THE Arrow flows from the Radnorshire Hills into the heart of Herefordshire. So named because of the swiftness of its current, it darts through Kington, Pembridge and Eardisland before joining the Lugg below Leominster.

Our second crossing of the river on a varied walk takes us within bowshot range of the portals of medieval Hergest Court.

The court was built in about 1430 for Thomas Vaughan, Lord of Hergest, Llanvihangel, Blethvangh and Nash.

Thomas was the second son of Sir Roger Vaughan of Bredwardine, who laid down his life defending Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Sir Roger, in turn, was the son-in-law of a squinting, red-haired dwarf of a soldier called Daffyd Gam.

It was this Gam, of the rather singular appearance, who outwitted the forces of Owain Glyndwr at Usk where three hundred rebels were captured and beheaded.

It was Gam who orchestrated an attempt on Glyndwr’s life in 1406 and whose house was burnt to the ground for his troubles; and it was Gam, a personal retainer to Henry IV, who was captured by Glyndwr six years later and ransomed to the king. Gam too was a hero at Agincourt against the French and knighted by the later Henry as he lay dying in the field.

This, then, was the formidable inheritance of “Black” Vaughan of Hergest. So named because of the colour of his hair, or brooding ferocity, or both, he earned his own mention in despatches at the Battle of Danesmore in July 1469.

Declaring in the Wars Of The Roses for the Yorkist King Edward IV, he had joined an army of 10,000 Welshmen, hastily assembled by the Earl of Pembroke.

Confronted three miles from Banbury by a force of Lancastrians under the Earl of Warwick, and tempted into an engagement without the support of their archers, 5,000 of them were slaughtered.

Black Vaughan, a man of extraordinary size, displayed conspicuous strength and courage leading his division into savage and desperate combat.

The warrior whose “hands when allowed to do violence could do what nine would effect” was ultimately brought down, seized and subsequently beheaded.

Black Vaughan now lies beside his wife in an alabaster tomb in St Mary’s Church, but our journey to it from Hergest is not so much of a battle as a ramble, which we can call moderate in grade.

As for Hergest Court itself, just a couple of miles from where the Lord and Lady are at rest, it was compared during their lifetime to the “castellated Moorish palace of Alhambra”.

Comprising eight fortresses, and refectories bursting with wine, the stronghold was protected by a moat filled with water from a rivulet which ran down a ravine from Hergest Ridge.

The modern, less fortified Hergest Court can be seen from Castle Twt and beyond on the route. Its location next to the Arrow is an appropriate one.

Lying next to Black Vaughan is Ellen “The Terrible”, so named because of the retribution she exacted on a man who had killed her younger brother in a sword fight.

Lying in wait for John Hir at an archery contest and disguised as a man, the young Ellen cunningly manouevred herself into a position where she had a good view of her target and an avenue of escape. When the opportunity presented itself, the shaft from her bow was unerring and decisive.

The arrow flew from the Radnorshire girl into the heart of the said John Hir.

Darting through history THE ROUTE 1. St Mary’s Church, Kington.

Park in slip road immediately west of church. Walk away from Wyche House below church wall to near L pavement and bend L past Church House to far (E) end of churchyard. Cross road and go through kissing-gate into Stoney Lane. Descend, keep L, exit by kgate, TR opposite police station and TL below primary school.

After 50m, TR into Crabtree Road, ahead into Markwick Close, through High Street car park, down eight steps in R corner, and TR in walled passage to Bridge St.

Cross river Arrow and TR into Kingswood Road.

2. “Arrow Grange”. At Arrow Grange TR one-third of a mile for Newburn Farm (with views across the Arrow to Bradnor Hill). At farm, bend R and then L towards silos then TR beyond horse boxes through gate into pasture. Follow R edge ahead through gate, through trees down through gate, then slightly R along bank, and (L of a footbridge across Arrow) look for and cross stile up to your left.

Keep ahead on R edge, through cross line of trees, through gateway, favouring R gently up next pasture, next gateway, more steeply up over crest and move L to find stile in trees on to lane (above and to L of black and white cottage).

3. Stile/lane. Cross this awkward stile down steps. TL in lane, then T immediately R to maintain same line as last field, up gravel drive throughy gate along R edge of bank 75m to stile (R). TR over stile (with fine view to Hergest Ridge) and descend field slightly R towards pool. Go through gap in hedge, across footbridge, ahead over two double stiles and go L across footbridge and stile to lane.

Go ahead a few paces.

4. Hergest Bridge. TR over Arrow and after 120m TL through gate into field. After 80m, TR through gap in trees to cross stile. Go ahead to footpath signpost at path junction, bear L 30m, go R across stile, pass marker post, bear R, TL over two planks at next marker post and go steeply up steps to cross stile in fence. Emerge, bear well to R and cross stile under trees. Climb towards telegraph pole and through metal gate on to lane.

5. Lower Hergest. TR along lane to reach island at road junction.

Keep straight ahead up gravel path and through k-gate (R). Castle Twt mound is in front of you, for views. Now go L, down along wooden rail, over two plank bridge, up four steps, through kgate and up eight more steps.

Now (with fine views of Hergest Court, below R), follow L edge through three k-gates and then angle slightly R, downwards, across field through k-gate on edge of wood.

6. Park Wood. Keep ahead across waterfall on a good path through mature woodland. Keep L to pass to L of Park Wood Cottage, cross cattle grid and bear R for 120m to stone wall on R. Before grid, turn sharp L on yourself on to slightly higher level bridle path. After 120m, TR through wooden gate.

7. Parkland. Go straight ahead through mature trees to find on opposite side of park a makeshift stile in fence, and cross it. Go ahead through k-gate along R fence for 65m, through unmarked gate (R), now with fence on L, go beyond wall (L) and through kgates either side of drive approaching Ridgebourne House.

Go ahead out on to Ridgebourne Road via k-gate. TR down to church on the other side of main road for the Vaughan tomb.