Routes, trails and access land

The Wye Valley Walk

The Wye Valley Walk runs for 136 miles from the slopes of Plynlimon in mid Wales, near the source of the River Wye, to Chepstow in Monmouthshire, where the Wye joins the Severn Estuary. The Walk enters Herefordshire at Hay on Wye and leaves the county, after 57 miles, just north of Monmouth.

The Walk follows the route of the river, but it is not just a riverside path. Although some sections are along the riverbank, many sections depart from the river to climb the surrounding hills, giving excellent views over the Wye valley.

This route brings many visitors to the the county, and a great deal of time, effort and money has been spent to bring the walk up to a standard that is acceptable to people who may not have much experience of countryside walking.

Many people from the UK and from other parts of the world walk the full length of the Wye Valley Walk and stay at B&Bs and hotels along the route, or stay in self catering accommodation and explore the route from their base, perhaps using a combination of car and public transport to walk different sections over a number of days.

The Wye Valley Walk is supplemented by four Loop Walks leading off the main route south of Hereford at Mordiford, Capler, Ross on Wye (the John Kyrle Walk), Leys Hill, Hoarwithy and Breinton Springs.

The Walk is clearly waymarked and a Guidebook is available (£7.95) and a separate Accommodation Guide is also published.

The Mortimer Trail

The Mortimer Trail runs a total of 30 miles from Ludlow to Kington. The route follows the ridges of the north Herefordshire hills, dropping down to river valleys through unspoilt countryside and taking in iron age hillforts and other sites of historic interest. The trail can be completed over 2 or 3 days walking.

A longer walking holiday can be taken by including the five circular walks off the trail which lead into the local villages of Yarpole, Wigmore, Shobdon, Lingen and Titley.

This route is clearly waymarked and supported by a guidebook (£5.95) available from bookshops throughout the county.

Other trails in Herefordshire

The Herefordshire Trail

The Herefordshire Trail is a circular trail, approx 154 miles in length, created and set up by the Herefordshire Ramblers Association. It passes through all of the market towns and some delightful villages.

Starting in Ledbury the route visits Ross-on-Wye, Kilpeck, Pontrilas, Peterchurch, Whitney on Wye, Eardisley, Kington, Lingen, Brampton Bryan, Leintwardine, Richards Castle, Leominster, Bromyard, Bishop's Frome and Bosbury.

For further information visit the website (click on the external link below).

The Monnow Valley Walk

A section of the Monnow Valley Walk passes through Herefordshire between Longtown and Hay on Wye. The linear walk runs a total of 40 miles following the River Monnow from its confluence with the River Wye at Monmouth to its headwaters below Hay Bluff.

An excellent guidebook "The Monnow Valley Walk" by Eira and Harry Steggles is available from bookshops throughout the county.

The Geopark Way

Winding its way for 109 miles through the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark from Bridgnorth to Gloucester, the Geopark Way passes through delightful countryside as it explores 700 million years of the Earth's history.

The trail offers varied walking alongside rivers, through forests, along ridges and across heathlands. Passing through an assortment of habitats there is a diversity of wildlife adding to the occasion, with majestic views to match.  Quaint villages and towns dot the route bringing further elements of exploration and enchantment.

Conveniently split into comfortable day walk, each section of the trail explores the geology and landscape seen along the route.  A fine range of rocks and fossils will be seen, together with intriguing traces of the Ice Age.

For further information visit the website (click on the external link below).

Offa's Dyke Path National Trail

Sections of the Offa's Dyke Path run through Herefordshire along the English/Welsh border. For more information click on the external link below.

Open Access Land

Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW), the public now have approximately 865,000 hectares of land across which they can walk, ramble, run, explore, picnic, climb and watch wildlife as they are given the freedom to access land, without having to stay on public rights of way. Such access land is made up of areas of mountain, moor, heath, downland and registered common land and is shown on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale Explorer series maps.

Most access land is marked with the brown Access Symbol shown in the picture.  This new right is for pedestrians only and does not extend to horse riders, mountain bikers or people driving or riding in a vehicle. However, visitors can take dogs onto CRoW access land, unless there are special restrictions. Dogs must be on short leads between March 1 and July 31 and at all times when there are livestock nearby.

Please note:

• The Act does not introduce a 'right to roam' on any land, but introduces new access only on defined Access Land.
• Existing access including any public rights of way is not affected.
• Access Land may occasionally be closed to the public - when this happens, signs showing the times and dates that restrictions apply should be displayed.

More information

For more information on Access Land, visit the Natural England website in the external links box below which has maps of access land including any restrictions that may be in force.