Clive G

Circular route from Eardisley onto the low ridge between the Wye and Arrow valleys. This route begins and ends in the village of Eardisley, which is one of the villages included in the Black and White Trail due to the number of lovely black and white timber framed buildings along it's main street. Leaving the village by the Tram Inn the route climbs steadily alongside a stream, there are several boggy muddy sections at the moment, eventually reaching the small SSSI of Upper Welson Marsh - https://www.herefordshirewt.org/nature-reserves/upper-welson-marsh From there continue up hill across fields to the top of the broad ridge where you can glimpse Hergest Ridge, my target for the next leg of this trail. The route then follows the ridge line but is just below it so the views are only to the south to Merbach Hill and the Black Mountains. Next stop is the magnificent National Trust owned Cwmma Farm, a well preserved large B&W farm house. After the farm the route hits an awkward section that should be a well defined bridleway, but is overgrown with a lot of low thorns that make progress difficult. It is a relief to reach the roadway of The Rest Road, a very pleasant and quiet lane that leads to Brilley. This just leaves the return leg of the triangular route, descending gradually across farm land (some very wet) and back amongst the apple orchards and the odd Christmas Tree field. The route passes Eardisley Park, with it's very fine square mansion house. The route ends passing St Mary Magdalene church, a solid building that has clearly been extended many times down the years.

A there and back walk along the Wye Valley, across the flood plain and up the hill to Brilley. As this is a 'there and back' I will just describe the walk in one direction. It picks up where we left off in Castleton Farm Road, and goes past a lovely display of Snowdrops. Leave the road at the top of the hill and drop down across a field into the muddy Rabbit Bury Wood above the Wye Valley. The Herefordshire Trail has been diverted away from Locksters Pool Farm, and instead goes uphill to meet the route of the Golden Valley Railway again, this time across a high embankment over a deep little valley to a now defunct railway bridge. Don't be alarmed by gunshots at this point, there is a small firing range off to the left. The path then drops down quite steeply to the Wye Valley flood plain. Oddly the flood plain itself is less wet and muddy than the valley sides, considering the plain was flooded only a few days ago. Signs at the entrance to a wheat field require you to walk in a straight line across the field. This is followed by easy walking across riverside pastures to the picturesque highlight of the day, the Whitney Toll Bridge. There is a good view from the riverbank before you make your way across it's rather rickety wooden structure. The route then climbs quite steeply up the track by the sawmill into Whitney Wood, which was wet and slippery underfoot. Higher up you cross Millhalf Brook, past Brilley Court Farm and then across fields to the very fine 12th century St Mary's Church, Brilley - https://www.visitherefordshirechurches.co.uk/churches/st-marys-church-brilley/

This section of the trail takes you out of the Golden Valley and rejoins the Wye, and past the highlight of Arthur's Stone. It's been raining for weeks but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity of blue skies. The route begins where we left off in Dorstone, through the village and then straight up the south eastern end of Merbach Hill. At the top of the slope you will find the oldest man-made structure in Herefordshire, Arthur's Stone. This is a Neolithic chambered stone tomb and religious site, and it is amazing to think that the top stone weighs something like 25 tons. You can see why they might have chosen this site, with it's expansive views across the top end of the Golden Valley with the Black Mountains beyond. It's a road walk along the wide ridge for most of the way to the summit of Merbach Hill, taking to pastures for the final rise to a wooden post near a tree that marks the summit. The Trig point is further on, more on the edge of the hill where there are expansive views west, and is a good example of why trig points are not always the highest point on a hill. The long descent into the Wye Valley Through Merbach Hill Common passes through a good deal of scrubby trees and brambles, and on a slippery day like today needs care (took a bramble thorn to the eyelid - there was blood...). At the bottom of the hill the route follows a green lane, with fine views of the west face of Merbach Hill - much bigger from this side. Follow the B4352 for a short distance and cross the West Brook before entering the immaculate grounds of Clock Mill, the main buildings being well hidden from sight. Walk along the edge of fields with views across to the river Wye, before starting the journey back along Castleton Farm Road, where there is a very muddy view of Merbach Hill. Cross boggy turnip field to Middlewood, where there is a brief respite from the mud along Newton Lane, and a fine view of West Brook from the bridge. Head across fields and cross the Bach Brook twice before rejoining Newton Lane. A road walk then takes you over the watershed from the Wye Valley into the head of the Golden Valley. A short distance along Scar Lane is an odd reminder of the long disappeared Golden Valley railway, a railway bridge that now barely rises above the ground as the old railway route has been almost completely filled in. Soon afterwards the route joins Spoon Lane, which is an ancient green lane (vehicles now banned) that runs below Merbach Hill. In drier weather this would be an excellent walk, but today it was very wet and slippery. At the end of the lane, rejoin the road to retrace the route back to probably the best highlight of the day, the Pandy Inn and a very fine pint of Wye Valley Brewery's HPA! On warmer drier days this would be a most enjoyable route, but was made more difficult by a lot of water and slippery red mud.

It stopped raining long enough for me to get out for some fresh air. Unfortunately it had rained heavily again overnight, so to avoid the mud I took to the lanes. This is a decent shortish walk, but I was dismayed to find two very big illegal rubbish dumps had grown close to the road - one in Mill Lane, near the mill, and the other at the end of Crabbe Lane.

It's finally stopped raining but all the rivers round here are in flood. As a change from walking along the top of the ridge, this walk takes to the slopes on the west side of the Malverns between Upper Colwall and British Camp. It starts at the small car park beyond the Chase Inn, along Case Road for a few yards before descending a clear but very wet path to meet the route of the Geopark Way which you will follow for a couple of miles. The path is good and clear all the way to Evendine, and there are good views ahead to Herefordshire Beacon (British Camp), and to the left up to Pinnacle Hill and Black Hill. After Evendine the route crosses some very wet and muddy fields and passes a spring before climbing up through mossy woods to the British Camp car park. A good addition to this walk would be to include the climb up to Herefordshire Beacon (British Camp) as it is a lovely hill with fine views. You could also have a cup of tea and a bun at Sally's Place! The return leg of this route descends quite steeply (and slippery) at first, before contouring through woods to meet Evendine Lane. A good clear path crosses pastures and then turns sharply up hill along a drive before taking to a footpath just after a ford. The next section climbs up through woods and is possibly the best part of the walk. The path emerges by the Kettle Sings cafe - so there is yet another opportunity for tea and a bun!

A short walk to escape the floods and in hope of an inversion - which didn't happen, too much breeze. Due to a road closure on West Malvern Road, I had to change my start point from Hayslan Spout to The DIngle, and that shortened the route. It was a straightforward walk up the Dingle to the waymarker stone, and then up to Worcestershire Beacon. I had hoped to break through the top of the fog and get an inversion, but not today as there was too much breeze even though it was cold enough. Back down and around Lady Howard De Walden's Drive then up and over North Hill, onto Table Hill before dropping down to the col and then up Sugarloaf Hill. Good short walk with the dog even if I could only see about 25 yards, and it wasn't raining!