WALK

UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES Greta Pennington of the Mortimer Group of The Ramblers leads a walk from Shobdon Hill to Strawberry Hill Gothic

HERE is some evidence that replaced in the mid 18th century, by the the lane; turn left to walk along for Shobdon was a pre-Roman present church. The Arches originally about quarter mile, passing Uphampton Tsettlement. It is thought that a formed the chancel arch and two House on the right. Take the lane, on Roman road ran from the south west to doorways. The sculptures that are of the right, opposite The Parks, that leads join the Roman road to Leintwardine; great national interest were made by towards Shobdon Hill. there is a reference in the Domesday masons of the School of Book. In the 18th century, when the Romanesque Architecture. The Norman Just before the Shobdon Forest Bateman family built Shobdon Court, it church was erected at the expense of 2 Research Field Station, cross the became an estate village, with the Oliver de Merlimond, a steward of the stile on the left and follow the field edge majority of the population employed by Mortimers, who was awarded the manor keeping the woods of the field station the estate. at Shobdon by them. It is said that this on the right. was the first building, in Herefordshire About two thirds along the field, cross With your back to the lane down to decorated by the Herefordshire School. the stile at the end of the fence and walk 1the church, walk north, up the More examples of their work can be along the track. Almost immediately, quarter-mile long, tree-lined avenue to seen at Kilpeck and churches. turn up the track on the right, to begin The Arches. These were once part of the About 15 yards to the left of The Arches walking up Shobdon Hill. As you chancel of the Norman church that was follow the path through the woods to ascend, you pass a great variety of

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THE WALK To view a larger version of this map visit www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk Start/Parking: Explorer map OS 203 Ludlow. OS ref. 341629. Car park just north of Shobdon Church Maps: OS Explorer 203 and 201 3 Distance: 5 miles 4 Grade: Moderate with 5 steady uphill to top of 2 Shobdon Hill at more than 1,000 feet above sea level 1

Right Wigmore Rolls Stiles: 14 6 Nearest town: Below (top to bottom) Uphampton 7 8 House; Approaching Shobdon Hill; Refreshments: Bateman Arms: Shobdon ????? 01568 708374 Toilets: None Public transport: There is a regular bus service between Leominster and Kington via Shobdon. Contact Traveline for details on 0871 2002233 MAP COURTESY OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY

across the field to the stile, and Below left and left Shobdon Church continue on the cleared path through the crops, slanting to the left of the electricity pole, to the stile at the left hand corner of the field. Cross left over The Ramblers the corner of the next field and follow the fence down to the dip and the stile. The Ramblers The There is a farm over to the right. Ramblers is Britain’s Turn sharp left after crossing the stile biggest charity trees and the views open up to the west sharp left up to the stile, and then and walk beside the fence to the stile. working to promote and the south. follow along by the side of the hedge dampish area to walk through. To the walking and improve conditions and woodland to the gate and stile at You are now going to cross an area right, hidden by the trees is Pearl Lake, for all walkers. In Herefordshire At the top of the hill go left to walk the end of the field. Keeping the barn that was glaciated during the last one of the largest areas of open water there are four groups: , 7 Mortimer, Ross-on-Wye and along the crest. Here you can see the on your left go across to the stile, and Ice Age and this has left a legacy. There in Herefordshire. Follow the fence, 3 Leadon Vale. For more reasons why the hill presents such a walk up the field alongside the fence, are a number of small lakes and ponds crossing the stiles, and winding your information contact jagged profile from a distance. Many of and then down to the stile, into the and low hillocks. These are drumlins way through the gorse bushes to the Tom Fisher, tel: 01886 821544 the trees have been felled. On the right, wood. As you emerge from the wood, that are composed of moraine debris. sloping area where some horse lanes or email: [email protected] you look down into the steep valley of cross the next stile and walk across, and The ponds are kettle holes. This is a have been marked off. Walk straight the River Lugg, and the tree- covered down the field to the gate. Walk on, over to the stile and walk along the top hills to the north. keeping the fence on your right, to the of the field, then bear left through the next gate, with the fence and hedge, still gap, at the copse, to continue walking Before leaving, go down right from At the end of the ridge, bear right, on the right, to a grass track leading with the trees on the right, to the woods 8 the car park to the church. Built in 4 keeping the wire fence on your left, down to the right which you take down ahead. Cross the track that comes down the 18th century, it is built in the style to follow the well-marked track going to the gate, to walk down the well- from your left, to enter the woods, at known as Strawberry Hill Gothic. down hill. After about 150 yards look defined track, keeping the farm on the first on a small grass track that very According to Pevsner the interior is out for the small path on the left, that left. Below and slightly to the left you soon opens up to a well defined path up “delightful and ought to be kept in a leads up to a stile that you cross. can see Shobdon Airfield. Glider crews through the wood. After crossing the state of high finish”. A visit makes an trained here in the Second World War stile, on the right, follow the track up interesting end to the walk. ■ This path now contours round the for the D Day landings and for . left. The Motte, of what had once 5 hillside, with a steep, wooded slope It has a busy glider and aero club. been Shobdon is to your right. on the right. You have views down to There are some very large oak trees the village of Byton. Continue on Cross the road at the bottom of the growing round the edge. Go through round, on this path to the sigh post. Go 6 track, to the gate opposite. Slant left the gate and right to the car park.

90 February 2011 Herefordshire & Wye Valley Life www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk Herefordshire & Wye Valley Life February 2011 91