Wordsworth Would Have Approved. Twice.
A bit of an odd one today - it was what I'd consider a 'local' walk, but it was just far enough to make driving to the starting point a realistic proposition. Had I walked the entire thing, it would've added an extra 2 miles onto the route, and that would all be ground I'd trodden many times. So feeling a little cheeky I drove up to Leominster Cemetery and started my walk from there.
Heading south, I soon came to the bridge where I took the pictures of the flooding from a couple of months ago. In case you don't recall, the ground looked like this...
....compared with today, when it looked like this.
As you can see, a little different now, and also that the weather today was bright, sunny and warm. Another Phil Collins day - no jacket required (sorry, no really, sorry). Also, for the first time, I noticed an inscription stone on the bridge. Bear in mind I'll have crossed this bridge twice a day, 5 days a week for many years, and also walked it a number of times now, but still hadn't noticed this inscription until today.
I had to risk life and limb to get this picture by squatting down in the middle of the road during a gap in the traffic, and snatching a quick snap, so apologies for the framing and lighting. It says 'Broadward Bridge. In Existence 1535 Widened 11 Feet 1924"
Continuing south, I turned off the road at the entrance to S&A Farms. I'd noticed on Google Street View that there had been a footpath sign by the entrance when their cameras went past, but I knew it was no longer there, and the entrance drive to the farm was full of gates and keycode pads, and spiky looking metalwork. Not a lot to encourage you in. But if you know where to look, the stile is still there, even if you don't have to climb over it, and so I brazenly walked through their big metal gates and carried on up the path. While the tarmacced road led round to the right, I continued straight, into a field and up a hill. Behind me was another timber yard - that's 2 this week - and the biggest pile of pallettes I've ever seen. I'm a big fan of a pallette, and could easily build myself a shed out of one, if only I knew where I could lay my hands on some.....
.
Through another field (and still heading uphill), the Brierley road cut through my path at right angles - just before crossing the road, I spotted a pair of tights abandoned by the hedge - I assume somebody either had a really good night, or was caught short on the way home. Either way, I'm sure there's a story involved in there somewhere....
From the top of the hill, once I'd finally made it there, I noticed that there were two views that summed up Herefordshire for me. The first was the greenness, the undulations, the bucolic landscape.
The second was the more realistic - in the foreground is the field that I'm in, then the village of Brierley as seen from above. Beyond that are the acres of polytunnels, covering the landscape with plastic, with the Welsh Hills in the distance.
From this point I started to go across country, but with the heavy climbing out of the way, I could enjoy the walk and the scenery that bit more. Most of the fields are grazing, and there were plenty of sheep along the way to keep me company. I also spotted, nestled amongst the grass, what I later found out is a Lesser Celandine. When I say 'later found out', what I mean is I just asked The Very Lovely Mrs. McDingo, who recognised it immediately.
Further on, I found some arrows. Literally, foam and plastic arrows lodged into a fence.
I have no idea what they're for, or why they were here - next to them were a pile of the foam shafts without any kind of arrowhead on them, but I'm still none the wiser. Oddly enough, the waymarkers all along this route are Yellow Arrows, and in many cases had faded away to nothing. Yet here, someone who was concerned enough to make sure we keep to the right path has been drawing over the waymarkers to ensure we can keep our direction.
This led into a field where I had left myself instructions to add a bridleway into the route - it was only an extra half a mile, and would save me coming back to do it separately, but no matter how I wandered in the field, I could not for the life of me work out just where the path actually went. I was slightly put off by the number of sheep with lambs there were in the field too - I don't like disturbing mothers and babies of any species, so in the end, decided that I'd just have to come back another time and try. So I climbed over the stile, and as I lifted my second leg over the bar, I could see on the other side of the stile the waymarker for the bridleway, showing me exactly where I should have gone. But by this time, I'd made my decision, and ploughed on. And besides, as I'd climbed into this field, the views were stunning.
Again, my photography let's down the landscape. Trust me, it's beautiful here. I followed this field all the way down, and the next field ran parallel to a farm track. To my right I could see what looked to my untrained eye like vinyards - I know there are others in the county, but I wasn't aware of any so close to home, but it could be that we're producing wine within a couple of miles of my front door. Who knew!
.
Where the field was supposed to join the farm track (and where my route was to take me) I found an electric fence blocking my path. I tried walking up to the right, but found no way through, so staying within the field, I was able to walk parallel to my intended path, in the hope that there might be a gate at the bottom of the field that I could use to get out. There was no gate. So rather that retrace my steps, I decided to follow the perimeter of the field, walking alongside the fence. I knew that there must be a point where it ended, and indeed I eventually found it, but sadly there was still no way past. I did notice however, that right by the end, the fence was just that little bit lower than elsewhere, so hoiking my trousers up, I carefully lifted one leg over the fence, then hopped over as quickly as I could to avoid getting a shock in the testicles. You'll be pleased to note, gentle reader, that I remain unscathed.
I had to retrace the extra bit I'd done, and at the point where I rejoined my route I found myself in an enclave of very swish looking country houses and barn conversions. It was like a little community, tucked just far enough off the main road to keep ther exclusivity. Of course, a sweaty man in a high-vis jacket and a fishing hat (no, I don't fish, I just like the hat) is going to get attention, and sure enough a woman came out to ask if I needed any help in a tone which clearly stated 'what the hell are you doing round here'. I summoned what little charm I possess and was attentive and polite, answering her questions and pointing out the public footpath that ran past her house, and actually things were fine. She certainly seemed to accept my presence more willingly after the first couple of minutes.
So heading down from fancy-ville, I came out on the Old Hereford Road for a bit, heading north before quickly cutting off to the west. The path was again blocked off, this time by a big proper farm fence, but there were a number of laminated signs about which gates you could (and couldn't) use to join the path, so all was well. It was one of those annoying paths that look like it should go around the edge of the field, but actually halfway along use a shallow angle to cut into the next field. To make matters worse, the opening between the fields was in a hedge, which was overgrown to the point of making the entrance almost invisible, but thankfully I still had the secateurs in my bag, and made short work to get myself through.
This path would eventually lead me back to the field where I'd found the tights, but not before I'd spent a fair amount of time just watching the buzzards gliding around above my head. Coming from this direction, I saw a sign which is both passive aggressive and horribly threatening!
As I came back out on the track from S&A Farms, a couple of farm vehicles pulled up at the gated entrance. As I walked past, a van door opened, and a man wearing security clothing said something to me - with my earbuds in I didn't catch what he said, so I stopped the music and went over to him. Thinking he was challenging me as to why I'd been on the farm property, I was probably a bit defensive, but told him I'd just been for a walk. In his Eastern European accent, he told me he didn't care what I'd been doing, and that I could walk through the main gate if I wanted to. I think that Janick (I'm assuming that was his name - it was embroidered on his top) wanted to either practice his English, or just have a chat with someone, or both. Either way, we ended up chatting for a few minutes, talking about the walk I'd been doing. He seemed amazed that I was walking on my own, and said I would have to get someone else to come with me next time. I explained that I liked the solitude.
And then I saw a host of golden daffodils.
Music Played
A Forest - The Cure
Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole
Forever - The Brand New Heavies
Forever Lost - The Magic Numbers
Forever Morning - Tony Banks
Forever My Friend- Ray LaMontagne
Forget To Dub - Michelle Shocked
(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess - John Lennon
Forgive To Forget - Michelle Shocked
Forgiven - Alanis Morissette
Forgotten Pictures - Alison Krauss
Forgotten Sons (Live) - Marillion
Forgotten Sons (Live) - Marillion
Forgotten Sons - Marillion
Forgotten Sons - Elemath
Forks And Knives (La Fete) - Beirut
Forks Of The Lightning - Marillion
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Miles Walked Today - 4.7
Miles Walked in 2021 - 158.8
Heading south, I soon came to the bridge where I took the pictures of the flooding from a couple of months ago. In case you don't recall, the ground looked like this...
....compared with today, when it looked like this.
As you can see, a little different now, and also that the weather today was bright, sunny and warm. Another Phil Collins day - no jacket required (sorry, no really, sorry). Also, for the first time, I noticed an inscription stone on the bridge. Bear in mind I'll have crossed this bridge twice a day, 5 days a week for many years, and also walked it a number of times now, but still hadn't noticed this inscription until today.
I had to risk life and limb to get this picture by squatting down in the middle of the road during a gap in the traffic, and snatching a quick snap, so apologies for the framing and lighting. It says 'Broadward Bridge. In Existence 1535 Widened 11 Feet 1924"
Continuing south, I turned off the road at the entrance to S&A Farms. I'd noticed on Google Street View that there had been a footpath sign by the entrance when their cameras went past, but I knew it was no longer there, and the entrance drive to the farm was full of gates and keycode pads, and spiky looking metalwork. Not a lot to encourage you in. But if you know where to look, the stile is still there, even if you don't have to climb over it, and so I brazenly walked through their big metal gates and carried on up the path. While the tarmacced road led round to the right, I continued straight, into a field and up a hill. Behind me was another timber yard - that's 2 this week - and the biggest pile of pallettes I've ever seen. I'm a big fan of a pallette, and could easily build myself a shed out of one, if only I knew where I could lay my hands on some.....
.
Through another field (and still heading uphill), the Brierley road cut through my path at right angles - just before crossing the road, I spotted a pair of tights abandoned by the hedge - I assume somebody either had a really good night, or was caught short on the way home. Either way, I'm sure there's a story involved in there somewhere....
From the top of the hill, once I'd finally made it there, I noticed that there were two views that summed up Herefordshire for me. The first was the greenness, the undulations, the bucolic landscape.
The second was the more realistic - in the foreground is the field that I'm in, then the village of Brierley as seen from above. Beyond that are the acres of polytunnels, covering the landscape with plastic, with the Welsh Hills in the distance.
From this point I started to go across country, but with the heavy climbing out of the way, I could enjoy the walk and the scenery that bit more. Most of the fields are grazing, and there were plenty of sheep along the way to keep me company. I also spotted, nestled amongst the grass, what I later found out is a Lesser Celandine. When I say 'later found out', what I mean is I just asked The Very Lovely Mrs. McDingo, who recognised it immediately.
Further on, I found some arrows. Literally, foam and plastic arrows lodged into a fence.
I have no idea what they're for, or why they were here - next to them were a pile of the foam shafts without any kind of arrowhead on them, but I'm still none the wiser. Oddly enough, the waymarkers all along this route are Yellow Arrows, and in many cases had faded away to nothing. Yet here, someone who was concerned enough to make sure we keep to the right path has been drawing over the waymarkers to ensure we can keep our direction.
This led into a field where I had left myself instructions to add a bridleway into the route - it was only an extra half a mile, and would save me coming back to do it separately, but no matter how I wandered in the field, I could not for the life of me work out just where the path actually went. I was slightly put off by the number of sheep with lambs there were in the field too - I don't like disturbing mothers and babies of any species, so in the end, decided that I'd just have to come back another time and try. So I climbed over the stile, and as I lifted my second leg over the bar, I could see on the other side of the stile the waymarker for the bridleway, showing me exactly where I should have gone. But by this time, I'd made my decision, and ploughed on. And besides, as I'd climbed into this field, the views were stunning.
Again, my photography let's down the landscape. Trust me, it's beautiful here. I followed this field all the way down, and the next field ran parallel to a farm track. To my right I could see what looked to my untrained eye like vinyards - I know there are others in the county, but I wasn't aware of any so close to home, but it could be that we're producing wine within a couple of miles of my front door. Who knew!
.
Where the field was supposed to join the farm track (and where my route was to take me) I found an electric fence blocking my path. I tried walking up to the right, but found no way through, so staying within the field, I was able to walk parallel to my intended path, in the hope that there might be a gate at the bottom of the field that I could use to get out. There was no gate. So rather that retrace my steps, I decided to follow the perimeter of the field, walking alongside the fence. I knew that there must be a point where it ended, and indeed I eventually found it, but sadly there was still no way past. I did notice however, that right by the end, the fence was just that little bit lower than elsewhere, so hoiking my trousers up, I carefully lifted one leg over the fence, then hopped over as quickly as I could to avoid getting a shock in the testicles. You'll be pleased to note, gentle reader, that I remain unscathed.
I had to retrace the extra bit I'd done, and at the point where I rejoined my route I found myself in an enclave of very swish looking country houses and barn conversions. It was like a little community, tucked just far enough off the main road to keep ther exclusivity. Of course, a sweaty man in a high-vis jacket and a fishing hat (no, I don't fish, I just like the hat) is going to get attention, and sure enough a woman came out to ask if I needed any help in a tone which clearly stated 'what the hell are you doing round here'. I summoned what little charm I possess and was attentive and polite, answering her questions and pointing out the public footpath that ran past her house, and actually things were fine. She certainly seemed to accept my presence more willingly after the first couple of minutes.
So heading down from fancy-ville, I came out on the Old Hereford Road for a bit, heading north before quickly cutting off to the west. The path was again blocked off, this time by a big proper farm fence, but there were a number of laminated signs about which gates you could (and couldn't) use to join the path, so all was well. It was one of those annoying paths that look like it should go around the edge of the field, but actually halfway along use a shallow angle to cut into the next field. To make matters worse, the opening between the fields was in a hedge, which was overgrown to the point of making the entrance almost invisible, but thankfully I still had the secateurs in my bag, and made short work to get myself through.
This path would eventually lead me back to the field where I'd found the tights, but not before I'd spent a fair amount of time just watching the buzzards gliding around above my head. Coming from this direction, I saw a sign which is both passive aggressive and horribly threatening!
As I came back out on the track from S&A Farms, a couple of farm vehicles pulled up at the gated entrance. As I walked past, a van door opened, and a man wearing security clothing said something to me - with my earbuds in I didn't catch what he said, so I stopped the music and went over to him. Thinking he was challenging me as to why I'd been on the farm property, I was probably a bit defensive, but told him I'd just been for a walk. In his Eastern European accent, he told me he didn't care what I'd been doing, and that I could walk through the main gate if I wanted to. I think that Janick (I'm assuming that was his name - it was embroidered on his top) wanted to either practice his English, or just have a chat with someone, or both. Either way, we ended up chatting for a few minutes, talking about the walk I'd been doing. He seemed amazed that I was walking on my own, and said I would have to get someone else to come with me next time. I explained that I liked the solitude.
And then I saw a host of golden daffodils.
Music Played
A Forest - The Cure
Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole
Forever - The Brand New Heavies
Forever Lost - The Magic Numbers
Forever Morning - Tony Banks
Forever My Friend- Ray LaMontagne
Forget To Dub - Michelle Shocked
(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess - John Lennon
Forgive To Forget - Michelle Shocked
Forgiven - Alanis Morissette
Forgotten Pictures - Alison Krauss
Forgotten Sons (Live) - Marillion
Forgotten Sons (Live) - Marillion
Forgotten Sons - Marillion
Forgotten Sons - Elemath
Forks And Knives (La Fete) - Beirut
Forks Of The Lightning - Marillion
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Miles Walked Today - 4.7
Miles Walked in 2021 - 158.8