Bromyard Ring

A brightened up day after some showers.
I had found a route around Bromyard from the Outdoor Active. This was one of a series of walks from the Bromyard walkers.
I had printed out the map - however I did find it a little small when I was walking around and guessing where it went. I should had downloaded the GPX file to my GPS and it would have helped on several sections and eased the confusion in places.

AAC Walk - Sugar Loaf, Abergavenny

I had signed up for an AAC walk this weekend - closer than the last one, being just the other side of the Black Mountains from us. The description was vague - a circuit of Sugar loaf from Abergavenny, however it has been a long while since I had been there.

Wednesday Wander, Kinnersley

Sue was looking for a local walk, but avoiding all the local overgrown stiles, so we came up with a wander around the local lanes.
The lanes in the N/S direction are single track, and the Woonton to Almeley is slightly bigger, so there was very little traffic. The same cannot be said for the A4112, but we have walked there before and know the danger points.
The walk was all on tarmac (although sometimes covered in mud!) and very obvious navigation.

Dragon's back Extended, Pengenffordd

After several days of heavy rain followed by showers, there was a good chance of better weather today, so I chose to head towards Abergavenny and a route that I had often looked at on the way to or from Steph.
The idea was to park at the Pengenffordd, then head up to Castel Dinas. From here follow the ridge up to Y Grib, then continue to Pen y Manllwyn before turning to Waun Fach. Still on the horseshoe route to Pen Trumau and the subsequent cain marking the point to leave it.
From here continuing along the ridge to Mynydd Llysiau, and Pen Twyn Glas.
Next down to the valley and along the old road/ trackway back up to the car park.

Saturday Stroll, Weir Gardens

 

With the failure to find a suitable bakery Close to home, the option ranged further afield. Sue and I wanted to check out the Oakchurch farm shop to see what they had available on a Saturday.
This was very successful with fresh bakes in a number of ranges, and after checking maps this would be a longer bread run than previous ones, but still within acceptability at the long end (15km round trip).

So future trips planned, we opted to visit Weir gardens (just down the road from the farm shop) on the way home.

Wye Valley Walk - Hereford West

The weather is turning and heavy showers are coming in, so I tried to go for a longer walk (but without too much height gain!). There was a section of the Wye Valley walk between Bridge Sollers and the edge of Hereford that had no intermediate crossings. So I planned to park in a lay-by where the route crossed the A438 at Sugwas Pool and follow the trail along the side of the river, through Breinton to the old bridge beside the playing fields.
Over the bridge and along the cycle path towards Belmont abbey, bypassing it to reach Clehonger. Then over the fields to Ruckhall then Wormhill and Swinmoor, before a section on the back roads to reach an access path back to the river at Field's place.
Along the river bank to Bridge Sollers to recross and angle over the fields to pick up the Wye Valley Walk, then back along this to the car passing the Magnis roman town.

Sunday Stroll, Kingsland

Sue had an exhibition to see in Kingsland village hall, so I tagged along to go for a short walk (I only allowed 90 mins) so we weren't pressured for lunch. I worked a route out along the river lugg, before turning down to Choistrey, then returning along the Pinsley brook to Cobnash. Then back to the church and back to the village hall.

2nd Attempt Bread Run, Weobley

A bright morning and at home for the first weekend this month, so Sue & I chose to walk across to Weobley and see if we could find a bakery (or fresh bread) at the same time as snagging a coffee.
This was our second attempt at this - the last one failed at a closed permissive pathway, So this time we chose to go along the main road (A4112) and the parallel path for the second half.

Golden Valley Walks

The fourth heatwave of this summer is coming to an end, and I needed to clear the dust from a third Joust weekend our of my lungs. I had found a couple of walks out of the Wittiwake guide to Hay based around Peterchurch in the Golden valley, that I could combine for a longer walk.
The walks to Michaelchurch Esclay and Birchy Hill climbed both sides of the valley and started at the car park beside the church.

Kington & back

Its going to be another hot week, and getting hotter as the week progresses, so I settled for a local route and early in the week. I wanted to see what it was like to get to Kington over the fields, which basically involved going to Almeley then one of two parallel routes to Kington. I would go along one then back on the other.

Twmpa & Pen y Gadair Fawr

It is cooler today after another week of heat. I worked out a route back in the black mountains, starting again at gospel pass, but this time heading up Twmpa then along the ridge line towards Mynydd Bychan staying on the tops, curving around to Pen y Manllwyn, Waun Fach before reaching Pen y Gadair Fawr. Down to the car park at Blaen-y-cwm, before turning around, back up the valley to Grwyne Fawr Reservoir, then continuing up to the ridge above and back the way I had come out.

Hay Bluff & Twmpa

A lull in the heatwave and an opportunity to go to the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) for a "proper" stretch.
I planned to follow a popular route from near Gospel pass, over Hat Bluff then along the ridge. Dropping down to Capel Y Frrin, before returning over Twmpa (or Lord Hereford's knob).

Sunday Stretch, Sarnesfield

Sue was off to church again, so I chose to go along and hen circle around o get back home - this time going north and east.
From the church heading up to Logaston, then cutting above Sarnesfield Coppice and down to the A4113/ Weobley junction. Next back towards Sarnesfield church, looping around the large house and back to the A4112 for the final mile home.

The Wye Valley Walk, Bredwardine

Another section of the Wye Valley Walk today ...  On a recent visit to Brobury house I had discovered a car park opposite the house entrance, and determined that it would be useful for the section from here to the east, Obviously used by walkers with the large map of rights of way, but also by those wanting to make use of easy access to the river beside the bridge.
Today's walk would follow the south bank (as far as possible) until the next road crossing at Bridge Sollers. Then back along the Wye Valley walk.

Queenswood & Bodenham Lake

The heatwave is still here, so another local and short walk. This time I chose to follow a route from the Kittiwake book for Hereford & Leominster.
It used the parking at the Herefordshire wildlife trust Queenswood country park and walked to a second site at Bodenham lake. The walk mainly avoided the main woods and went over Dinmore hill to Bodenham, followed by a loop around The Vern before returning.

Staunton-on-Wye Circular

Sue was walking to the church at Kinnersley, so I accompanied her and then picked up a walk from the parish council book. This went down relatively directly from the church to Staunton, then along the edge of the village, before returning home via Norton Canon.

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.

AAC Walk, Sapperton & Edgeworth

My first outing with the AAC in the west of England. A bit of a trek down the border and across the Severn to get there, but it was an opportunity to meet a new group.

I had picked up the details from the newsletter, but all I knew was the meeting point and a vague outline of the walk. I was in the van so set off early so I could find alternative parking if there was any obstacles or space issues, however this also helped where the idiot box took me down all the narrow lanes on the most direct route in for the final 10 miles.

Eardisley. Brilley & Almeley Circuit

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.

Sunday Wander, Kinnersley

Following yesterday's abortive walk, we chose to go out again this morning before it warmed up later in the day.
I chose a mash-up from the local walks, Starting opposite the house and working down through the fields to the Erie Gilbert meadow nature reserve. Then back up the road to Kinnersley church, before returning through the orchards and past the chicken farm.