The ultra hot weather of last week had passed and more normal early summer temperatures had returned. However all was not lost last week as I used the time to search out some walks.
Both the OS and the Kittiwake books have routes leaving from Fownhope, a village close to the river Wye a little downstream from Hereford.
I had picked out a merger of walks from both books to come up with a longer route. I would combine the routes for Capler camp - an iron age fort with the walk around Haugh wood. Starting in the car park at the village recreation ground, and following the river to the south end of Capler camp. Over the camp and back around to the hills above Fownhope on the Wye Valley walk, before climbing up through Haugh wood to its northerly point before turning across to Mordiford, then back down the Wye Valley walk to the car park.
Parking in the large area beside the pavillion, and down the track to the river. At first I missed the point where the path diverted into the fields, and had to back track from a residence at the end of the track.
The path climbed over a rise and back down to teh side of the river.
The river is behind the trees, then along the path beside it around a large loop.
There were lots of "no Mooring" signs along this section and an "exclusive" jetty on the far side.
Along past Mansell's ferry and still alongside the river. Ahead the wooded slopes of Capler camp.
Getting closer to the base of the camp still following the river bank.
A stile led to a hairpin and track climbing up to a back road. I think that I could have continued along the unmarked track beside the river, but chose to be legal.
After the steep climb up then the track merged into a dirt road that gradually returned to the riverbank.
Down by the river the track continued - It seemed to be marked out for fishing with posts and ropes laid out along the edge.
A side track climbed steeply up to the end of the ridge.
The track came out at a car park beside the back road, and I turned along it to some houses. This was my first section of the Wye Valley Walk today.
Where the back road turned away, the Wye Valley Walk path separated off on a track continuing in the same direction.
At A point where the track met a second back road and Capler wood surrounded. A sculpture and view point marked the point the WVW path peeled into the woods. Although I did almost go down the wrong track into the fields.
The path followed a forest road into the trees, then separated to ascend the outer rampart of Capler Camp.
The ramparts ahead. I took a slight diversion to the top and followed a path around to look out the far side.
Looking along the length of the camp with a rampart to the right and a steep drop to the left.
Back to the WVW to get to the other end and a tall pole marker.
This indicated where the path peeled off the farm track to descend.
Down some steep steps to Capler farm. This is also a holiday cabin site and the path goes through the middle and down the drive to the B4224.
A zigzag along the road, before up a drive and across a grass field. Still on the WVW.
Down the field and across a hedge. The path snaked over to the hills on the far side.
The path then turned under Middle Green and climbed through an orchard.
On top of the ridge and a final grass field to the entrance to Pager's Wood nature reserve.
Into the wood and along the paths still on the WVW.
I noticed these two "caves" on the side of the track ... suspected that they were lime kilns, almost completely buried.
Across a back road and down the far side of the hill on a narrow track.
Lower down the track widened before coming out at a complex junction of paths and roads.
This was the point where I left the first route and WVW as I crossed to the second. Luckily the path I wanted was signed for the Tom Spring - a bare knuckle fighter
Down through an overgrown field to Rudge End farm.
Up a driveway that led into the beginning of Haugh wood. Part way along this a path led steeply up into the middle of the wood.
Up through the wood on the forestry tracks. There were several butterfly signs on the way through.
The forestry track peeled off, and I continued on narrower forest paths.
These led up to the edge of this side of the woods.
Across a back road and into the main Haugh wood car park.
From the car park, continuing on forest tracks inthe same direction (almost due north).
A pause at the major junction of tracks for a snack and drink, before turning onto the Three choirs way.
This dropped down gently.
I stayed ont he forest track when the Three Choirs Way peeled off. Continuing to drop down before a hairpin change of direction.
Continuing along the same direction beside a stream when a second hairpin took the track away.
This path crossed the stream opposite an old ramshackle building, crossing the grass field to the tarmacked driveway.
The path left the driveway and continued across the fields to Pentaloe close. This is a small housing development that needed navigating to get to the back road.
Up this road (I could have gone either way).
At the top of the slope turning down a bridleway towards Hope Springs.
Where the bridleway merged onto the WVW (second section of the day on this) there was a more "complete" lime kilns.
A sculpture at the base caught my eye, before moving through the farm yard and down the farm track.
This section of the WVW is straight along the bottom of the valley.
The valley narrows as it passes Nupend farm and curves down to a drive and then a back road.
Leaving the WVW again to drop back to Fownhope.
A narrow path down the side of a garden and across a stream.
Through a paddock and into woods (Nover Wood)
The path came into the village throguh a residential area and past a school on the way down to B4224.
The map showed a path through the far side, but I did not find this and had to walk along to the church and down Capler way.
Along the way and down the side entry to the recreation ground.
back at the car park and tiem for rehydration before returning home.
