Stage 11 – Hereford to Fownhope

We’re taking the path between the pub and the river, heading downstream through Bishops Meadow until we reach the next bridge. Turn left to cross the elegant Victoria suspension bridge. The Wye Valley Walk continues straight on to reach Mill Street. We go straight across to walk along Nelson Street. Turn right to walk along Green Street (Bartonsham Meadows Nature Reserve is straight ahead) then turn left along Park Street. When Park Street ends, cross the B4224 and turn right to walk under the railway bridge. We continue on the pavement along Eign Road, which becomes Brampton Court Road, for 1.5km. Pass the composer Edward Elgar’s home on the left, which is marked by a blue plaque. Humming Pomp & Circumstance to yourself in his honour as you go past is purely optional!

As the houses thin out, look out for Sudbury Avenue on the left and use the pedestrian crossing to cross the B4224. Take the path between the houses, crossing another road, going through a gate and following the path, with houses to your right, down to a kissing gate.

Keep right along the field edge, with the river soon on the right. After 0.7km the footpath leaves the river bank to cut diagonally left across the middle of the field (aim to go to the left of the right hand pylon) and then up onto The Stank flood defence embankment. (Sometimes this path may be covered in crops so continue along the field edge until you can spot a way through the crops.) We turn right through the gate after the concrete bridge to walk along the flood defence. At the gateway we turn left down the steps and then turn right to walk carefully along the B4224 for a very short distance to the layby and bus stop. (The Bunch of Grapes pub is a little further along this road if you need a refreshment stop.) At the end of the layby turn left through a kissing gate into a field. We’re heading straight across the field to the right hand corner to go through a gate and then walk between the houses. We take a left turn and walk along the road for 0.8km.

When the road bears right we turn left to walk up to a cattle pen and take a narrow path on the right, going through a kissing gate. Follow the raised track on top of the flood defences for approximately 1.2km all the way to Mordiford Bridge, passing through several gates. Just before the bridge, we go down the flood bank to the right through gates and up to the road (SO 568 375). Here we turn left to cross the bridge over the River Lugg, keeping to the left.

Pass the Grade II Holy Rood Church, with its ancient preaching cross and exterior stone carvings, on the left. Then cross the road to walk along the pavement on the right, turning right immediately before the old Post Office. Cross the bridge and turn left straight away. At the B4224 go straight across to walk in front of the three storey building, which is Mordiford Mill, a watermill with an overshot wheel. Go through the gate and stay on the track, through another gate, keeping to the left of the hedge. Go through a kissing gate in the corner of the field and over a bridge beside a dragon!

Walk to the left of the hedge immediately in front of you, up through the left hand orchard, following the hedge on your right. When the orchard ends go through a gate and up the path. Turn left at the track to walk along a tarmac lane past the intriguingly named Bagpiper Cottage at Bagpiper’s Tump. Perhaps Scottish soldiers of the Parliamentary army camped at Bagpiper’s Tump during the English Civil War? At The Bullbox turn right to walk between the buildings, keeping left of the barns as the road becomes a gravel track. Stay on this track, skirting the edge of Haugh Wood. Keep straight on when you reach a lone house on the left at Citerdine. Go through the gate and ignore the track to the right, keeping straight on into a large field.

Follow the hedge on the left, keeping to the right of an oak tree and walking parallel to the pylons. Pass another hidden away house on the left as you go through an old gateway into the next field. Follow the hedge on your left, go through the next gateway and then head across the field towards the far right hand corner. Join a path which passes large oak trees and then becomes a stony track leading down to a field gate at Nupend Farm. Go through the gate, and straight on to immediately bear left over the brook and walk up to the road where this stage ends. For local services in Fownhope turn right to walk 700m down into the village.

If you need to get back to Hereford and the start of this stage, the 453/454 bus service runs between Hereford and Fownhope (no service Sundays).