The Wye Valley Walk, Hay-on-Wye

The heatwave continues, so I chose a walk that I could start early. The OS and Kittiwake guide books have a number of walks to the East of Hay-on-Wye. So I chose one that started at a car park near Hardwicke (free, but height barriered). This would head out from the car park and loop around to Mouse castle, then down to Hay on the Offa dyke path. Once in hay, then out along the Wye Valley Walk heading downstream. A cut back to Pen-y-Park and on to the car park.

I found the car park after the idiot box took me over the toll bridge (Whitney Bridge) - a girder bridge with railway sleeper roadway - £1 each way.

From the car park through the bushes past the bis stop to the road junction, then into a field after a stream.

Next across several harvested fields - the benefits are that I could follow the mapped path across the fields rather than around the sides.

A final hay field and a break in the hedge past Mill Cottage.

Across the next field and down to cross a stream, then following the hedge to White house farm.

Along a back road to a hole io the hedge that led to a farm yard behind some barns.

A farm track led away from the barns, then climbing up the slope through pasture fields.

A crop field then led to a farm track. This went to the edge of Hawks wood.

At the wood I turned along a hedge - not the signed route into the woods.
The track at the end then led into Mouse Castle

Into mouse castle wood and around the lower slopes

A steep (and stepped) descent led down to a grass field, and eventually a back road at Llydyadyway.

Along the back road until I could escape into a grass field looking down to Cusop.

Across a hay field that was in the middle of being harvested, and came out into Cusop church yard.

Out through the Lynch gate and down a very narrow lane dropping down past the outlines of Cusop castle.

Along the back road towards Hay, before a small lane led down to a stream.

Up out the far side and into fields ...  across here I would join the Offa's dyke path as it led right and into Hay.

Down through the fields and into the main car park.

I took a diversion to go through the castle grounds, and main gateway.

Around through the town on the narrow back lanes, before a narrow lane led down behind the Old Black Lion pub. I was now on the Wye Valley Walk.

Across a small stream and into a grass field.

Climbing over a second stream, and across to a back road. A small zigzag on the road, then continuing in the same direction along a brassica field.

Several more grass fields

And throguh a driveway orchard, before entering an old golf course.

The golf course only has a few remnants remaining - no greens or bunkers just long sight lines.

Out the far end of the golf course and into more fields. These led down to a ford

Along the farm tracks to cross a back road opposite Priory farm.
Next a zigzag and up a driveway.

Through a cow field heading in a vague direction to the top corner. Through a gate and down a narrow lane to a back road.
This was Priory Wood hamlet - I followed the back roads to a play area - through this and back onto the back road.

The WVW signs pointed down a mown strip and into a field.

A scrubby grass field over the top of the slope.

Down a hedge line and across a back road and through a house driveway to the path at the back hedge.
I was leaving the WVW for a diversion to get a better look at the toll bridge.

Down through a cow field - slightly curious but only after food.
This dropped down to a dismantled railway with steps down and up the far side.

Through a scrubby wood, across a back road and down past Clifford Place.

Across a strange wooded area and into a well grazed cow field that led to Sheepcote farm.

Through the farm and out the far side through a hedge into a further field.
This led down to the B4350 a short way above the river.

Up to the toll bridge. I walked over it to the far side and back again.

Looking both ways along the river.

Back over the river and almost immediately through a gate on the Herefordshire trail.

This trail followed the edge of the river through grass fields.

Opposite the boat Inn, I turned away to cross fields.

Then up a green lane to the back road.
It was here that the Herefordshire trail had been diverted around Locksters Pool farm. Climbing up the back road to re-join the WVW at the disused railway.

Joining the Wye Valley Walk, and down to the disused rail track bed. On the way a noticed showed the path had been diverted.

Along the track until it was diverted into fields.
Down through the field and then along a hedge - actually I went through a gate I should have not and had to escape later,

The new route went through this field to a vague path that picked up the original track as it passed into woods.

Across into Rabbit Bury wood - this was the first overgrown path for today. It came out on the back road leading to Upper Castleton Farm.
Through the farm yard and onto a farm track that led back to the disused railway.

Turning off the track bed once again aroudn the edge of a wheat field, and a hidden exit.
Down and over a stream, before climbing into the field on the far side.

Up and over a mown hay field, then through the bales. Around the back of Pen-y-Park before coming out onto B4352.

Along the road and up the driveway to Windle Park. then the farm track leading over the slope.

At a cottage, out the back and into grass fields. 
Another hidden gateway into a further grass field.

A final field led down to the Junction of B4352 and B4348.
Finally up to the bus stop and car park.