Geocaches - 100%. Or Both of them.
Walk from - Country Walking Magazine - May 2001
This promised to be and probably will be Walk of the Year 2014. Hergest Ridge is a hill to the west of Kington. Kington has a Herefordshire Top 10 County Pub. And plenty of ghostly tales.
Hergest Ridge the Musical
The first I had heard of this place was the follow up album to Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. I have never listened to either albums but I know of its popularity, with the artist one of the few to knock himself of the number 1 spot in the charts. So I download a copy of Hergest Ridge to get me in the mood. This is not a pop music blog but thank god that punk came along and killed off artists that could have entire albums that comprise of two 18 minute songs.
I'll see if I can squeeze in another pop reference before the end of the blog.
Parking at the Pub
The walk is a classic from Julie in Country Walking magazine. I extend it so that I can start off my walk parking outside my chosen pub - Ye Olde Tavern. I was only reading about this in Doghouse magazine two weeks ago. It will be my post walk refreshment today.
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| See you at opening time |
Leaving the pub behind, I pick up the Mortimer Way that runs behind the houses, parallel with the main street. I want to save the town till my return. Eventually, I am delivered at St Mary's Church - up on the hill.
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| St Mary's |
I had googled this before heading to town and really wanted to this the impressive alabaster tomb. Unfortunately, the doors were locked. But fear not blog fans, for I have lifted a photo from tinternet.
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| Our tomb will be for Pasty Mappiman and Sonia the Holidaypiner |
Leave the churchyard and head up the road, steadily climbing until it delivers me to the hillside. Cache 1 of the day at the entrance - a nice little hide. Then out into the countryside for some superb walking. A broad path on Offa's Dyke - with extensive views in all directions. Just me, the sheep and some wild ponies for company.
Soon, I spy a collection of Monkey puzzle trees - totally at odds with their surroundings - and a bench to breakfast like a king on malt loaf.
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| A Spot for Breakfast |
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| Monkey Puzzle Selfie |
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| Disagree - its rather addictive |
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| Mappiman's Mates |
The walk takes me along the ridge and then down to Gladestry. I miss the village and turn back on myself to climb half back up the hill until I drop down to Lower Hergest. Its here where I meet the location of the second ghost story. This one concerns a big black dog roaming the countryside near Hergest Court. Sound familiar? There are many that think that Conan Doyle based his "hounds of the baskervilles" story on this legend.
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| Hergest Court - Home of the Hound of Hell Story |
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| Through Golden Fields |
I love a walk that brings me back to a town. I feel like a returning hero. I emerge at the Cricket Ground.
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| Civilisation |
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| And the Bunting is Out for Mappiman's Return |
How about a Museum? There's one and the entry price is spot on. FOC.
After checking out some elephant bones (a circus came to town and the Elephant died) I move to the pop music section.
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| Mike Oldfied and Hergest Ridge |
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| She lived here - Nice photo on the wall. |
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| No idea - but you could buy one of their T-Shirts |
Top 10 County Pub
Ye Olde Tavern - number 5 in the Top 10 for Herefordshire - has won Camra awards for its unspoiled interior. I enter and go to the right. All the punters, indicating that its been open for a while, are on the left. Still, gives me an uninterrupted view of the award winning lounge.
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| In olden times, Health and Safety didn't care where you played darts |
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| My Golden Otter |
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| Outdoor Pint Selfiie |
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