FROM the village hall at Ballingham, land in a river-bend of Badela’s people, we’re casting our net as far as Carey and a “golden”

riverbank.

In the spring of 2011, salmon were not exactly leaping in the fabled manner of yesteryear, but the “Golden Mile”, Sheepwash and Middle Ballingham fishing beats are still on a coveted stretch of the River Wye.

In March, the Gillies Association was hoping for more catches than in recent years.

A number of kelts had been reported from the middle stretches of the Wye where river conditions were looking favourable. After returning 23 kelts in the first three weeks of the season, one angler landed a fine 9lb cock fish which took a “flying C” on a rising river on the Golden Mile, where a 27lb “springer” had been taken the year before.

But by the end of the month, exasperated gillies hadn’t seen a fish for 13 days and were announcing that the catch was at least 25 per cent down on the five year average. During the driest April on record, then May and June, there were no further reports of success on the Mile and none at all at Sheepwash or Middle Ballingham.

With no such tales of the one that got away, walkers are not subject to the same levels of frustration.

In an area where mink, the blackheaded gull, little egret, grey heron and a rare visit from the wood duck have been noted, the western bank takes us to a riverside seat (at point seven on the route) directly opposite John Mansell’s old ferry house.

Here, 200 years ago young Tom Spring, who was to become bareknuckle champion fighter of All England, would cross the Wye.

Working for his father, a butcher just along the lane in Fownhope, he used the ferry to deliver meat, game and eggs to Ballingham and Holme Lacy.

Once across he would keep himself fit by running up and down Ballingham Hill with his butcher’s basket.

At Holme Lacy House the “Light Tapper” entertained the Duke of Norfolk’s guests with fleet-footed sparring sessions on the front lawns.

During the Civil War, in April 1643, Sir William Waller made a much stealthier crossing of the river in the same area.

Angling towards Hereford from Gloucester and Ross with a Roundhead force of 2,500 he was conniving to take the city by switching banks along the Wye.

At Fownhope, instead of staying on the eastern bank towards Mordiford, where he knew there were enemy forces , he led his troops across a ford to the Ballingham side and then on through the Royalist Scudamore domain of Holme Lacy.

Sir Richard Cave, directing the defence of Hereford, had heard of Waller’s approach and sent 150 musketeers to reinforce Mordiford bridge.

But Waller, unforeseen on the opposite bank, seized control of some shallows at a place now called Ox Ford by fishermen, towards Hampton Bishop.

Here he re-crossed the river and, as elusive as today’s salmon, stole in behind the Royalists.

Hereford capitulated inside a day, Viscount Scudamore himself and Sir Walter Pye of The Mynde were among the prisoners taken. At his subsequent court-martial hearing, Cave admitted that it was lack of local knowledge that had let the parliamentary pikes slip through the net.

THE ROUTE

1. Ballingham Village Hall. Leave car park, TR to parish council noticeboard by pond and bear R past Church View up lane signed to Ballingham Chapel. Fork L to just before St Athan.

2. St Athan. (TR for 2½ mile walk and read from point 6). TL across stile into paddock along R edge for 50m and TR across stile. TL, cross stile and follow R edge/hedge through gate, R edge/hedge, over stile by gate, ahead along wide farm track and cross stile under t/pole. Pass through trees (above Ballingham tunnel), up R fence and exit trees by next stile. Go through gap in fence, TR for 50m to hedge and TL to pass through gate (R) onto country lane.

3. Carey Court area. TL 40m just past Mews Cottage and TR through gate opposite Carey Court into paddock with stables. Go through gate in R corner and along upper R edge of fine field bank. Go through gate in R corner, along shady R edge and through gate next to stone barn. Descend drive, fork R, TR on surfaced road and where road bends L down towards (Upper Witherstone) Farm go straight ahead over stile into sloping pasture.

4. Telephone Wires. In the pasture, angle slightly R away from bottom wooded edge towards a fence corner, then climb quite stiffly to pick up line of right upper telephone wires. Pass just to R of reservoir, cross first stile by water tank, corner of crop field and second stile (if it has been reinstated). Turn half right (or go through gate above first stile) and pass through gate by barn and t/pole into farmyard.

5. Kilforge Farm. Go forward on to lane and TR for 40 paces. TL through unsigned gate and (with large barn behind), go very slightly L, then straight ahead through crop field to the far side.

Go ahead through gap at junction (above Ballingham tunnel again) and take L option to pick up R edge/hedge ahead. Follow wide farm track along R edge back to St Athan.

6. St Athan. TL down narrow footpath between dwellings, ahead beyond marker post, to a fine clearing with view above bend in River Wye. Bend L into trees, bend R to R fence steeply down over stile four steps to road.

Cross ahead through gate, steeply down through R perimeter of Sheepwash Cottage, gate and kgate to riverbank. Follow riverbank (R) to seat opposite Mansells (old) Ferry house.

7. Mansells Ferry. Now follow bank downstream over stile by hut through lower Ballingham Wood, out over stile, along R edge of field to where trees end. TR few paces up to TR through gate, up steps, and along upper L edge of wood all the way to a gate. Go through and maintain same line along R field edge to hairpin bend in road.

TL up road to Mayview Farm, cross stile opposite (L) to Ballingham Church, then TR back to Village Hall.