PIPE Aston is a “Thankful Village”. About four miles south-west of Ludlow, it’s very much in pastoral Herefordshire.

Aston is a common name from the Old English east tun or village. The “pipe”

which distinguishes it from all the others originates in the clay pipes which were made here for about 200 years from about 1630.

There are remains of several kilns which are still being excavated.

The 1911 census for the parish of Pipe Aston shows a total of 31 people in seven families, and 17 of these were males of all ages.

Inside the church is a framed Roll of Service for the Second World War. The Roll of Honour for the First World War is in a glazed wooden frame in the Parish Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin at Elton.

This Roll of Honour names the men from Elton and from Pipe Aston in two separate lists. Four men from Pipe Aston are named, three of whom have the same surname; each of the men sent to fight in the great conflict of 1914-1918 came back alive.

While it may not be completely surprising that such a small village escaped casualty, it triggers the thought that lots of places which were no bigger were not so lucky. Only 52 parishes in England and Wales saw all of their combatants return from action.

Our border exploration starts from the tiny Norman gem of Pipe Aston Church set in an immaculately kept churchyard.

Very little has changed at St Giles since its twelfth century beginnings. Part rebuilt in the 13th century, its ornate north doorway boasts a Norman tympanum so perfectly preserved that it looks as if it was carved yesterday. The nave has an original Norman wall painting and red flower motifs which look as if they could be mediaeval wallpaper.

At point two on our route is Elton Hall. This is noted for its landscaped park, created by the horticulturalist, Thomas Andrew Knight, between 1791 and 1808.

He was brother to Richard Payne Knight, one of the chief theorists of the Picturesque movement in taste that, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, advocated designing gardens and buildings as if they formed part of a picture.

This concept obviously influenced his brother Andrew at Elton Hall.

The stream and gardens on the south side of the hall were actually landscaped by Knight’s daughter. The lawned area is enclosed by a ha-ha which can be seen from the bank as we pass above it.

The surrounding landscape was planted with relatively few trees, though there were extensive orchards in the area of the house. These are all being replanted and rearranged with new features, and have become the home of the national collection of echinacea.

At point three we reach Mortimer Forest. Planted mainly with conifer but interspersed with ancient oak, the forest is also home to the long-haired fallow deer. This is one of the destinations presently being promoted by the Forestry Commission to encourage people to shake away the cobwebs and go green to get fit. It says time spent in natural environments such as woodlands significantly reduces stress levels and improves mental health.

“Research shows that even the easiest forms of exercise help prevent conditions such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and arthritis,” it says. “This coupled with the fact that forests have been scientifically proven to lower heart rates, blood pressure and stress-levels makes it clear that green spaces are the way to go when it comes to fitness.”

à Linda Bishop will be “beating this boundary”

between points three and four on on May 24, day 15 of her epic Herefordshire Loop described in my walk column last month.

THE ROUTE A “thankful” village, therapeutic airy woodland, wide bridle paths, brook and pasture. A fine 4½ mile, moderate ramble. Three stiles at the end.

Map: OS Explorer 203, Ludlow.

1. Pipe Aston Church.

County Bridge, grid reference 462 717. 3½ miles north-east of Wigmore, via Leinthall Starkes. With your back to the church entrance and notice board, TL along the road past Whalley House half a mile to Elton.

2. Elton Hall. Just before Elton Hall (with chapel), TL up the bridle path and through wooden gate.

After 150m go half right along the bank, with the eastern end of the Knights’ landscaped garden protected by a ha-ha down to your right, and the brook.

Go through gateway and bear slightly R down to the R of Hall Wood. (There’s a well back to your R). Go through HT bridle gate, trees, next gate and along bank ahead. Just beyond barn, TR across brook, through gate, up bank and bend round to L along middle of pasture (with the views behind). Rise gently up through gate into Brush Wood ahead. TL and fork R up the upper narrower path beyond marker post.

3. Mortimer Forest. Reach obvious path junction with two badged marker posts.

TL along wide bridle path (with great views to your L across towards Radnor Forest). Descend gently, and where wide aggregate path bends sharply around to the L, keep ahead, perhaps slightly R along grassy unsigned path.

When you reach the next wide junction ahead, kink L 40m down to the seat above a pool. TR, ignoring turns, to the Mortimer Forest Vinnalls car park and go straight through it, L of notice board to road.

4. Vinnalls car park entrance. In front of Monstay Farm entrance drive, TL along road past Pipe Aston welcome sign.

About 200m beyond Forest Edge cottage, and opposite small gate to Juniper Cottage, bear R off road along signed bridle path.

Go through gate ahead into “Long Larches” part of Mortimer Forest. Keep R at fork on upper level to reach a gate on edge of wood.

5. Monstay Rough Wood edge. Don’t go through gate, but TL for 30m still in trees. TL sharply and quite steeply down footpath through trees. Keep ahead down beyond wider cross path and marker post.

Cross two stiles and go quite steeply down pasture and through a gate. Follow R edge/hedge of pasture over stile on to road at Pipe Aston. TR past Halfway House to church.