Stage 12 – Fownhope to Ross on Wye

Take the track heading south and uphill . Keep straight on at a junction of tracks by a house on the left. After the stables take the left fork and go straight ahead uphill, ignoring paths off to the side, along a wooded track. This widens after a house and the view opens up to the left towards Haugh Wood (home to 600 different species of butterflies and moths, including the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, the Wood White and the Drab Loper moth – very much worth a visit if you’re a nature lover). Continue on the track, passing a house called ‘Morning Star’, to a junction locally known as ‘Common Hill Fiveways’ where a sign points to the Tom Spring Memorial.

Go straight across, taking the left hand fork up a tree-lined lane. To the left is North Meadow, part of Common Hill Nature Reserve.

A gate on the left accesses this limestone grassland meadow and you can follow a small path uphill through the field, passing a bench, and then rejoining the Wye Valley Walk a little further along, opposite Monument Hill and Round’s Meadow (also part of the Reserve). Stay on the enclosed track and at the tarmac lane turn right, and immediately left, through a gate in front of Common Hill Farm and over a stile. The view to the right opens out and is worth pausing for a moment to admire. Walk downhill to the left along the field edge, through a gateway and into Lea and Paget’s Wood (SO 599 340).

Look out for the tops of a pair of limekilns on the left as you enter the wood. Keep to the main track through the woodland. At the junction of paths, you’re going to take the right hand fork, through a kissing gate into a field, passing a bench and information sign. Follow the hedge on the right, downhill and through a gate/stile, then follow the fence down and through a gate beside an oak tree. Head for a small metal gate with a curved top, just to the left of a farm gate, in the right hand corner of the field. Follow the hedge downhill and then through a gap in the hedge into another field. Go through a gateway (Note: the actual route here may differ from your OS map) and walk uphill between the farm buildings and apple trees at Overdine. Go through a kissing gate and walk straight across the field to a gate on the right near to a house at Hill Crest. Go through that gate and turn left to reach the B4224.

Turn left at the main road. For a short distance, walk with care alongside the B224 until you come to a turning on the right for Caplor. Turn right and walk up the lane. Turn left into the yard and straight away turn right to walk to the left of the main office building. Head uphill, keep to the left of the buildings and house. Go through a kissing gate and continue up past the glamping pods. Go through a gate and up steep steps and over a stile. Turn right and head uphill. The route passes to the right of the stone barn but there is a bench with lovely views to the left of the barn which is worth pausing for a moment at. When you’re ready, walk through the defences of Capler Camp.

Go through a gate on your left into Capler Wood and then, after a gap in the field hedge, turn left downhill through pine trees to meet a forest track. Turn left and descend towards the road. Turn left, and just after the viewpoint and picnic bench at Caplor Lodge, turn right down a gravel track, through a gateway to pass West Cottage and another group of houses. At the tarmac lane turn right and immediately left down a footpath at Brinkley Hill. Keep to the field edge on the right. At the corner of the field turn left along a track between two fields, ignoring paths to either side. Turn right at the road and at the T -junction keep straight on uphill through the hamlet of Totnor. Turn right at Rose Cottage (where the road bears left) onto a footpath leading down to a gate. Cross the field, going slightly to the right, to a footbridge over a pretty stream, and through a gate into another field. Turn left and walk the length of this very long field, eventually heading to a gate in the far right hand corner. Go through this gate, along a track and through another gate, then passing a house on your left. Walk through the garden down to the road.

Turn left downhill and soon, just after White House Farm, go over a bridge and turn right along a fenced off footpath, which becomes a field edge path, first following a stream on your right and then the Wye. (Please note, the phone box shown on the OS map at Garroway House has been removed.)

It’s good to see the river for the first time on this stage, especially as this stretch to Hole-in-the-Wall is so pretty. Keep to the riverbank and eventually go over a footbridge and walk up to the road. Turn right to walk past Lyndor Cottages and through the hamlet of Hole-in-the-Wall.

Continue along the road and look out for Foy Bridge on the right.

Soon after the bridge, at Orchard Cottage, turn right along a hidden, shady footpath. Go through the gate into the field and walk along the right hand edge of the field (be sure to take a moment to admire the views to Foy Church to the right). Go through a kissing gate and along the farm track. At the end of this field go through another kissing gate, up steps and through Monks Grove wood. Turn left out of the wood to walk along the edge of the woodland. When it ends, keep straight on across the field towards poplar trees, passing a pond to your right. Follow the track beside the hedge up to a junction of paths. Turn right at the junction with the farm track. Immediately the track bears left (to The Cot), but the Wye Valley Walk keeps straight on into an expansive field. The route turns left here to follow the hedge on your left, but just to your right on the riverbank is a nicely placed bench looking across the Wye to Backney Common – perfect for taking a moment to rest and admire the view.

If you wish to visit Townsend Farm turn left towards The Cot and follow the farm track up to the yard. The shop is on the left after the mural. There is also an accessible composting toilet. The Wye Valley Walk follows the left hand field edge, passing to the left of the oak tree. At the end of the field climb up steps to the old railway line.

Turn left along the railway line and when the track ends turn right down to the riverbank. Turn left to walk beside the river, under Bridstow Bridge and, just before the Rowing Club, left over the footbridge. Walk through the car parking area and turn right over another footbridge. Continue on the riverside, passing the Walenty Pytel sculptures.

This stage ends when you reach the Hope and Anchor pub on the left.