Mappiman's Real Ale Walks: 23/08/14 - Hounds, Ghosts, Pop Music

Distance - 11.3 Miles
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.

See you at opening time

Black Vaughan and Ella the Terrible
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.

St Mary's

This is the scene of my first ghost story - containing the tomb of Black Vaughan - killed at the Battle of Banbury - 1420 and known to haunt the town. And his wife, Ellla the Terrible - who dressed as a man to take part in an Archery competition to shoot the man who killed her brother.

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.

Our tomb will be for Pasty Mappiman and Sonia the Holidaypiner

Hergest Ridge - The Place
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.

A Spot for Breakfast

Monkey Puzzle Selfie

Move on from here to the trig point where there is the 2nd and last cache of the day.

Disagree - its rather addictive

The walking continues to be superb. There are no end of photos that I could use but I'll leave you with this one of the gang.

Mappiman's Mates

Black Dog
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.

Hergest Court - Home of the Hound of Hell Story

Back on the flat, I head through some wonderful wheat fields and along the river Arrow to make my way back to town.

Through Golden Fields

The Museum
I love a walk that brings me back to a town. I feel like a returning hero. I emerge at the Cricket Ground.

Civilisation

And the Bunting is Out for Mappiman's Return

Check the clock and its 11:45am. Slightly too early for the pub but will Kington offer alternative entertainment.

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.

Mike Oldfied and Hergest Ridge

She lived here - Nice photo on the wall.

No idea - but you could buy one of their T-Shirts

It's now 11:48. Pub should be open by the time I make it back.

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.