Walking the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way
The Golden Valley Pilgrim Way is a walker’s paradise, with options for a 30 mile or a 60-mile circular route from the city. This is a land steeped in myth and legend, offering rolling hills, deep valleys and a special tranquility. The route showcases the best of our historic monuments and ancient remote churches, with glorious views at every turn. The path starts and finishes at the impressive Hereford Cathedral where pilgrims have been coming for a very long time.
i'm delighted to share two of my favourite sections from the walk but it goes without saying that the entire route is a complete joy.
Sarah Price is an experienced, qualified, and professional walk leader who runs Walk Hay. She has a background in fitness, but also in the church of England and can lead pilgrimages as day walks in a non-religious, or in a Christian way.
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I am passionate about introducing people to the stunning countryside around my local area here in the Golden Valley. Being out there in nature with others sharing in a walk together is a powerful, healing and sometimes, transformative experience. Leading pilgrims recently has been a real privilege.
A Special Experience
The uniqueness of the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way comes from the fact that it’s the only pilgrim path in Britain now that has the facility to accommodate you, if you so wish, in some of the small churches along the way, and in return a donation is asked for to support the local churches who open their doors to you. Walkers can even stay overnight in Hereford Cathedral. Taking overnight sanctuary in churches en route really adds to the experience, although it is still wonderful to walk it in sections as a series of day hikes. Overnight stays in the churches must be booked in advance, contact abbeydoredmc@gmail.com for more details.
You really don’t have to be religious to enjoy the Pilgrim Way, and it can be walked as just a normal route, or if you do have faith of any description, you are welcome to walk in contemplation, having set your intention each time you set out for the day perhaps.
Just like the famous Compostella pilgrim way, you can purchase a beautifully designed credential (passport), which then can be stamped with differently designed stamps along the route in some of the churches. A great way to have a sense of achievement, and a helpful and nostalgic way to remember where you visited.
Walking the Wye: Hereford Cathedral to Madley or Tyberton
Starting at the famous Hereford Cathedral, this first section of the route is super special as you strike out from this historic building following the mighty river Wye out of the city into the beautiful fields of Herefordshire. My recommendation is that you book a Cathedral tour before you set off to really get in tune with the history of the area and soak up the atmosphere whist gazing at all the stunning architecture. Get your first stamp in your credential from the shop here, and then off you go!
Pilgrims can stay at the cathedral overnight (booking required), joining a throng of pilgrims stretching back into history who stayed here before you. It’s a relatively easy flat walk this section through farmland, small woods, and using quiet lanes. Choose to stop in Madley village (6.5 miles away)where there is a shop, a pub and a huge church, or keep going to Tyberton hamlet (10 miles away) where there is an impressive Georgian church with fantastic, boxed pews.
If you are wanting to do this section as a day walk, my suggestion is to park in Madley village, hop on the small bus which will take you to the start in Hereford enabling you to have your car at the end. If you are continuing the route the next day, then you may well want to consider stopping at Tyberton rather than Madley, as it reduces the next day’s mileage, and it’s one of the longer sections.
Under the Cat's Back: Michaelchurch Escley to Clodock
A fantastic section, and the most remote. stunning countryside set under the Black Mountain ridge which forms the border of England and Wales
The longest section, if you choose to walk from Ewyas Harold to Clodock, but boy it’s my favourite! You're remote when you start, but as you walk up and over through farmland to Craswall, it becomes spectacular. There is so much history and beauty to see on this walk. There are four ancient churches containing Celtic stones, and many other marvels as well as a Norman castle at Longtown, all set under the impressive wall of the ‘Cat’s back ridge’. And further on, the higher ridge above Longtown has the famous ‘Offas Dyke’ long distance footpath along the top. The views will take your breath way at every turn!
This route is challenging with lots of ups and downs, but it's so worth it to walk in the footsteps of monks, traders, drovers, priests and pilgrims before, who all travelled through this historic valley, is a wonderful experience.
It's a total of 12 miles from Michaelchurch Escley to Clodock or start at Craswell Church to make it 7.5 miles.
