An attractive four and a half mile circular walk from Pontesbury on riverside paths, across farmland, country lanes and village streets.
This walk takes you along the banks of the Rea Brook that runs quietly through pasture land to the babbling Pontesford Brook and on to the local beauty spot of Lyd Holes Waterfall. Look out for riverside wildlife. Mostly gates, a few stiles and one steep section.
Toilets are available in the village along with refreshments.
Walk down the main road, cross the A488 in to Station Road and continue for ½ mile to a kissing gate on the right. Cross two fields, via a gate, to a kissing gate. Cross the track to a gate and keeping the hedge on your right pass through two double gated sleeper bridges to a third on the right where you pass through the hedge into a large field. Bear left for a few yards to the Rea Brook.
Follow the bank downstream to a sleeper bridge and kissing gate (CAUTION – The banks of the brook are steep and deep – DO NOT walk too close to the edge!). Continue along the bank for 200 yards before bearing right to a double gated bridge, cross the next field to a kissing gate on to Hinton Lane.
Turn left for 20 yards on the lane to a gate on your right. Turn left along the field edge to the Pontesford Brook. Follow the Brook upstream, passing an old weir, to a sleeper bridge and gate. (A 50 yard diversion left at this point takes you to the old railway bridge over the brook). Turn right up the steps to the old railway line. Go right to a track crossing the line and turn left to the main road (A488).
Cross the A488 (WITH GREAT CARE) to a tarmac drive 50 yards to your left along the road, marked with a caravan site sign. Follow the drive passing a house on your left (Please be aware there may be dogs loose in the garden). It becomes a grassy track leading to a large metal gate and a pedestrian gate into a field. Bear left down the field to a kissing gate. Continue ahead through a meadow, with the Brook to your left, to a large gate into the wood and the Lyd Holes waterfall in the steep side valley (NOTE: This path is a permissive path which is open with the kind permission of the owner - please treat it with respect).
Take the path on your right that climbs up steps through the wood to a pond on your left and a wooden kissing gate. Bear slightly right across the field to a wooden kissing gate and a stony track. Follow the track past two pools on your left to the Pontesford Hill Road. Turn left for 50 yards to a track on your right and follow it past a cattle grid and gate. Turn right across the field to a kissing gate and turn right down the drive to Bogey Lane. Turn left, passing the Library and Cemetery, to the Village centre and School Green.
