WALK The Peterchurch trail Ted Hurran of the Hereford Group of the Ramblers makes a fascinating companion on a walk in the Golden Valley eterchurch nestles in the Boughton Arms on the B4348 road; a sunken lane and at the top turn left Golden Valley, which get its proceed across the road taking the lane over a stile. Keeping the fence on the name from a misinterpretation and footpath opposite. Follow the lane left pass through a gate and after involving the Welsh word dwr past Bazley Farm till meeting a stoned another 150 metres turn diagonally Pmeaning water and the French d’or – of track, turn right. This then leads to a right to find a stile in top corner of gold. Rowland Vaughan, in the 16th pretty sunken lane and on to St Peter’s field. Cross and keeping hedge on right, century, had numerous irrigation Well Cottage on your left. The wall proceed through gate on this line until channels dug out along the valley floor plaque again shows the golden fish, as fence turns to the right. At this point An ancient slab stile so that large areas could be irrigated and seen at the church. carry ahead in the same direction on the route made more productive and prosperous. passing a marker post, to cross an Peterchurch is a great centre for walks in 2 Turn right and immediately go ancient slab stile (it is good that these the Golden Valley and the foothills of through the gate on the right. Follow items of heritage are kept in use today) Walk information the Black Mountains so this moderate the left hand hedge to arrive at St Peter’s and wooden stile in opposite hedge. Start/parking: Countryside picnic walk merely samples the possibilities on Well. It is an evocative sight, despite the area near Peterchurch Church. offer. It is named after St Peter and presence of ugly fencing and a building. 3 This is a crossroad of footpaths. Grid Ref. SO344385 various unlikely legends try to link the Stone steps descend into the mossy, Following in the same direction, keep Maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer. saint with this corner of Herefordshire. ferny well which has provided the hedge to the left and go through OL13: Landranger. 161 Peterchurch with its water supply for some woodland to emerge into an Distance: 7 miles 1 It is worth having a look in the centuries, if not millennia. The well was enclosed track with two gates which 2 church before starting your walk. There renovated in 2005 and it was then that have to be passed through. Continue Grade: Moderate Hinton Peterchurch are two notable points of interest, the the previously hidden steps were with the hedge on the left, through Stiles: Numerous 1 Bradley’s Welbrook Wood first, above the south door is a plaster- unearthed and the carved well head, another gate and follow the field edge to Nearest Town: Hereford or Manor cast of a fish with a gold chain around which had been moved, was returned to the right to cross a stile on the left, turn 3 Hill Farm Hay-on-Wye Tom Wood its neck which supposedly lived in St its original position so that the spring left and then turn right onto a stone Slade Farm 4 Refreshments: Pubs and shops in Peter’s well. Legend has it that St Peter water once again gushes from its mouth. track, ignoring the first right with the Birchypark Peterchurch Wood Rushden consecrated the well and put in an Follow the hedge downhill to emerge cattle grid. Keep following the stone Wood Public Toilets: None immortal trout. The second interesting over a stile turning right onto a stone track until it takes a turn right and item is the altar which consists of a track and then the road. Turn right at then go straight on the bridleway Public Transport: Buses from Hereford and Hay-on-Wye/Brecon. GOLDEN VALLEY Lower Park piece of stone from Arthur’s Stone at the road till reaching Wellbrook Manor along the edge of the wood. With the Poston Court Wood Service No 39 and 39A Hereford- Herefordshire Trail Dorstone and which is believed to have on the right. At this point turn left onto wood on the right, ignore any accesses Farm 5 Brecon. Details can be found at Poston Vowchurch been used as an altar for some 5000 a footpath, crossing the field diagonally into the wood until reaching a stile on www.herefordbus.info or by Common years. Walk down the lane to the right to a marker post then turn left up the right. telephone during office hours on B4348 01432 260211. Vowchurch 7 Court Farm Turnastone Vowchurch 6 4 Turn right over the stile into the River Dore wood and descend, ignoring all side B4347 paths to reach and cross stile at bottom of wood. Descend further slightly left to cross a footbridge at the bottom. A house will be seen, cross and turn left stile on the right. Cross and turn right, short sharp climb between the large onto a tarmac road. After a short then left on a way-marked path. Follow trees will bring a stile into view just over distance on this road some buildings this well used path across Vowchurch the brow of the hill. Cross the stile and appear on the right and a stile on the common to reach some tarmac and then follow the bank on the right to another left which is crossed (take care on this to a road. stile into the wood. Follow this well- steep and possible slippery stile) and The sunken lane defined path through the wood and into turn immediately right keeping the 5 Turn left to descend to the B4348 past Bazley Farm Wellbrook Manor a meadow where a stile to the left of the hedge on the left, descending until a road. Take care crossing this road to 76 January 2010 www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk January 2010 77 WALK In Turnastone When it was realised the low-flying activities would be terminated should there be a tall spire in the area fund-raising for ‘a new spire really “took-off”! The old village store On Vowchurch Common in Turnsatone take the minor road to Turnastone. noise of low-flying jets screaming up Turnastone is an unusual name, as is and down the Golden Valley. When it Vowchurch; they both lie on opposite was realised the low-flying activities banks of the River Dore. A popular would be terminated should there be a explanation is the twin churches were tall spire in the area, fund-raising for a built by two rival sisters, one of whom new spire really took-off! Ironically, the said to the other: “I vow I will build my new spire was lifted into position by church before you can turnastone of helicopter in 1972. Cross the stile and yours”. follow the path out onto a lane turn right over a bridge and turn left onto a 6 Just before the houses of the village footpath till reaching the B4348. Turn turn left onto a track with a footpath Lingen, Brampton Bryan, Leintwardine, left after about 250 metres take a sign, this was the old village centre. On Richard's Castle, Leominster, footpath to the left by the police the right is the old store and just past Bromyard, Bishop's Frome and Bosbury station. This leads through the this turn right into Turnastone and all the scenic countryside in churchyard to the cars. ■ churchyard. Turn left out of the between. The trail logo designed by a churchyard and follow the road passing pupil of Wigmore High School, whose another old store with old petrol pumps clever design of the apple tree in the The Ramblers behind the garden wall till reaching Yew shape of the county showing the market Tree House a large white building where towns as apples, won a competition. The Ramblers is the road turns sharp left. The route now This design way-marks the Trail Britain’s biggest goes straight ahead and follows the well throughout the county. Copies of the charity working to marked Herefordshire Trail back to Trail book can be purchased locally in promote walking and to improve Peterchurch. The Herefordshire Trail is Tourist Information Centres, bookshops conditions for all walkers. The a circular walk of about 154 miles, all or ring 01432 264374. Ramblers is celebrating its 75th within the County of Herefordshire, anniversary and has won many visiting all of the market towns and 7 The bridleway keeps the hedge and victories, the most recent being the some delightful villages. The route was stream on the right through six fields new coastal access legislation. In devised by a small group of members of till reaching a ford and footbridge. Herefordshire there are four local the Hereford Group of the Ramblers, Cross the stream and the stile on the groups, Hereford, Mortimer, Ross using public rights of way and, where right and pass to the left of the fir trees on Wye and Leadon Vale. possible, public transport links. The ahead to find a stile on the same line. Trail starts from the Market House in The church and its fibreglass spire can For more information contact Ledbury and visits Ross-on-Wye, been seen for some distance Tom Fisher, tel: 01886 821544 or Kilpeck, Pontrilas, Peterchurch, approaching Peterchurch. A story is told email: [email protected] Whitney-on-Wye, Eardisley, Kington, of the vicar who became annoyed by the 78 January 2010 www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk.