Anglesey

Colwyn Bangor Bay 04 Porthmadog Highmeadow Woods, Ramblers Monmouthshire Routes DISTANCE 8.2KM/5 MILES ASCENT 298M/978FT TIME 3 HOURS TYPE WOOD AND PASTURE Explore this route and thousands of others directly from your smartphone via the NAVIGATION FITNESS PERFECT NUMBER Ramblers app or online at LEVEL LEVEL FOR OF STILES ramblers.org.uk/routesBirmingham MODERATE MODERATE WILDLIFE 3

Crisscrossing the Wales- border, this 3 4 hilly woodland walk explores a tranquil corner of the . It visits striking rock

HIGHMEADOW formations and superb viewpoints across the WOODS Cotswolds, South Wales and the Marches. Be alert for sightings of fallow and roe deer, with added frisson provided by the chance of encountering London Plan your walk elusive wild boar, which live here WHERE Circular walk near Staunton, Forest of Dean. START/END Large layby beside A4136 1km/¾mile west of 5 Staunton (SO538124). TERRAIN Lanes, byways, 2 woodland paths and tracks. 6 START 1 Can be muddy in places. & FINISH MAPS OS Explorer OL14, Landranger 162.

GETTING THERE Stagecoach ROUTE BY NEIL COATES bus service 35 ( to Ross-on-Wye via Coleford) stops START Opposite the layby’s Proceed to the lip of the Cross L to join the wide track 1 3 5 at the White Horse Inn, Staunton top is a ‘Forest of Dean’ substantial crag, Near rising R. At the woodland fringe (point 2), Mon-Sat (0871 200 signboard. Join the woodland path Hearkening Rock (beware of sheer in 300m use the handgate L (signed 2233, traveline.info). By car, here, soon rising beside deer fencing drop), for extensive views into Wales. ‘Kymin’) and join the walked the layby is at the edge of to a cross-path. Cross this to fi nd a The woodland below is a good place fi eld path uphill, through a wooded woodland between Monmouth higher, braided cross-path (c.75m); to spot deer. Turn R along the cli– strip, continuing to the pasture’s and Staunton (see start, above). now forge ahead-L up between edge; within yards drop steeply (faded top-L-corner kissing gate near a EATING & DRINKING White boulders to a hillcrest wall. Bear L waymark arrow painted on tree) and building. Head to the Round House Horse Inn, Staunton (01594 to the Buck Stone viewpoint and swing L. At the lower split keep L, (pictured) crowning . 834001, whitehorseinnstaunton. trig pillar. This was a ‘rocking’ stone, hugging the crag foot, then back-R Views can be magnifi cent; nearby is com, closed Mondays except BH). but was toppled by Victorian down the indicated HT to reach the the curious Naval Temple. SLEEPING Old Vicarage B&B, hooligans and subsequently fi xed in Suck Stone, reputedly the largest Christchurch (01594 786089, place. Use the adjacent handgate and fallen stone in Wales and England. Return to use the corner kissing 6 theoldvicaragebedandbreakfast. turn L, shadowing the wall to reach gate, then skirt the pasture’s co.uk). YHA Wye Valley Hostel a lane. Head L to the main road. Turn L along the forestry road R-edge down via two waymarked 4 (0345 371 9666, yha.org.uk/ below, strolling around the stiles. Drift L to a handgate just above hostel/yha-wye-valley). 2 Go R, passing Staunton’s White fl ank of a vast wooded bowl. Look for the large barn, then ahead to another VISITOR INFORMATION Horse Inn, then L along muddy wallows created by boar. At into a narrow garden-side path. Drop CROWN COPYRIGHT 2019 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA LICENCE 032/19 ORDNANCE SURVEY. 2019 COPYRIGHT CROWN Monmouth TIC (01600 775257, Wellmeadow. Skirt the green ahead the major junction (on hairpin bend) to the farm lane and turn L. At the visitmonmouthshire.com). (Reddings Lane), joining the hedged in 1.5km bear R, descending to loop main road turn R and fi nd the layby GUIDEBOOK Walking in the Forest track into Highmeadow Woods to the head of the valley of Hadnock ahead-R in 200m. of Dean by Mike Dunn (£12.95, pass the secluded house, Reddings Brook. About 80m after the Cicerone, ISBN 978 1852846893). Lodge (800m). Immediately before wood’s-edge pasture corner visible Report a path problem LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUP the forestry road forks in another here, keep L at the track’s fork Via the Pathwatch app or at Forest of Dean (ramblers.org.uk/ 500m, turn L on the waymarked (Wysis Way), rising another 275m to ramblers.org.uk/pathwatch

PHOTO: NEIL COATES. MAP: © NEIL COATES. PHOTO: forest-of-dean). Highmeadow Trail (HT) path. fi nd the path L up to the main road.

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