FOWNHOPE, CAPLER CAMP and COMMON HILL

7 miles: Hilly

OS Map: Explorer 189

Bus: 453/454 Hereford/Woolhope service Stop: Fownhope

Parking: Recreation Field car park, (point 2).

THE ROUTE

1. Fownhope Church. Walk down Capler Lane, TR at sign for Recreation Field and river.

2. Sports Pavilion. Continue past, bear right across corner of playing field to end of conifers. TL to bottom corner, go through gate, follow path to hut by river. TL to follow waymarked path.

3. Leabrink. Continue past house, go up steps. Riverside path closed from here. Cross stile for 'inland' path. Walk steep slope by edge of wood, continue across field, cross stile in hedge. Continue through three fields. By ruined barn in third field bear right down to bottom corner. Go through gate, TL, along top of field for some distance. Approaching field end bear right past clump of small trees on bank. Cross track, cross stile in hedge, narrow field, go through two small metal gates. Continue on top edge. Approaching field end bear right to river. Cross stile in hedge.

4. Mancell's Ferry (house). Bear right through garden, exit via stile on other side. Follow riverbank path for three-quarters of a mile. After crossing stile by wooded hillside, TL on steep path past shed. At junction with track TL. TR uphill on road through Capler Wood to hilltop.

5. Capler Lodge. TL by Wye Valley Walk (WVW) sign. Keep on main track for some distance then bear right on path through conifers. At end, TR, follow waymarked path. Go through gate to

6. Capler Camp. Continue between ramparts, pass cottage and barn. Carry on in same direction. Pass marker by holly bush, go down slope, cross stile in fence to wood, many steps. Follow waymarked path. Pass bungalow and barn, cross stile, TL.

7. Caplor Farm. TR along farm drive to B4224 road. Taking great care, TL along road for a short distance. Continue on WVW thus - TR along track by side of garden hedge at Hill Crest. Cross stile by double gates, continue over field, cross stile in hedge.

8. Overdine. Continue downfield in same direction. If hay has not been cut you may follow the owner's mowed path: bear right, follow path downhill by hedge. TL at bottom, continue by bushes and brook. At marker TR over bridge, continue. Ignore stile to arable field. Continue uphill by hedge. At field end cross stile by gate, continue on field edge to big oak. Cross stile, continue uphill. Pass metal seat (or rest?), cross stile.

9. Lea & Paget's Wood, south entrance. Follow path through middle of wood. At clearing TL to follow WVW logo along bridleway, keeping right at fork. Pass mound (half-buried lime kilns), exit from wood. Continue to top corner of field, cross stile by gate, cross lane. Continue up drive past house, Common Hill Farm. Bear left uphill, TR through gate, TL. Carry on along wooded ridge for some distance. At end TR through kissgate, TL to follow path down through -

10. Common Hill Nature Reserve (Monument Hill section). Pause to read information board, go through gate, continue on bridleway.

11. Five Ways. At this junction of tracks you may TL downhill to the Old Pump House, then bear right on lane to village or continue for a few more wild corners and stunning views : continue uphill on WVW, pass several dwellings, the last a tall stone and brick house. At marker by fork bear left downhill, TL at junction, keep going down. When path levels out between hedges look for stile on right. Cross over, continue towards church. When hedge on left ends, bear left downfield to cross stile in hedge. TR on lane.