WALK If you go down to the woods today… Greta Pennington of the Mortimer Group of The Ramblers leads the way through the trees of Bircher Common to the top of

his walk takes you through round to the woodland ahead, then century charcoal was produced to very varied woodland, with walk uphill for about 300 feet, to the supply the forge at Bringewood, to interesting specimens of padlocked wooden gate and stile (2). the north. beech, Spanish chestnut, Archaeologists have found evidence of Toak, many of them very old, (there are possibly prehistoric and Romano British 6) Just after you pass the small stone 300 veteran trees on the Croft Castle settlements on the Common, as well as building, at the lower end of one of the estate) as well as many types of medieval and 18th century occupation. pools, take the track on the right that coniferous trees and birds, butterflies, Follow the well-defined track, climbs up the side of the hill, until you and plants to be found in season. through the woods, round the hillside come out on to the minor road to Croft This is a very long settled part of to the notice board for the Forestry Castle, passing the car park on the right. Herefordshire, with indications of Commission – Croft Wood. (3) There The building is an old pump house and habitation dating back several are very large beech trees in this section. there is a water wheel inside. In the late thousand years. Cross to the other side of the valley and 18th and 19th century many carriage go down the right hand side of the rides were constructed in the woods but 1) On Bircher Common, walk directly valley on a good track (4). This is most are now overgrown. uphill, by any of the small paths, for Fishpools Valley and you will see the At the end of the car park follow the about 200 yards, at the same time pools just below you on the left. Look road round to the right and walk uphill slanting slightly to the left, until you out for the old Lime Kiln on the right to the bridle gate. Croft Castle tea come out above the vegetation, onto the (5). The Fishpools date from the rooms are to the left (7). Croft Castle is open common land. Go left to contour medieval period. In the 18th and 19th a National Trust property and for

West to the Black Mountains WALK

To view a larger version of this map visit THE WALK www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk 11 Start/Parking: Bircher Common GR 466662. Leave the B4362 by the war memorial between 10 Cock Gate and Bircher, and drive up Welshman’s lane to the other side of the cattle grid onto Bircher Common Maps: OS Explorer 203 Distance: 6.5 miles 9 3 Grade: Moderate with a steady uphill 4 walk to the top of Croft Ambrey at 8 2 over 1000 feet above sea level Stiles: Five 5 6 1 Nearest town: and 7 Refreshments: Tea rooms at Croft Above Fishpools Valley Castle, tel: 01568 780246 Right The skeleton of an ancient tree Toilets: At Croft Castle seen en route Public transport: None B4432 MAP COURTESY OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY non-members there is an entrance fee for castle grounds and parking. There View over Croft Castle has been a castle here for a thousand The Ramblers years and the Croft family has been The Ramblers is associated with the history of this part Britain’s biggest of the Marchlands throughout this time. charity working The main part of the castle dates from to promote late 14th century and belonged to the walking and improve conditions Croft family. In 1746, the property for all walkers. In Herefordshire passed to Richard Knight, the son of a there are four groups: Hereford, Shropshire ironmaster, but was It is possible to see Mortimer, Ross-on-Wye and repurchased by the Croft family in ❝ Leadon Vale. 1923. St Michael’s church dates from peregrine falcons, buzzards For more information contact about 1300. and ravens as they hunt Tom Fisher, tel: 01886 821544 Follow the track round to the left and ❞ or email: [email protected] then uphill to the stile and the gate (8). The path now goes slightly left to a small clump of old chestnut and oak and then goes uphill. Follow this up up, and round, passing through several excavated in the 1960s, it was well from here. Continue along the trees, before continuing uphill. Walk to until you reach the gravelled track. Turn of the ramparts and ditches that were established that here, there had been a top, going east, down to the stile, go the top of the field, keeping the hedge right along this. After about 200 yards, once part of the defence system of the row of rectangular buildings. Some very right to the gate and then down the to the right. On this hillside there is a take the grass track to the left. Ladyacre fort. Having twisted back on itself, the fine metal work plus pottery was wide stretch of grass to the path line of very old chestnut trees, some of Plantation is to your right and Yatton path comes out on the top of the fort, to excavated. The population of below. Follow this to the left, up which have died, but remain attractive Hill on the left. Follow the grass track give a 360° view (10). Herefordshire at that time was engaged through the woods, of Langham in their skeletal shapes. Over to the left until you reach the path that crosses at in farming and the size of this fort Vallet to the next gate. Go through the views to the Black Mountains and right angles. Turn left and go down, The Iron Age hill fort, the oldest of the indicates that large number of people the gate, straight on to the next gate the Brecon Beacons open up. At the top slightly, to the gate and stile (9). (To the 30 hill forts in Herefordshire is thought lived in the area. and go right on to the top of Bircher of the field go through the large gate on left is a narrow track that runs back to date from 1050 BC. It was extended Immediately to the north is the Common (11). This is Whiteway the left, cross the grass to the next gate, along the edge of Yatton Hill. There are in 450 BC and again in 390 BC. Leinthall Earls stone quarry. Beyond the Head. This was one of the trade keeping the fence on your right and seats along this track and it is possible Occupation finally ended in 48 AD. quarry, you can see the Wigmore Rolls routes for transporting salt. Several walk on to the next gate and stile. to see peregrine falcons, buzzards and The fort covers 32 acres and from the and the Shropshire Hills; Clee Hill lies of the manors in Herefordshire had View from Radnor Hills Follow the wide grass path that runs ravens, as they hunt along this edge.) top you can see, below, some of the further east; then round to the Malvern saltpans in Droitwich along the edge of the woodland. When From the gate and stile, cross the stile ramparts and ditches that encircled this Hills. To the south, across the Go down and over to the left, to the path forks, after about a third of a on the right and follow the grass track, triangular shape. Because the hill is so Herefordshire Plain, the Sugar Loaf and Oaker Coppice and follow down mile, take the right hand track, to keeping to the left, leading up to the well wooded it is difficult to appreciate the Skirrid can be seen, while westwards round the edge of the woodland to continue straight on through the woods. top of Croft Ambrey, an Iron Age hill the nature of the hill fort from a are the Black Mountains and the Brecon its lowest point, then continue down Eventually the path bends to the right fort. The path gradually winds its way distance. When the top five acres were Beacons. The Marchlands show up very slightly left to where you parked. ■

72 November 2010 www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk November 2010 73