On the second exciting weekend of the London 2012 Olympics when Team GB won a massive six gold medals in one day, the following day five members of Ramblers Team Cymru joined their team leader Joy to conquer parts of Gloucestershire and hopefully beat the forecasted bad weather; the promise of which it seemed had prevented some members coming.
But for those who did decide to take a chance the group set off in humid weather conditions but with high clouds from below Tump’s Hill to cross the recreation field and join muddy footpaths beside the River Wye on their journey to Lower Lydbrook where a chap was standing very precariously on a steep bank cutting a tall hedge in the garden of a house with a hedge trimmer being attached to a very long pole and no doubt the health a safety police would have condemned that one!
Artefacts found at Hangerberry and East Bach and Lower Lydbrook show activity relating to the middle Stone Age and flint and stone tools from surrounding fields confirm the area was occupied and farmed for more than 4,000 years and Lydbrook was inhabited by the Romans and coins supporting this were found at Lower Lydbrook. In fact a toll gate system once operated between Lower and Upper Lydbrook which are situated on one long main road.
By 1798 tin plate production began in Lydbrook and in 1912 the Lydbrook Cable Works began at Stowfield which was used to its full capacity during the First World War and employed many people. Lydbrook had its own coal mines and coal was taken by barge on the river to Hereford in flat-bottomed barges originally hauled along by men with ropes. After the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal was constructed trade declined drastically and with the coming of the railway the river was no longer used.
Opposite the Anchor Inn is the Old House, a red brick and square-timbered house which is not actually the oldest building in the village but was once owned by Roger Kemble whose daughter Sarah was born in Brecon and became the very famous actress Sarah Siddons at a time when being a female actress was only just presentable. The extension at the side of the original building boasts the date 1718!
A steep lane behind a very old property in the village led them uphill to a stile and into a field where all the sheep were enjoying a lie-in. Fortunately the tall ferns on the hillside had been cut down which made their journey uphill a little easier before they followed steep slippery pathways in Hangerberry Wood from where there were glorious views to Upper Redbrook, including the Church of Holy Jesus built in the Gothic style with its impressive 80ft tower and lovely circular churchyard.
Having tramped muddy paths through the lovely woodland in Hangerberry Inclosure, they made their way to the picnic area in Eastbachmeend Inclosure and enjoyed morning coffee before a slight shower of rain meant coats were put on.
Exiting the woods a rough track led them onto part of the Wysis Way which runs for 88km from Monmouth as a link between Offa’s Dyke and the Thames Path and having joined grassy farm meadows they went downhill as the rain stopped and coats came off and yes it was going to be that sort of day!
From the valley bottom, where young pheasant chicks were running in and out of the wood which was protected by a high fence and wires to keep foxes at bay, they began to climb the opposite side when steady rainfall began which forced coats to be donned even though it was very warm. Carefully crossing two roads they passed the delightful Blackthorn Farm to reach the hamlet of Hillersland where a short piece of road-walking led them into well-used wide tracks in Highmeadow Woods.
Highmeadow Woods are an outlying part of the Royal Forest of Dean and they occupy the high ground between Symonds Yat, Coleford and Monmouth. Originally a part of the medieval forest the woods passed into private ownership but returned into the possession of the Crown in 1817 and the path the group followed links Yat Rock with a number of camp sites which are straddled at the top of the Wye Gorge so is well used by walkers and visitors.
Continuing on to reach Symonds Yat East, the group visited the Yat Rock viewpoint situated 120m above the winding River Wye to enjoy the stunning but somewhat rainy views of the surrounding countryside in Herefordshire. Believed to have got its name from the Saxon word ‘Yat’ meaning Gate or Pass the rock acts as a scenic viewpoint and a centre for the RSPB who have powerful telescopes trained on the nearby massive Coldwell Rocks where Peregrine Falcons raise their chicks and nest and members of the public are able with permission to look through the telescopes. The rock crevices are also home to ravens, jackdaws, buzzards and goshawks.
Having returned to the shop, where postcards, trinkets, artwork and food is available, the group utilised a ledge on one side of the building’s foundation to sit on and shelter for lunch whilst watching a small variety of cyclists, other walkers and tourists doing their utmost to enjoy the somewhat unpredictable British summer. Luckily for them the rain began to stop and the only parts that got wet were knees and that was from the drips that came dripping down from the roof!
Refreshed, the group returned Through Highmeadow Woods before crossing a stile into meadows and then farm tracks above the massive Coldwell Rocks and once more it was coats off as the clouds began to clear and the rain stopped. Passing the lovely old Bicknor Court Farm, a commercial Aberdeen Angus and sheep breeding establishment, where the resident horses had head collars on for protection against the flies impressively, from then on all the stiles had been replaced with metal kissing gates.
A narrow muddy path through trees led down to a lane which they followed to English Bicknor and passing the pretty little village school and the church which is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin they entered sheep-filled fields behind the delightful Bicknor House, formerly known as Great House and dating back to the late 18th century.
Then descending gradually through meadows where there were glorious views down towards the River Wye in the valley below and across to Coppet Hill, Ramblers Team Cymru were rewarded with their Gold Medal in the shape of brilliant warm sunshine that turned the previous overcast skies and rain into a truly inspiring summer jaunt as they returned to Lower Lydbrook before the journey home.
Leave a Reply