The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Bridstow

Fabulous and iconic Sandstone building, centrepiece of Ross on Wye.

This unusual and eyecatching church up on it's hill dominates the village of Hoarwithy, and it's most spectacular feature is the Italianate tower.

According to Harper Bridges - This bridge was commissioned by the congregations of the churches of Sellack Boat and King’s Caple and built in 1895. The towers are of tubular cast iron, with nameplate transoms embossed “Louis Harper AIMCE, Maker, Aberdeen”. The original cables to common anchorages are still in place, as are their hangers. However, at some stage (nobody seems to know when or why) further short cables were clamped to the original, presumably to support areas of wear and avoid cable replacement. This has led to crowding at the saddles. However, the bridge is still used and the local churches continue to hold their ‘Bridge Thanksgiving’ ceremony each year. This area is noted for its flooding but so far the bridge has held since the arched deck remains above the flow, although the approaches are inundated. It lacks the original longitudinal deck boarding but the original camber is well maintained. This bridge is the best illustration of the method of attachment of hangars to main cable employed by John and Louis Harper

The view of Ross on Wye on its hill as seen from the end of Wilton Bridge. Dominating the scene is the spire of the church of St Mary the Virgin, which is one of the biggest churches in Herefordshire. Using the words of Ross on Wye.com, the spire towers 205 feet into the air and dates back to the 14th Century but was rebuilt in 1721 and the pinnacles were added using funds supplied by John Kyrle. The spire was repaired in 1852 after lightening struck it and more repairs were needed in 1911. More recently, the top of the spire was rebuilt in 1952 using funds donated by the public.

In the words of the National Tranport Trust - Wilton Bridge is an exceptionally fine red sandstone bridge. In 1597 an Act was passed authorising its construction. It was completed within the next 2 years. There are five semi- circular arches each with 3 ribs and massive cutwaters on each side, carried up and splayed back from the outer angle at parapet level forming semi-hexagonal refuges. At the point where the splay dies out is a moulded string which is mitred and carried up to the angle against the spandrils of the arches and then mitred and carried across to form a label above the arches. The voussoirs of the arches are chamfered and joggled and have various masons' marks. On the upstream side the bridge has been widened but now the parapet has been replaced by a wooden handrail. The South East approach to the bridge has been rebuilt in ashlar with 2 flights of stone steps to the river bank. The sundial, formerly in one of the refuges has disappeared, and only the base of the pedestal remains. All in all it is a fine bridge, and has done well to weather the floods that happen most winters - as evidenced by the erosion of even the top stones on the arches.

Another example of a delightful little valley that descends from the nearby hills down to the river. Mainly grassland with woodland, it is quiet and peaceful.

You can see the remains of the railway bridge pillars which look as if they should be part of the old town walls or a castle. There are good information boards that give a lot of detail of the railway and life back then.

The walk alongside the Wye from the canoe club to Wilton bridge is lovely and rightly popular. For photographers there are only a few places where you can get an unobstructed view as there is a fair amount of bushes and small trees on the river bank that get in the way.