Edwyn to Edvin

The trail passes through Edwyn Ralph, where the church of St Michael and All Angels merits a visit. It dates from c1170 and contains seven interesting monuments. There are six effigies, the earliest of which dates from c1290, and an incised slab of c1425 in memory of Maud de Edefin. Maud's family name varied throughout the generations, also being recorded as Edefen, Zeddefen, Yedefen and Gedeven, but eventually the village became known as Edwyn.

It was probably from Radulphus de Yedefen, recorded in a document of 1176, that it acquired the suffix Ralph. The remains of a moated motte-and-bailey castle survive in the pasture next to the church, to the west of the footpath.

Another version of Edefin is evident at nearby Edvin Loach, where the ruins of 11th-century St Mary's Church are in the care of English Heritage.

A Victorian church designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott stands close by. There's no footpath access to Edvin Loach but it's worth the short detour along the lane, not just for the churches, but for the far-reaching views.

DIRECTIONS

1 The first two-and-a-half miles are on the Herefordshire Trail, which you can join on Church Lane. Soon after passing St Peter's Church, the lane descends towards a road. Bear right to cross the road at a footbridge.

Descend steps on the left and turn right past a house. Walk along a field edge, cross the River Frome and turn left through a long field. Ignore a stile on the left and walk the length of the field, crossing a stile at the far end. Keep pretty much straight on through three more fields, with a brook on your right at first, and then a wood.

2 Having skirted the wood you cross into a pasture. There's a white-painted house on the left and Buckenhill Manor is on the right, about 500m away. Walk forward across the pasture for about 50m to intercept a bridleway. It's not waymarked, but you can't miss it. Turn left and follow it past the white house, then on towards the Tenbury road. Join a path on the right just before you reach the road. This is easily followed through two fields, keeping to the edge of the second one.

3 Cross a track to pick up the trail again to the right of a driveway. Go diagonally down a sloping field to find a stile to another field. Turn left. The path is easily followed now, through several fields, keeping mainly to the edges. The only problem arises in the second of two maize fields, where the right of way runs obliquely left across the field. Though some effort does seem to have been made to make a path, it is only about 30cm wide (the law requires a width of one metre for cross-field paths) and has been all but obliterated by the maize. Try to find it if you wish or follow the right-hand field edge instead, turning left in the corner. Cross a footbridge into pasture and bear right to St Michael's Church. Turn left through the churchyard, then left on a lane.

4 Join a footpath on the right. Proceed for a few paces along a track then climb a stile on the left and turn right through two fields to a path junction at a gate. Leave the Herefordshire Trail and turn right along the edge of the next field. Go straight on to meet a lane and turn left. Ignore a bridleway branching right after 250m and carry on along the lane, which itself becomes a bridleway a little further on.

5 Turn left on a footpath at a cattle grid and walk to Bodkin Hall. Pass to the left of it then go diagonally down a field to a footbridge. Walk uphill through a wood then across a field to a stile. The right of way goes through the yard of a kennels but has long been obstructed. Herefordshire Council is bringing a prosecution but in the meantime walkers should skirt to the left of the property (permissive access is allowed by the neighbouring landowner). You should also beware aggressive dogs running free here. Follow a field edge up to a track and proceed to a lane. Turn left to visit Edvin Loach then walk back down the lane as far as a lodge. Join a bridleway on the right. Turn left after 100m on a footpath and go downhill to cross a brook. Walk up another field to the top.

6 You should be able to go straight on here, but the footpath is temporarily closed, so turn right to find a gate. Turn left on a bridleway, which keeps to field edges before skirting Buckenhill Manor and turning right to return to the junction described in point two. Turn left, retracing your steps to Bromyard. When you rejoin Church Lane you can either return the same way or turn left on a footpath for a different route into town.

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