A walk in the woods at this time of year is irresistible. The ground leaf cover gives way to an array of early Spring flowers, winter aconite, wood anemone and bluebell. Frith Wood is no exception and is also known for its spreading bellflower which is less common. That makes this circular 5.5 mile walk from Ledbury Market House through the wood to Wellington Heath even better and look out for other favourite flowers such as Lesser Celandine and Lords and Ladies alongside hedgerows and ditches.
The walk includes an old drover’s sunken lane, well-trodden woodland and field paths and orchards too. To top it all there’s a welcoming country pub stop on the return leg. But before you set off, note that there’s a continuous climb for the first mile up to Bradlow Knoll at 218 metres (715 feet) and that it can be seriously muddy in a few places so best to avoid after wet weather.
1. The walk starts from the Market House in Ledbury where the 232 pulls in. Pass beneath the pillars of the Market House to walk up the narrow Church Lane towards St Michael’s and All Angels. At Church Road, look for a small gateway on the left into The Walled Garden. Follow the path to the top left corner of the garden, turn left on a joining path and then right at the road. As it bends left, continue up steps to a junction where you cut right (by an information panel) to follow the old packhorse way known as Green Lane. There’s a super view across the town to Marcle Hill at this point. The sunken lane curves left, and then ahead. Ignore all paths off to the left and right as you make your way through Dog Hill Wood, an area which would have been quarried extensively for use in the construction of buildings throughout the town.
2. The path exits onto Knapp Lane. Cross with extreme care as some drivers speed along this lane and sight lines are limited. Walk up the lane opposite until a point just beyond a red brick cottage on the left. Go left through a gate and then right. Take a deep breath as there’s a steep climb up through a field gate to the top of the pasture. Look back to observe another great view across town into the Leadon Valley; it gives you a moment to recover!
3. Proceed through a small gate onto a worn path which bends left up steps to the summit of Bradlow Knoll. Turn right at the junction and follow the path along a broad limestone ridge through mixed woodland which would have been used to make charcoal and some for building in previous centuries. You’ll see bat boxes lodged on a number of trees as there are thought to be eight different types of bats in the wood and note the smaller boxes to attract dormice which are very rare now. On reaching a more heavily coppiced area, mainly hazel and sweet chestnut, the path winds its way down to cross a forest track and finally to a gate leading into a pasture. Aim slightly left to a stile leading onto a lane.
4. Turn immediately left along a track to pass a gate and soon after it enters Frith Wood. Keep slightly right as the track bends left to follow a lesser path along the perimeter of the wood above an orchard. At the junction turn right to follow the Herefordshire Trail down the field and ahead on a corralled path to a footbridge. It then cuts left and through a kissing gate where you head slightly right up the field, past an electricity pole, to a kissing gate leading into a track.
5. On reaching a road in Wellington Heath, turn left and the Farmers Arms is on the right. This Good Beer Guide pub welcomes walkers, and there’s a lovely outside patio to rest awhile, an ideal spot for a break as you are now about 45 minutes from Ledbury Railway Station at this point. This part of the village is a central point known as the Common, although the settlement is very scattered up the valley and in past times inhabited by many squatters working in quarries or building the railway in the mid-19th century. If you are not stopping then follow the narrow lane ahead by dwellings and when it bends sharp right turn left as indicated by a finger post, down a drive to go through a kissing gate on the right. The path curves slightly right down to a gate and ahead through a kissing gate with the stream on your left. Cross the footbridge and follow the path slightly right through rough ground to a track.
6.Go left on the track and just prior to the house turn right at the hedge and ahead across the field and through an orchard towards a half-timbered cottage. On reaching the end of the orchard go right and immediately left on a path which skirts a garden and exits at a gate, before curving slightly left along a brow to a junction of paths. Turn right here to follow the path down the edge of the field to an orchard and across a stile onto a pavement. Turn left to walk to the road junction. The railway station is next left and the 232 bus stop is 100 metres ahead on this side of the road.
7. However, if you wish to walk back to the Market House, cross the road at the traffic lights by the rail bridge and walk along the pavement for about 100 metres where you peel off right to climb up to the old Daffodil railway line track bed, now part of the town trail. Follow this until reaching Bridge Street where you turn left to walk up Bye Street to the Market House. Lovely to try another one of Ledbury’s local walks.
Factfile
Distance/difficulty:
5.5 miles, moderate with a climb
Map
Explorer 190 Malvern Hills &Bredon Hill
Travel to Ledbury on the 232 Daffodil Line
Check https://daffodilline.co.uk
Refreshment
The Farmers Arms, Wellington Heath is open Wednesdays to Sundays and best to check bar and kitchen times on their website https:farmersarmswellingtonheath.co.uk or give them a call on 01531 634776
