Walking BritainGoodrich Circular
Riverside Walk + Woodland + Castle
Wye Valley Forest of Dean Walk
Region - Wye Valley Forest of Dean
County/Area - Herefordshire
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 6.5 miles / 10.6 km Ascent - 900 feet / 273 metres
Time - 4 hours 10 minutes Grade - easy/mod
Walk Route Description
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A beautiful and varied walk from Goodrich which includes the isolated church of St Margaret's at Welsh Bicknor, a riverside walk beside the River Wye together with some woodland and open park land. The route is easy to follow and offers the chance to visit Goodrich Castle which occupies a strategic position overlooking the Wye. A visit to the castle adds 800 metres to the distance.
The start is the Goodrich Castlecar park (grid ref. SO576196) on Castle Lane which is signed from the village. After parking return down the lane and reaching a junction turn left onto a no-through road signed for the Youth Hostel and Welsh Bicknor. The lane, which sees little traffic, climbs steadily out of the valley. After 400 metres the lane forks. Keep left and continue to climb through woodland with occasional views across the surrounding area. After crossing a cattle grid the lane passes through open parkland and stats to descend. Reaching a fork, keep right and bear right in front of gates with pillars. This lane leads to the Youth Hostel. After 100 metres veer right onto a footpath which descends steeply. Continue downhill keeping left at a path junction and continue to St Margaret's Church and the River Wye (grid ref. SO592176).
Turn sharp left to gain the riverside path. You soon pass Slowfield Bridge which once carried a railway across the river. Continue ahead with the river on your left for 4.5 kilometres to where woodland drops down to the riverbank. The route joins a farm track veering right away from the river. Just before reaching Mainoaks Farm, turn right over a stile to gain access to Coppett Hill Nature Reserve. The path runs beside a wall on your left and climbs steadily. Exiting the trees, keep ahead up a concrete track, pass some cottages, and join a tarmac lane. This lane leads into the lane used at the start of the walk. Bear left and continue into Goodrich, turning right up Castle Lane to reach the start of the walk.
Maps 
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL14 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL14 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Digital Map Subscription | |||
| Latest Ordnance Survey Discounts | |||
Other walks nearby
| Walk 3214 | Symonds Yat, High Meadow Woods & Wye Valley | moderate | 12.0 miles |
| Walk 3302 | Symonds Yat Rock and the Biblins | easy/mod | 4.0 miles |
| Walk 3243 | Garway Hill Common & Kentchurch | easy/mod | 6.3 miles |
| Walk 2192 | Wye Valley Walk | easy/mod | 6.6 miles |
| Walk 2688 | St Briavels Circular | easy/mod | 7.5 miles |
| Walk 3750 | River Severn from Arlingham | easy | 6.0 miles |
| Walk 2817 | The Marcle Ridge from Much Marcle | easy/mod | 7.0 miles |
| Walk 1870 | Dymock Daffodil Walk | easy/mod | 9.0 miles |
| Walk 3723 | Garway Hill from Kentchurch | easy/mod | 6.4 miles |
| Walk 2832 | The Wye Valley | easy/mod | 5.8 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking in the Forest of Dean
Guidebook to 25 walks in the Forest of Dean, between the Severn and Wye, from 4-mile routes to all-day sections of long-distance trails such as the Offa's Dyke Path and Gloucestershire Way, this guide is ideal for exploring the forest and its history and includes the information needed for walkers of all abilities to explore this ancient area.
More information
Walking in the Wye Valley
Guidebook to 30 varied walks of 3 - 10 miles, in the valley of the Wye, the most scenic river in England and Wales, between Chepstow in the south and Plynlimon. Landscape ranges from open moorland to wooded gorges and is dotted with the sites of Iron Age hillforts and castles. Centres include Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Hay-on-Wye and Rhayader.
More information
