Herefordshire is well-known for its black-and-white villages and the finest of all is Weobley, although village is probably a misnomer. Weobley is really a town, or it was in its heyday.

It had a formidable castle, was represented in Parliament, grew rich on the wool trade and served as an important market centre.

By Herefordshire standards it probably still is a town, but to most eyes it's a village, albeit one crammed with an extraordinary collection of buildings.

Every timber construction style from the 14th Century onward is present here: crucks, cross-wings, bessamers, braces, posts, panels, trusses and studs are all to be seen at Weobley.

It also has Herefordshire's only two examples of the wealden house, a mediaeval type more usually associated with Kent and Sussex.

Even a number of new houses built in Weobley over the past few years are timber-framed - not the mock-Tudor type but the real thing, with wooden pegs holding the timbers together in the traditional way.

Not much remains of Weobley Castle, or no masonry anyway.

The earthworks are still much in evidence, with a ringwork and bailey, an outer bank and a moat.

The first castle on this site would have been timber and was probably built by Walter de Lacy soon after the Norman Conquest.

The castle saw action on a number of occasions and featured in the civil war of King Stephen's reign (1135-54).

It was probably another Walter de Lacy, High Sheriff of Herefordshire from 1216 to 1223, who replaced his ancestor's wooden structure with a stone one.

At its peak the castle apparently had six round towers and a rectangular keep. It was a substantial structure which was an important part of the county's defences.

After the de Lacys, Weobley Castle belonged to a succession of other notable families, including the Devereux, the Dukes of Somerset and finally the Thynnes, who have it still but are better known as the owners of Longleat.

As well as Weobley, the walk includes a visit to Dilwyn, a handsome village with black-and-white houses, a 13th Century church, a pub, a tea shop and a green with a magnificent chestnut tree.

There's a fair bit of road-walking to be done, reflecting the unusual scarcity of footpaths in these parts.

However, only the quietest of country lanes are used, including a charming, unfenced one across goose-grazed commons at Weobley Marsh.

DISCLAIMER

This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.

FACTFILE

Start: Weobley (SW of Leominster, NW of Hereford); GR 403515.

Length: 8 miles/13km.

Maps: OS Landranger 148, OS Explorer 202.

Terrain: Field paths and quiet lanes, with gentle gradients.

Stiles: 15, plus one locked gate.

Parking: Car park in Weobley.

Public transport: Bus or train to Hereford then Sargeants Coaches 461/462 to Weobley, Monday-Saturday only; County Bus Line 08457 125436.

Refreshments: Good choice in Weobley; pub, shop and tea room at Dilwyn; pub at Ledgemoor.The walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.