Walking Festival Programme

Walk 1 – A Riverside Bird Safari

A morning walk beside the Wye in Ross listening and looking for local birdlife (and other wildlife) with Ed Drewitt, local naturalist. In past walks we have seen over 30 different species and there is the possibility of kingfisher, little egret and warblers such as chiffchaff and blackcap. Bring binoculars if you have some; numbers limited. You may like to finish with a breakfast bap and/or coffee at the Riverside Café.
Walk sponsored by Riverside Inn & Café

Walk 2 – Wye Industry: Nature Reclaimed

A fabulous walk up the Angidy valley, now a peaceful place, but once at the heart of British Industry. Hear all about the wireworks and canon manufacture at the old furnace. Later, stroll across the uplands to Cleddon before returning, in Wordworth’s footsteps, above the Wye to Tintern Abbey. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by the Coventry Building Society

Walk 3. Going to Herefordshire’s Woolhope Dome – a Special Place

The walk is through the remains of sedimentary limestone which was laid down millennia ago and includes a stretch of the Wye Valley Way. The area is now a wildlife sanctuary, renowned for its diverse fauna and flora. Bring a picnic.

Walk sponsored by Audreys Fish Bar

Walk 4. Walk and Cruise the Wye

We walk along the Wye and cross the river at the Biblins suspension bridge. Back to Symonds Yat where, weather permitting, we’ll join our river boat for a 40-minute cruise (currently £8.50 payable on the day) while we enjoy our picnic lunch. We recross the Wye using the ancient rope ferry (small charge) then it’s an easy walk back along the river to the start point. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Ross Garden Store

Walk 5.  Nature Reserve with Views

Climb up to the top of Coppett Hill and enjoy some of the best views in the area. Then along the Wye stopping for lunch and finishing at Goodrich castle where there is a café. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Wharton Lodge Cottages

Walk 6.  The Flower Patch & Wye Valley Flowers

This walk explores the maze of traditional tiny fields, lanes and woodland tracks around Brockweir and The Hudnalls, uncovering the fascinating story of The Flower Patch. Flora Klickman wrote a series of books inspired by her ‘flower patch’. She kept a diary of natural history observations, recording the plants in bloom in her fields in the 1920s and 30s. We will be on the lookout for some of these flowers on our walk. Arriving in St Briavels we bring the flower theme up to date with a visit to Wye Valley Flowers, a sustainable flower farm, set up by Jo Thompson in 2019. Discovering that the average bouquet travels 4000 miles, Jo Thompson set up this sustainable flower farm in 20189, with no air miles or nasty chemicals. Tea and cake are included but you might want to bring a picnic lunch. Lead by staff from the Wye Valley National Landscape. This walk climbs steadily uphill all the way to St Briavels, some 1000 feet of ascent. The return journey is pretty much all downhill! Walk sponsored by Truffles Deli

Walk 7.  Wye Better Farming

A walk along the river bank of the Wye to Townsend farm where “Regen Ben” will talk about regenerative farming and how it is the future. Refreshments at the farm café before making our way back through Brampton Abbots to Ross. 
Walk sponsored by the The White Lion

Walk 8. The Lanes & Alleyways of Ross

Ross has a wonderful network of lanes and alleyways. Most of them are narrow and many lead to places of interest round the town. Lots are “invisible” to the modern-day car driver, so come and find the “lost” Ross.
Walk sponsored by the The Architectural Store

Walk 9.  Wye Valley Walk 50th anniversary walk from Fownhope to Ross

We pick you up by mini bus in Ross and take you to Fownhope. The walk passes through two SSSIs and climbs up to Capler Iron Age Hill Fort. A gorgeous section from How Caple follows the Wye to ‘Hole in the Wall’ and Foy suspension bridge. Pass Townsend Farm showcasing regenerative agriculture, along old railway line and riverside fields into Ross. Bring a Picnic
Walk sponsored by Lizzie Bunting

Walk 10. Amazing Crafts & Countryside  

Catch the community Daffodil bus to join the Herefordshire Trail (HT), stopping at Wobage Makers Gallery, for refreshments. Continue the HT through beautiful farm and parkland to join the Wye Valley Walk and follow it back along the river to Ross. Stile-free. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by River Music and the Crown & Sceptre

Walk 11. Iron Age Wye

Fantastic walk that includes limestone ridges dotted with yew trees and spectacular limestone grassland; an Iron Age Hill Fort dominating the surrounding countryside with expansive views South and West and an amble along the River Wye back to the start. Bring a picnic
Walk sponsored by the Bridge House Hotel

Walk 12. High Above the Wye

A superb section of the Wye Valley Walk across steep slopes of Bull’s, Howle and Ley’s Hills lying to the south of Ross on Wye and affording excellent far reaching views. The return path from Kerne Bridge has views of the river and Goodrich Castle. Bring a picnic to eat at the end.
Walk sponsored by Mr T Dry Cleaning

Walk 13. An Arts & Crafts Church and Glorious Views

We walk along a trail of oak posts telling the history of the area and reach Brockhampton church. This special one-off church lies in the centre of the village and is widely recognised as one of the most important Arts & Crafts buildings of the early 20th century. Later we head for Sollers Hope church where Dick Whittington’s family are buried. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by the King’s Head Hotel

Walk 14.  Kymin

From Monmouth’s historic Monnow Bridge we walk along the River Wye and the Offa’s Dyke path to the Kymin for its stunning panorama. Here too stand the Round House, built for Lord Nelson’s visit, and a naval temple. Bring a picnic
Walk sponsored by Caffe Eleganza

Walk 15. Forest Steam Train Ride

Ride on a restored steam train puffing through the Forest of Dean (ticket £16 pp payable on the day).  Then a gentle circular walk through the ancient Forest of Dean with a lunch break at CAMRA’s 2018 pub of the year.  Return on the next steam train to Norchard.
Walk sponsored by Falcon House B & B

Walk 16. Disaster by the Wye

A fairly flat, easy walk along the beautiful River Wye taking in several features of interest. To include a longer stop at a Top Secret WW2 aircraft crash site; hear the story behind this event & how it changed the course of the war. Bring a snack!

Walk sponsored by Victoria’s Coffee Shop

Walk 17. Wye Valley Walk 50th anniversary walk from Ross to Yat Rock

We pick you up by minibus in Symonds Yat to the start in Ross. Climb out of Ross up to Chase Wood (Iron Age Hill Fort), through a maze of paths around Howle Hill. At Kerne Bridge follow delightful floodplain meadows path, crossing the Wye at Lydbrook to walk beside the river under Coldwell Rocks. Steep ascent to Symonds Yat Rock. Bring a picnic.

Walk sponsored by Badgers Bait & Gift Shop

Walk 18.  A Walk through Time and Landscape

Walk from sub-tropical shallow seas through deserts back to sub-tropical shallow seas, see nature reserves, historic buildings, and glorious views. Bring a picnic.

Walk sponsored by Old Gore Farm

Walk 19. Riverside Walk & Hidden Brewery

A fairly flat River Wye walk from Foy Church, around one of the great horseshoe bends; crossing the river on two unique suspension foot-bridges; returning via King’s Caple to finish with a tasting at Woofy’s boutique brewery. Bring a picnic lunch and a mid morning snack.
Walk sponsored by John Goodwin Estate Agents

Walk 20. Four Churches by the Wye

On our journey we visit four historic churches near the Wye. We meet a 6thC saint, find a major oak, look at an Italianate extravaganza, have lunch on a castle mound and cross over a 19thC mail-order bridge. Bring a picnic
Walk sponsored by The Property Hub

Walk 21. The Heights of Yat Rock

We ascend gently through farmland to English Bicknor with its Norman church. From here we head for the famous viewpoints at Symond’s Yat; then descend on a zig zag path to the riverside. We return along the Wye Valley Walk riverside route, ending with a glimpse of the secret industrial complex which fuelled the Normandy landings. Bring a picnic.
Walk sponsored by Charbel Blinds

Walk 22. Dramatic Sculptures in the Forest

A Sunday morning stroll in the heart of the Forest of Dean following the famous trail of woodland related sculptures and art installations, many of which change on a regular basis ……with a short explanation of each. 

Walk sponsored by Miles Morgan Travel

Walk 23.  Along the edge of the Severn Vale

This route takes us along country lanes and tracks and through both Flaxley and Welshbury woods. There are a couple of long steady inclines and on a clear day we should expect fabulous views of Flaxley Abbey below us and across to Westbury on Severn and the River Severn. Visiting both Blaisdon and Flaxley churches en route.  Bring a picnic

Walk sponsored by Field Fayre – the Organic Store

Walk 24.  Last Cream Tea of Summer

A gentle but interesting walk from the Yew Tree inn, which explores the quiet field paths and lanes of Peterstow and Wells Brook and the cider orchards of Broome Farm. Enjoy a superb Cream Tea, an opportunity to meet the resident alpacas and some cider tasting. Cost: £10 (includes Cream Tea).
Walk sponsored by the Ross Cider & Perry Co