The Herefordshire Trail: Whitney Bridge to Kington

AD: This post is in collaboration with Visit Herefordshire.

The Herefordshire Trail has been revamped with new waymarkers for visitors looking to embark on a scenic walk this summer. 

Herefordshire Council, Herefordshire Ramblers and Visit Herefordshire have collaborated to improve the 154 mile trail that encompasses this beautiful English county, passing through thick forests, open countryside and picturesque towns and villages like Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury.

The Herefordshire Walking Festival

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Herefordshire Walking Festival, and to celebrate the relaunch of the trail there’s a ‘walk the trail in a day’ event on the 17th June. 
The trail has been broken up into 15 sections so you can pick a route that appeals to you. Visit Herefordshire have created a 48 page guide you can download from their website that shares highlights from each section.

Section 8: Whitney Bridge to Kington

I followed the route from Whitney Bridge to Kington (section 8 of the Herefordshire Trail), which began in Whitney-on-Wye on its old toll bridge that is still in use today. The trail then led me through a dense forest on an incline before passing through the churchyard in Brilley and onto open countryside and fields of sheep. 

One of my favourite elements of this route was the panoramic views of the rolling hills and mountains you enjoy now and again – excellent on a clear and sunny day.

Nature was thriving in the summer sunshine so a walking stick proved useful to hold back any encroaching nettles. 

Lunch in Eardisley 

A few miles into the 11.9 mile route is the quaint village of Eardisley, an ideal spot to stop off and refresh before continuing on to Kington – I popped into The New Strand which has a coffee shop/restaurant, bar and second hand bookshop.

Related post: Medieval Towns and Villages in England for Photography

The trail also includes Upper Welson Marsh, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, before leading through crop fields that rippled and swayed on a fresh breeze and another view of the hills and rolling farmland.

Towards the end of the route I hiked across numerous grassy fields filled with flowers, before crossing the river into Kington.

#FollowTheApple and OS Maps

I’d highly recommend downloading the ‘OS Maps’ application to your mobile device when embarking on the Herefordshire Trail. The new waymarkers are yellow with a red apple on – these will let you know you’re on track, but I did like having the route laid out on the app to recall as and when required.

Once you’ve installed it and signed up, find the section of the trail on Visit Herefordshire’s website and select ‘View on OS Maps’ which should then open on the app.

The Pound B&B, Whitney-on-Wye

Section 8 of the Herefordshire Trail can be done in a day, but if you’d like to extend your trip over a weekend or during a holiday, then you can replicate my itinerary by staying in The Pound B&B in Whitney-on-Wye and enjoy dinner at The Boat Inn, both of which have a beautiful view of the river and fields beyond.

If you’re bringing luggage for a longer trip you can use Eco Carriers to transfer your luggage to your next destination on the Herefordshire Trail.

The Walking Hub, Kington

In Kington, The Walking Hub shop and B&B is located in the village near the clock tower where healthy self-serve breakfast options greet you in the morning.

The Cattle Shed, Kington

Just outside of Kington village is a stunning period property called Penrhos Court. The Cattle Shed is their own cafe and restaurant where I ate a beautifully presented pasta dish and was served by a very friendly team.

The Stagg Inn, Titley

From Kington you can also walk section 9 of the Herefordshire Trail, I walked some of it to The Stagg Inn in Titley, a pub that has several awards and accolades attached to it.  

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