Ledbury was founded around 720, when a church was built close to the intersection of two important roads.

One of these ran from Bromyard to Gloucester, the other linked Droitwich to Hereford, via Worcester, and may have originated as a saltway.

A settlement grew up around the church and, in 1138, Ledbury received its market charter from King Stephen. It remains a market town today but tourism is important too, with many visitors coming to admire the famous Market House and cobbled Church Lane, which is lined with timber-framed buildings of great charm.

Relatively few of these visitors discover one of Ledbury's less obvious assets - its proximity to woodland. Frith Wood is less than five minutes' walk from the train station and Conigree Wood less than five minutes from High Street. Dog Hill Wood is nearer still - a couple of minutes from the top of Church Lane. Two of these woods feature in this walk while the third, Frith Wood, is an optional extra.

DIRECTIONS

Leave the station, turn right under the railway and soon right again on a footpath signed to Frith Wood. Walk uphill and cross a stile on the right at the top.

Turn right along a track to Knapp Lane. Cross to Dog Hill Wood and turn left on a path along the edge of the wood to the top corner, at the junction of Knapp Lane, Cut Throat Lane and Green Lane.

Turn right on Green Lane, a track running along the outer edge of Dog Hill Wood. At the far end descend beneath a line of yew trees then turn left to a road. Keep going down until you can join a footpath on the left by an ivy-clad wall.

The path leads to the churchyard and another leads out at the far side. Follow this to Worcester Road and turn left for about 120m before crossing to a footpath which leads to Conigree Wood. Once inside, the path forks. Go left and follow the waymarkers through the wood, climbing uphill.

Leave the wood at a gate in the top corner and turn left along a field edge. The path now runs past Dead Woman's Thorn, up Eastnor Hill and then down to Eastnor Church. If in doubt at any point just keep straight on.

Turn right past the church, right at the green and right again on a bridle track heading towards the Eastnor Estate Offices. Keep straight on, past all the buildings, and stay with the track as it bears left towards Bircham's Wood.

Keep left again to go into a field when the track turns right towards a house. Maintain the same direction, still by the edge of the wood.

Before long a gate opens into the next field. Keep close to the left-hand edge at first but gradually move away from it to reach a stile.

Continue across another field, keeping to the dip which runs through the centre and well to the left of Woolpits Farm. A stile at the far side gives access to Clencher's Mill Wood. Walk through then turn right along a lane to the A417. Turn right for a few paces then cross to a footpath.

Pass to the right of High House, go through two gates and proceed to a stile. Cross two fields, with a plantation on your right. Turn right at the corner, crossing a stile and walking by the western edge of the plantation.

Cross a footbridge and proceed to a hedge gap. Continue across another field, close to the right-hand edge. Cross a driveway and continue along a track by a line of trees. Cross a brook and follow the left-hand edge of the next field then keep on past another plantation.

After crossing two more fields you will have to cross Ledbury bypass. Pick up the footpath again on the other side, crossing two fields to a housing estate.

Walk to a junction where the footpath sign directs you to the right. However, this leads to the A449. For a safer walk, turn left instead.

The street soon swings right to a junction. Turn right, then right again. Pass Traherne Close then go next left on Blenheim Drive.

After a few paces turn right on a path. At the far end turn right on Mabels Furlong which leads to the A449. Turn left along the footway to Ledbury town centre.

Turn left on Bye Street, just after the Market House. Keep going until you come to Queens Walk. Turn right here to join a footpath/cycleway. This takes you back to the station.

FACTFILE

Start: Ledbury Station; grid reference SO709386.

Length: 6.75 miles/10.8km

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 149.

Terrain: woods and fields, mildly hilly, very muddy in places.

Stiles: 14.

Parking: car park on Bye Street. There is some space at the junction of Knapp Lane, Cut Throat Lane and Green Lane (see map); the station car park is for rail users only.

Public transport: daily trains and Mon-Sat buses (417) to Ledbury; it is also accessible by bus on Sundays, changing at Malvern; Traveline 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: Ledbury.

DISCLAIMER

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