village (A4111).
rom here I swapped to route 14 and started down beside the church and around the back to pick up a road leading to Eardisley Park house.
I was now on hte Herefordshire Trail for a while.
The road passed a play area and car park then a long straight section.
Eventually reaching the Queen Anne period house.
A zigzag around the attached farm, and the lane continued. Eventually converting to a green lane through a gate.
Across a hay field and down beside some kennels to reach the back road
Leaving the Herefordshire Trail here as it looped around.
The back road led to Millbank and a cross roads in the middle of the village.
Onto a narrower lane leading up to a house on its own called the Vallets
Over a stile and though a hay field up to the edge of a wood.
Following the path as it wound through the woods and a zigzag at a central track. The track continued in the same direction.
The edge of the woods led to a banked field - across this to meet a lane in the hamlet of Little Merthyr.
a Selection of the lanes climbed out of the hamlet and up a steep slope.
At a gate that had a footpath sign pointing to a wooded area.
Into the woods and a steep track led down to a wider track that was blocked each way.
A hidden track continued down and along above the stream to meet the Herefordshire - coming back from its loop.
Following the trail the reverse direction climbing up to Brilley Court farm. At a crossroads of paths, a sharp turn and up some steps.
Up to a small orchard into a fallow field. I was heading for the large tree opposite.
Behind the hedge is the Brilley church.
I went through the church yard and along the road to leave the hamlet.
Turning into a field and following the hedge along the side
A stile and bridge existed under the brambles in the hedge - once again careful negotiation got me through, but it really needed some secateurs.
Then along the hedge line once again
Passing a corrugated iron shed and down tot he end of the field beside a house.
I followed the way markers along an overgrown track and ended up beside the house ... whereas the route description described a field!
Down the drive to a back road to green farm, where I could get back on track across a field.
A track beside Welshwood farm led to some confusing navigation here as there were no visible path signs (apart from one behind the farm..
A small gate led into a field - across it to an orchard.
Through the orchard guessing where the path went.
Finally finding a gate into the next field - Xmas trees, and a dirt track.
Along the track before cutting into the field beside it - this crossed over to some houses on a back road.
Through the village of Wood Eaves - along ot the last house before a lane led up to a corn field. I left the Herefordshire trail here as it angled back to where I had left it earlier.
Along the corn edges - no path- to a hedge. Up the grass field and into a fallow one.
The path went across this harvested one - recently sprayed with manure.
This time the stile was completely blocked, and I had to divert own to a gate.
Across the next field - similarly treated, before exiting onto a back road.
A section now along the back roads through Lower Welsom and past Brook farm.
Meeting the Herefordshire Trail once again. This took a little loop through an orchard and across a field.
The reason for the diversion was to pass a venerable Oak tree (Great Oak).
Back on the back road and following it back into Eardisley.
I stopped here for some refreshments - needed as it was now getting very hot.
Back to route 13 now, and along the Almeley road t the edge of the village.
Along the worn track into the field. Once again the path had been ploughed up and the directroute was also out. So around the edge to a gate.
The next field had a line of ghost Oak trees. However I followed the field edge as I looked for a gate into Hollywell dingle.
Through the gate and down a rough path dropping to the stream below.
Over the narrow bridge and along the path on the other side.
The path meandered up and down the back as it followed the stream.
Eventually as it reached the nature reserve, the path angled back up the slope for the last time.
Across a hay field at the top and onto a farm lane.
The lane came out at New House - over the back road and down a field.
into a wood at the end of the field - this was actually a track between a wood and a large pond.
I paused here in the shade looking at the water while having more liquid.
Across a field and and yet another overgrown stile.
No path on the other side - so freeform across a grass field
And a wheat field - the path had been incorporated into the crop, until the path crossed it where a very narrow trace still existed.
Across the back road from Eardisley and into hay field. There was a "closed" notice on the stile,that I chose to ignore as it was 4 months old.
Across two cow fields where the bullocks charged around, heading for the Almeley church on the horizon.
Over the dodgy footbridge - passable with care, and into the village beside the church.
I left route 13 here and took the back road to woonton.
Along this road (passing the usual route we use to walk home so I could explore a secondary route).
This passed through a garden and down past a byer.
Working across the fields heading towards Logaston.
Finally turning down to logaston farm, and onto newchurch road.
Down this and back home. Very overheated and welcome for the liquid - it was super hot today.
