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Orleton-Puddlestone
Taster Walks
Leintwardine to Leominster
Leintwardine was once the Roman settlement of Branogenium. Take the small lanes past Kinton to cross the A4113 and ascend Shelderton Hill. Whilst climbing, take the occasional break to enjoy the countryside opening up behind you. Pass Far Barn before descending through Stubbs Coppice. Glimpse Ludlow and the western end of Wenlock Edge from along this section of the Trail.
As you go down the lanes towards Downton, the wooded high ground is Mortimer Forest. Along the lower edge of the woods, it is possible to pick out the aqueducts of the Elan Valley Pipeline, which supplies Birmingham with water from the Elan Valley above Rhayader. Pass in front of Downton Castle to ascend Hunstay Hill before dropping down to Burrington. Visit the church to see the fine collection of cast iron tombstones dating from the 17th century, a time when the surrounding areas were known for their iron works.
From Burrington, pass through Elton to climb up to again meet the Mortimer Trail where it starts its ascent, to the top of High Vinnalls. On clear days the effort of climbing High Vinnalls is well rewarded. Follow the Mortimer Trail as it runs south but leave it near the Goggin and walk down to Richard's Castle. Visit the church as this is a further example of a church with a detached tower. There are some remains of Richard's Castle behind the church.
Cross the B4361 and follow the path past Bury and Bilbury to Orleton. From Tunnel Lane, first cross the remains of the Leominster to Stourport Canal before crossing the Hereford to Shrewsbury railway line on the trek to Eye. Again cross the railway line en route for Luston and Eyton. Cross the B4361 again, but not the railway, and walk into Leominster.
Leominster to Bromyard
The walk leaves Leominster through the Riverside Millennium Green at the rear of the Priory, to follow the River Lugg. Easters Wood at the foot of Eaton Hill is also visited on this section of the Trail. Near the top of Eaton Hill enjoy good views, weather permitting, of the Leominster and the North Herefordshire landscape.
Skirt around Bache Camp before reaching Puddlestone Church, where two old oak trees are known as Adam and Eve.
The small church at Hatfield, with its box pews, is passed before joining the bridleway taking you through to just below Thornbury Camp. Along this section look for good views of Bromyard Downs.
The Trail now continues through Edvin Ralph and on into Bromyard, crossing the River Frome on an old pack horse bridge and passing St Peter's Church.
Circular Walk - Bache Loop Walk
Circular walk from Leominster to Bache Camp and return.
Distance 10 miles.
Maps Explorer 202 & 203
From Leominster’s, Broad Street Car Park, walk up Broad Street and at the crossroads, just past the Grape Vaults, pass Church Street and bear left into Draper’s Lane, which leads into Corn Square.
From the signpost in the middle of Corn Square, take the lane to The Grange. At the end of Grange Walk, continue ahead and follow the path around to the left, passing the cricket ground on your left. You will pass in front of Grange Court, an impressive black and white building, on your right. Continue straight on to reach the Priory Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.
Go down the left-hand side of the church and then follow the path around to the left. Exit from the churchyard, through the gate, and descend the few steps into the lane. Turn right and, very shortly, left heading for Pinsley Mead picnic site. Go through the gate and turn right, continue on down to a kissing gate, passing the Old Priory on your right. Follow the hedge on your right and go through the gap at the end of the hedge. You have now entered the Riverside Millennium Green.
Follow the meandering path, to the junction and take the left-hand path. Pass through two gates and then a small industrial estate to emerge by The White Lion. Take the footpath to the left, running alongside the brick wall, to cross the railway lines over the footbridge. Continue forward and cross the River Lugg. At the end of the bridge, turn right and descend the steps. Follow the riverbank, pass through a kissing gate and then use the walkway on the side of the bridge to pass beneath the A49.
Pass through a further kissing gate to enter Easters Wood, continue along the riverbank, until you reach the stile leading out on to the A44. Do not cross this stile but turn left and follow the hedge on your right, to the next stile, leading out on to the A44. Turn left and follow the pavement past the entrance to West Eaton House to find a stile on your left.
Cross the stile and follow the hedge on your left up the field. At the top, go through the gap to the left and ascend the stone steps. Continue up the slope to cross a broad grass track, with a stile on your left, which you ignore, and continue up the slope with the hedge on your left to a stile at the top. Before you cross this last stile, take a few moments to admire the views, Hergest Ridge above Kington to the right and the Black Mountains straight ahead of you.
Having taken in the views, cross the stile and follow the hedge on your left to the next stile. Cross this and head down the field to the far left-hand corner. Go through the gap and then follow the hedge on your left to another gap. Go right to the bridge over the stream. Go diagonally left to join the hedgerow just below a strip of woodland. Then follow the path through the edge of the woodland and up to a lane.
Cross the lane, going slightly to the left, to join the footpath running through another strip of woodland. To cross a stile at the far end. Follow the path down the left-hand side of the bungalow, continuing on over a double stile into an orchard. Go through the avenue of trees in front of you, down to a double stile. Cross these stiles and go diagonally across the field to your left to reach the corner of the dog-leg in the hedge. Then, follow this hedge on your right to a footbridge over the stream. Go up the field to follow the hedge on your right, up to a gate in the corner. Go through the gate and start to climb the field towards the buildings, shortly there is a stile on your left, taking you onto the path running between the hedge and the fence. The stile out into the lane is to your left, just before you reach the buildings.
Turn right and follow the lane round a series of sharp bends passing The Smithy. After a further 500 metres take the footpath off to the left crossing a stile by a gate. Follow the hedge on your right around the field ascending to a gate. Go slightly right across the next field to eventually walk through a short avenue of trees. Continue on the same line along the top of the next field with the fence on your right, until you reach a stile on your right. Cross this and go through the next field, keeping the hedge on your left, to a stile in the left-hand corner leading into a lane.
Turn right, following the track around the barns, and then past Upper Bache Farm. Continue along the enclosed track until it enters the end field through a gate in front of you. Follow the hedge on your right and, at the corner, turn right and continue down a very eroded descent. At the bottom bear left and cross the footbridge. Climb up the hill to Bache Camp. “ Bache ” is pronounced “ Baych ” around these parts.
The footpath passes between the fence on the left and the outer fortification rampart, follow this round to a stile on your left. Cross the stile and descend down the field to the left of the hollow, to the stile leading into a lane. Here we leave the Herefordshire Trail, which continues on over the stile opposite.
When you reach the lane turn left and climb up the hill. As the lane levels out take the footpath off to the left. Go straight across the field descending to cross the stream via a footbridge. Climb up the other side keeping parallel to the hedge on your left, to reach a gate. Pass through and continuing on the same line cut across the corner of the field. Look for a stile on the other side of a small hollow. Cross the stile, turn right and walk down to the corner of the field. Now turn hard left and walk back across the field to the hedgerow. Turn right and follow the hedge on your left through two fields to join the lane.
Cross the lane and go across the field walking parallel to the hedgerow on your right. Join the hedgerow and continue with the hedge on your right to reach the stile in the corner. Cross the stile and go down the field to the corner. Now follow the hedge on your left down to the bottom corner and then turn right along the bottom edge of the field to a stile in the corner. Cross the stile and then the lane and a further stile to the left of the gate ahead. Pass to the right of the two lots of buildings to a stile in the far hedgerow. Through the next two fields you are first directed to follow the hedge on the right and then on the left to reach a stile leading out onto the lane.
Turn left and walk down the lane till another lane joins on the right. Take the path off to the left aiming for the barn on the horizon. Join the lane through the gate and take the track opposite. Follow the track down to cross the Whittey Brook. Ascend the other side ignoring the footpath leaving to the right. At the top go through the gate, turn right and follow the track around the edge of the orchard and on to Oakwood Farm. Cross the stile on your right and retrace your steps to Leominster.
