You've got the right - so use it

However, it was only in September 2004 that the Act began to come into force, region by region. At long last, our turn has come: on Monday, October 31, the Act became law in the final two remaining regions of England - the east and the west. There is now open access on foot to seven per cent of England's land area.

That still compares unfavourably with much of the rest of Europe (including Scotland) and even with Wales, where, since May, 20 per cent of the land has been open to walkers. It is, nevertheless, a huge step forward.

Obviously, the best way to celebrate is to get out there. Access applies to 'mountain, moor, heath, down and registered commons' - this walk in the foothills of the Black Mountains includes two truly glorious Herefordshire commons, Vagar Hill and Cefn Hill, where wild ponies roam freely and buzzards soar overhead. While access has long been tolerated on these uplands, it is now official, and we can enjoy some of the finest scenery in the Midlands with total confidence that every step is legal.

Access land is supposed to be indicated by new signage but at the time of writing, this is not in place. New editions of Explorer maps should also be available but there is no sign of them yet for Herefordshire or Worcestershire.

However, information and maps are available at www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk, though it's not the greatest website in the world. Herefordshire has been inexplicably omitted from the county menu and until that omission is rectified you need to search by specific place-name.

FACTFILE

Start: Peterchurch (on B4348 west of Hereford) grid ref SO345385.

Length: 12 miles/19km.

Maps: OS Explorer OL13, OS Landranger 161.

Terrain: Hill pasture.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent, apart from a few dodgy stiles.

Stiles: 23.

Parking: Peterchurch Picnic Place.

Public transport: Train or bus to Hereford then Stagecoach 39 (Yeomans 40 on Sundays) to Peterchurch; www.herefordbus.info or 01432 260211.

Refreshments: Peterchurch.

1 Walk past the church and cross the River Dore. The track bends left, and then right, leading to a lane at Hinton. Turn right, then take a path on the left after 300m. Keep left through an orchard and two fields to a stile near the top left corner of the second field. Continue in the same direction uphill to another stile (don't bear right to a more visible stile). Keep straight on across three more fields to a lane. Turn right uphill to Urisay Castle Farm.

2Join a path on the left just after the farm. Follow a line of trees across a field then go diagonally to the top right corner. Cross a lane to another path. Keep left through a field and a copse, then along the right-hand edge of another field. Go through a gate to the next field then turn right to a stile at the far side. Continue through two further fields, ignoring a waymark which points to an overgrown footbridge. There is no way across, but there's a gate further along. Go diagonally left to cross a cattle grid, then turn left on a track. Join a path on the right after 100m.

3Go straight across a field then diagonally left across another to a gate in the far hedge. Go diagonally right to Oldhay Farm then cross two fields to meet a lane opposite Pucha Farm. Turn right along the lane. Before too long you'll pass the southern end of Vagar Hill Common. If you go on to the common, you should rejoin the lane when it bends left. Descend to cross Escley Brook then climb to a junction. Turn right to Llanrosser.

4Turn left just after a green, along a short track then through a rusty gate into what looks like a narrow field, but turns out to be a wide track leading uphill to Cefn Hill Common. Keep climbing when you reach open country, bearing right towards the crest of the hill. You should soon intercept a well-defined track. You can walk wherever you like, but the track does make for easy going and it heads in the right direction, along the crest. Eventually, it peters out, but not before you've gained the summit and can see the northern end of the common. Make your way to the far right corner.

5Join a lane and turn right, then go through a gate on the left. Walk along the left-hand edge of a field, then straight on along a wide bridleway which eventually gives access to Vagar Hill Common. Once on the common you can go where you like, except into the fenced site of an abandoned farm, but ultimately you need to be walking along the eastern (left) edge.

6A stretch of dry-stone wall leads to a gate with a yellow arrow. Leave the common and follow a waymarked path down towards Peterchurch, keeping basically straight on, to the right of a hedge at first, then always to the left of it, ignoring branching paths. Eventually, a stile gives on to a lane. Turn right, then left on a bridleway after 500m. Walk to a junction and take a footpath on the right. Follow it to another junction and turn left, soon passing through several gates. A little further on, the path turns left, and waymarks guide you through a farm to Long Lane. Turn right, descend to Hinton Cross, turn right again and return to Peterchurch.

PLEASE NOTE This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.