Easter offers an excellent opportunity for getting out and about, particularly if the recent warm weather continues over the holiday. Pete Blench's latest walk takes us into the lovely Golden Valley.

EASTER - time for some serious walking. This expedition is a real ramble up hill and down dale in the glorious Golden Valley. Cowslips and violets, primroses, celandine, stitchwort, wood anemone and other wild flowers will grace your path.

There are stunning views from the hills to 12th century Dore Abbey in the valley. And at a tiny hillside church you will discover a prized Elizabethan tapestry and a connection between Good Queen Bess and a secluded Herefordshire community.

Your starting place is the lovely abbey built by French monks of the Cistercian order in 1147. The siting near the River Dore was important - water was diverted via a leat to power a mill. Allow plenty of time to include a visit to the abbey and other nearby attractions. It's a short walk, via the riverbank, to Abbey Dore Court where the gardens are open (Tues,Thurs, Sat, Sun & and BH Mondays) for charity under the National Gardens Scheme. There is a cafe - perfect for the end of the walk.

Two cautions. If you are nervous about the bull, cows and calves between the abbey and the river walk to (2) on the road through the village instead. The bull warning sign does not mean you cannot use the path. It is a well-used part of the Marches Way. I found the herd placid and untroubled by my intrusion. I give suckler herds plenty of space and never get between a cow and calf. Please make your own judgement.

Secondly, while more than two thirds of the walk is on footpaths, some is on lanes and just over half a mile (between points 3 and 4) is on the valley B road. It's not unpleasant if care is taken. From (4), a pretty lane up to Bacton passes between banks tumbling with wild flowers.

Listed in the Domesday Book as Bachetune (Bacca's isolated homestead) the settlement retains a very remote quality. The churchyard seat at St Faith's (5) is a good place to pause and soak up the peace. The church, dating from the 13th century, boasts a number of treasures including ancient parish registers. Its rare pre-Reformation silver chalice is kept in Hereford Cathedral and you can only see a colour photograph here.

But Blanche Parry's tapestry is prominently displayed. Blanche was born in Bacton in 1508 to an important family - her father was three times Sheriff of Herefordshire. She became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I when the future monarch was just three. A royal favourite, she became the queen's jewel keeper. Elizabeth was at her bedside when Blanche died aged 82 leaving money in her will to the church and the poor of Bacton.

The tapestry, embroidered by Blanche and formerly used as an altar cloth, is thought to have been part of one of the of the queen's dresses (Church guide).

Head deeper into the hills. Approaching Pen-Twyn (7) you'll enjoy a panoramic views over the Golden Valley and from (9) you'll walk part of the 125-acre Ewyas Harold Common, a wonderful rabbity 'Watership Down' hilltop common.

l If this walk is too long and hilly but you can cope with one hill, do a short walk up to the common from the stile opposite the abbey lych gate - there are two paths.

A DORE ABBEY CIRCULAR

6.5 miles, hilly

OS Maps: Pathfinder 1039 (Golden Valley) or Explorer OL13 (Brecon Beacons East)

Buses: Abbeydore is served from Hereford by the 438 to Abergavenny and 440 to Pontrilas.

Please check timetables.

THE ROUTE

1. Dore Abbey. From lych gate by B4347 take path to church. Continue on grass between church and churchyard wall. Go through three kiss gates, cross ditch bridge. Note warning about bull and herd (see notes). Walk over field bearing a little left to cross footbridge, River Dore. TL and walk by river, TR at corner, follow path to road. TL past Abbey Dore Court.

2. Dore Bridge. Just before stone bridge TR over stile by gate, go through small gate, follow path. Go through kissgate, continue by ditch, then river. Ignore path crossing river, continue. Cross stile and carry on. At end of this big meadow veer away from river to cross stile in fence. Cross arable field to next stile. Continue through next field towards clump of trees and building.

3. Riverdale. Cross stile furthest from brook, follow waymarkers through garden. Continue past dwellings. TL along road. At junction TL towards Bacton on the B4347 for just over half a mile, crossing river at Moorhampton Bridge.

4. Bacton Lane, junction. TR to walk this pleasant lane for about one third mile. Church signposted at parish hall uphill on the bend.

5. Bacton Church. Take a look, rest. When ready return through gate. Continue ahead past small stone obelisk and tap on right. Pass small stone cottage on left, follow track above valley for some distance. Cross brook then a stile by a gate (near 'Paradise'!) Pass pond, continue uphill on left boundary to gate in a corner.

6. Footpaths Junction near Upper House Farm. Several paths meet. See arrows - but your path kinks. TL through gate, bear right by hedge, go through gate at next corner. TL along top edge of sloping field with hedge on your left. At field end cross stile by gate, continue. Cross double stile, walk to far end of big field and cross stile by gate. Walk past tree in field. At waymarker by big oak TR. Can you see the Abbey? Cross stile by gate, continue by hedge.

7. Pen-Twyn. Stile to garden, walk to yard, bear right to pass front of house. Cross stile to field, walk downhill bearing slightly right. Cross stile, TR to walk by brook. By a gate, TL to cross brook. Walk uphill bearing right to visible stile by big tree near corner. Cross it, continue uphill to field corner near house.

8. Hollingwood Farm. Cross stiles, bear diagonally right across field to stile near pond. Cross over, bear left to follow hedge. Cross stile ignoring incorrect waymarker. Walk ahead across field, go through gate. TL along lane. At fork TR on 'No Through Road' for one-third mile.

9. Ewyas Harold Common (north). Continue over cattle grid and straight ahead. Pass house, continue to lower houses, Hill Place. TL to cross stile by stone house with neat fence. Walk short green lane, bear left downhill, cross stile in hedge. Walk down to abbey via stile near big tree. Mind the road.