Circular Walk from Scar Lane

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Finding hidden footpaths and traversing fields of turnips

A circular walk starting from Scar Lane, Staunton-on-wye

Even grey days have beauty

We often visit The Scar, there are beautiful views and woodland but it’s one of those walks where you go as far as you want then turn around and walk back again (if you stick to the footpath).  So on returning from one of those ‘there and back again’ strolls I had a quick look at an old OS map we have to see if there was any way of taking a circular route on official footpaths and there was.  It doesn’t take in The Scar or views of the river, although I’ve included some photos below but begins by walking down Scar Lane, onto Gypsy Lane and finally bearing right into Brobury Lane.


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Detailed OS View

I saw one person and one car whilst walking down these lanes on what was a grey, blustery Saturday afternoon and so was able to let Bandit have a long leash.  The lanes are single track, gentle and pretty even in January.  Brobury Lane widens out and a short distance along there is a footpath to your right.  Careful as you climb the stile as it is extremely rotten and wobbly. From my quick glance at the map I had assumed that it was a fairly straight forward stroll across the fields back to Scar Lane and although the first three fields were easy to negotiate, put to grass and no stock about, the signage was sparse and I nearly missed a small bridge which was partially obscured by the hedge.


However after crossing the road which runs down to Bredwardine it became a lot more difficult to identify the route the footpath was to take and as you can see by my excursion down to Wetmore Wood, I took a few wrong turns.

Final sign at Scar Lane

I don’t know if land owners around these parts intentionally discourage walkers on their land but it would appear so. From planting right to the edge of fields, trimming footpath signs along with the hedges, and no effort to maintain styles and signage, they certainly don’t make it easy to stick to the official routes.  Finally after working my way around the edge of three turnip fields, I made it back to Scar Lane.  What probably should have been a three mile walk ended up closer to four.  Perhaps if more people walked this way it would encourage land owners and the local council to make it more accessible. So give it a try!

Walking in Weobley, Herefordshire

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In search of giant pumpkins, sweet chestnuts and the elusive circular walk

Sweet chestnuts

Today we went to Weobley because giant pumpkins had been spotted outside The Green Bean.  Since we were going I did a quick search on the web and turned up the Weobley Circular Walk.  However, having mooched around the village we had no idea where it began, partly my fault because I didn’t print out the leaflet. Asking a local sent us heading off up Mill Bank (B4230) and here we took the first footpath on our left (permissive access).  There were two options here, either bear left or go straight.  Bearing left appeared to head back towards the village so we carried straight on.  After crossing a few fields we came to a hard surfaced track and following this we eventually came to another track to our right which had the circular walk symbol.  We followed these markers until we reached the Hereford Road and turned left back towards Weobley, expecting to find more circular walk markers but did not.  Re-entering Weobley we took another footpath to our left and a short distance later reconnected with the circular walk leading us back to Broad Street.


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Detailed OS Map

All in all it was a very pleasant walk, meeting and chatting with friendly locals, with lovely views and autumn colours even on such a grey day, plus we even managed to collect some sweet chestnuts.  Unfortunately the markers for the circular walk, which is 3 miles as opposed to our 4, were intermittent, so if you intend doing that I would highly recommend printing out the leaflet.


On our way home we noticed an interesting antique shop, Utter Clutter, which is well worth a browse and was home to a cheeky robin (see photos).

Bredwardine Walk

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A gentle 3 mile walk via Bredwardine bridge and church, Herefordshire.

Celtic Cross  Yesterday we decided to visit The Scar near Staunton-on-wye and collect sweet chestnuts. Unfortunately when we arrived we found that everyone else seemed to have had the same idea and there was nowhere to park along the lane.  Determined to go for a walk of some kind we carried on, entering Bredwardine, parking just before the bridge, opposite Brobury House and gardens.  Both The Scar and Bredwardine are along the route of the 136 mile Wye Valley Walk. 

Walking down the hill and across the bridge take the first style on your left and follow the footpath up to the church.  On arriving at the church we noticed that new permissive access has been given to a traditional orchard, so we had a look around and sampled some of the apples.  It was sad to see that the apples were not being harvested but were just left to rot on the ground. Having walked the perimeter of the orchard we rejoined the footpath around the church and walked through the woodland parallel to the river.  There are some fantastic old oak and chestnut trees here but alas no chestnuts for the picking.  I think the locals had probably got there before us.  Further on down the path you arrive at a good sized pond, the edges populated with bulrushes.  From here it is a gentle climb  along the path, then farm track to the road where you bear right to head back down to Bredwardine.  See the map and pictures below and view a detailed OS map here.


 


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Detailed OS Map

Eardisley Walk to the Great Oak and beyond

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Eardisley Ramblers second outing around the local footpaths of Eardisley, Herefordshire

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Today we joined the Eardisley Ramblers group on their second adventure. A lovely crisp autumn day, the full walk was a little over six miles with the option to leave after about three on Park Lane, which leads to the back of the church (see map below).  The walk took us to the Great Oak (above) which is rumoured to have been mentioned in the Doomsday Book but probably not true as the tree is an estimated 800 – 900 years old.  If you find yourself here give it a hug and get in touch with your ancestors.

Have a look at the photos of our afternoon below and view a more detailed OS Map here.


 

 
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View a detailed OS Map

Stop the War

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Just a couple of thoughts about the Mass Assembly on October 8th

The march ended at Downing StreetThis weekend I attended, with my family, the Mass Assembly organised by the Stop the War Coalition in Trafalgar Square which marked 10 years of the war against terror.  Like, I imagine, most of the people there, we have been attending these marches since, and before, the illegal war on Iraq. In fact the march was led by 106 year old Hetty Bower who has been campaigning for peace & human rights for most of her life.  I was surprised however at the poor turn out as I had expected the place to be heaving especially considering the number of prominent speakers in attendance.

So why are numbers dropping?  Is it because of the governments exit plan? Doubtful.  Or maybe there are so many things to protest about these days that support is spread thin? Even the NHS reform protesters only managed to pull a couple of thousand the following day. Are people so concerned about there personal situations under the current regime that war becomes insignificant to them? Do they see demonstrating against war as a betrayal to our troops? It’s not.  Poor promotion? Was the campaign relying too much on social networks to spread the word? Or is it the poor news coverage that anti-war protests consistently get? Surely there is no greater cause than that which calls for an end to the murder of thousands of innocents.  I don’t know what the answer is but what I do know is that the 12 million (£12,000,000) spent each day on a war that cannot be won could rectify many, if not all, of the issues facing us today.