Walks

The county has 2,164 miles of public footpaths, bridleways and byways, from riverside paths along the Wye to the hills of the Black Mountains and the Malvern Hills (Hereford Council, July 2024). Here are some ideas for where to walk, and some simple guidelines to help you stay safe and look after the countryside.

Why walking is good for you

Spending time in the countryside is good for both body and mind. It lets you see nature up close, breathe fresh air and get some gentle exercise, and it can help to reduce stress. A large study of nearly 20,000 people in England found that people who spent at least two hours a week in nature were significantly more likely to report good health and wellbeing (White et al., Scientific Reports, 2019).

Where to walk

Herefordshire has walks for everyone, from short strolls to long-distance trails.

Long-distance trails (Visit Herefordshire):

• The Herefordshire Trail: a 154-mile circular route around the county, passing through Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye, Kington, Leominster and Bromyard.
• Offa’s Dyke Path: a 177-mile National Trail that runs in and out of the county between Hay Bluff and Kington.
• The Wye Valley Walk: 136 miles in total, with about 57 miles in Herefordshire.
• The Mortimer Trail: 30 miles from Ludlow to Kington.
• The Three Choirs Way: about 100 miles linking Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester.

Shorter walks:

• Herefordshire Council’s walks and trails has circular walks with maps across the county.
• Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Herefordshire offers free, friendly short walks of 10 to 90 minutes on easy ground, led by trained volunteers, in towns including Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Bromyard and Kington.
• Herefordshire Ramblers run regular group walks of different lengths across the county.

Walking festivals:

Kington holds spring and autumn walking festivals, and Ross-on-Wye has its own walking festival each year. Check Visit Herefordshire’s events listings for dates.

The Countryside Code

Please remember that the countryside is also where many people live and work. Follow the Countryside Code, which asks everyone to respect, protect and enjoy the outdoors.

• Know where you can go. Stick to public rights of way, unless you’re on open access land, where you can walk freely. An Ordnance Survey map at a good scale shows clearly where public rights of way run. You can also check paths on Herefordshire Council’s public rights of way map.
• Leave gates as you find them. Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls.
• Leave farm animals, machinery and crops alone.
• Take your litter home, including dog poo bags.
• Be courteous to everyone, including other walkers, cyclists, horse riders, farmers and landowners.

Walking with dogs

Many public rights of way cross fields with cattle, sheep and horses, and sadly there have been incidents that have ended in tragedy for both animals and walkers.

• Keep your dog on a lead around farm animals. On open access land, dogs must be on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July, and near farm animals all year round.
• Take extra care in spring and early summer, when lambs and calves are young. Their mothers can be very protective and may behave aggressively if they feel threatened.
• If cattle or horses chase you and your dog, let your dog off the lead. Don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be able to outrun them, and you’ll be safer too.

Help keep paths open

If you find a path that is blocked, overgrown or has a broken stile or gate, please report it to Herefordshire Council using its report a highways issue form. Reporting problems helps keep the county’s paths open for everyone.

Enjoy your time in the countryside, and help us protect it for future generations.