On what turned out to be a glorious day, eleven walkers, including Peter and Chris from Beddau, joined Joy at Christchurch in Gloucestershire and set off in a southerly direction through wide pathways in the magnificent Highmeadow Woods, an area of ancient woodland set on a hill overlooking the River Wye and managed by the Forestry Commission.
Turning downhill on woodland tracks with an array of bluebells fast being overtaken by growing ferns and skirting the edge of Braceland Adventure Centre, before following part of the newly waymarked cycle track they reached the valley bottom beside the banks of the River Wye making their way downstream to the Biblins Suspension bridge which is situated about 3-miles upstream from Monmouth.
Constructed in 1957 by the Forestry Commission, the bridge links Symonds Yat east to the Biblins campsite and it is requested that no more than six people cross at one time for safety reasons as excessive weight and movement makes it sway.
Crossing over into Herefordshire a stop was made for morning refreshment on the riverbank beside the bridge before they continued along the riverbank and into woodland below the Seven Sisters Rocks, huge pillars of limestone standing tall in the Wye gorge somewhat obscured by growing foliage.
A single swan glided past on the still water of the river before it was time for a short sharp ascent through a beautiful beech wood to follow tracks leading to King Arthur’s Cave.
Situated in Lord’s Wood on Great Doward Hill around 300-feet above the river, the main cave has two chambers and in 1817 was partially excavated by the Revd. Symond who found hyena, lion, brown bear, red deer, elk and horse’s bones many of which had been gnawed by hyenas, along with flints and some pottery. But as the cave was also used to extract iron in the 18th and early 19th centuries most of the evidence had been destroyed.
Passing through an old limestone quarry and exiting onto a road at Little Doward the track led on past several houses and cottages almost tucked away in the woodland and being overtaken by some friendly cyclists, they began to descend past old mine workings and more caves to Symonds Yat west.
For hundreds of years ferries have linked the different communities living on both sides of the river and in 1800, there were 25-ferries between Ross-on-Wye and Chepstow which allowed not only foot passengers to cross safely but also cargoes and even animals!
During the 19th century the mules that carried fuel to the furnaces and limekilns on Great Doward were carried on this form of transport across the river and now this hand powered ferry, which saves a five mile round trip by road, is the only surviving ferry on the River Wye.
There was a short wait for the ferryman from the Saracen’s Head to bring the flat bottomed punt over the river, using only a rope on an overhead cable to propel the craft and taking all twelve walkers, the delightful but short trip over the Wye led them back into Gloucestershire and their lunch break in warm sunshine utilising a stone wall in the pub garden, whilst overlooking the comings and goings on the river.
Refreshed and continuing along the riverbank before turning back into woodland, a short climb led them onto a road and avoiding some of the many cars making the trip up to Yat Rock they entered a gate leading to paths below Huntsham Hill.
Descending narrow pathways in Eliot’s Wood, already starting to become overgrown with nettles and passing the remains of old ruined cottages before reaching the banks of the Wye once again; undulating tracks led them gradually uphill through woodland onto a track, before a climb up to the 600-foot Yat Rock.
First the trek to the observation point on Yat Rock from where there are substantial views across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire which are separated by the River Wye and which was really busy with people and the ‘chocolate box’ picture up river towards Coppet Hill and the tall spire of St Giles Church at Goodrich, before a well-deserved sit down, tea, cake and ice-cream at the log cabin.
Then the last part of their walk entailed fairly flat tracks back through Highmeadow Woods after a delightful journey through history and lush woodland in the stunning Wye Valley, which is quite righty classed as an area of outstanding national beauty.
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