A NEW book gives its readers a bird's eye view of some of Herefordshire's finest - and oldest - scenery.

Herefordshire Past & Present - An Aerial View, by Ruth E Richardson and Chris Musson, takes a revealing look at the county's landscape, including aspects that are barely visible, or not visible at all, on the ground.

The aim is to show not just some wonderful Herefordshire scenery and landmarks, but also how the aerial photography and the techniques which it uses continue to develop appreciation and knowledge of the county.

In the photographs it is possible to see evidence of a Bronze Age circle, of Iron Age farms and settlements, of medieval mills and settlements.

The book also allows an appreciation of line of transport networks, from the Roman crossing of the Wye near Kenchester, through tramroads, canals and railways to modern bypasses.

Thumbnail sketches help explain pictures of cropmarks at Magnis, rabbit warren farming at Willey, the Grandmontine Priory at Craswall, the multiple bailey system at Kingsland Castle and the development of Longtown.

There are also pictures of the major county towns.

Ruth E Richardson has lived in Herefordshire all her life and lectures in archaeology and history. She was the general editor of The Herefordshire Field-Name Survey and first worked with Chris Musson on the Millennium Air Survey of Herefordshire.

Chris Musson, once an architect, later a rescue archaeologist and finally Investigator in Aerial Photography at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, is now in happy but busy retirement, continuing his researches over Herefordshire and promoting aerial archaeology throughout Europe.

Published by Logaston Press, the book sells at £14.95.