logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

The Hergest Ridge from Kington

Herefordshire Walk

County/Area - Herefordshire & Powys

Author - Peter Lane

Length - 8.5 miles / 13.8 km    Ascent - 1200 feet / 364 metres

Time - 5 hours 30 minutes    Grade - moderate

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 201Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 201Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 148Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 148Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - The Hergest Ridge from Kington
Click image to visit gallery of 6 images.

A walk on one of the finest parts of the Offa's Dyke path along the Hergest Ridge, immortalised by Mike Oldfield in his album of the same name released in 1974. Starting from the quaint market town of Kington near the Welsh border, this is a superb route to delight any hill walker or Marilyn bagger.

The start point for this walk is the pay and display car park opposite the museum in Crabtree Road off Mill Street West, grid reference SO296565. This is a convenient spot with facilities opposite and ready access to the town for browsing, eating, drinking or visiting the free museum. Impecunious ramblers can drive further up Mill Street and park on the road near the recreation ground for free.

Leave the car park and return towards the High Street, turning up the hill on Church Street to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Pass through the churchyard and then cross Montfort Road and head up Ridgebourne Road, signposted to Hergest Croft Gardens. This road becomes a track which is well signposted as the Offa's Dyke National Trail (acorn symbol). This route is straightforward over the entire ridge. Look out for the remains of the racecourse around the summit and, obviously, the spectacular views. Marilyn hill and trig point baggers will have to make a slight detour to the left to achieve the summit proper. This worthwhile, short diversion will afford some great views back to the Shropshire hills and forward to the Welsh hills.

Descend the well marked path to where the final "peak" along the ridge is ahead on the right at grid reference SO240553 and take the bridlepath doubling back along the side of the ridge. This path follows the 350m contour for the most part, providing a less strenuous return route. When it meets the bridlepath that descends from the summit ridge, it is demoted to a footpath, but continues along the same direction. Continue until it returns to the outward route and Ridgebourne Road. Retrace back to the car park. Take some time to explore the free museum and pleasant market town.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3614 Herrock Hill from Kingtonmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 3565 The Hergest Ridge from Gladestryeasy/mod6.1 miles
Walk 3023 Great Rhos & the Radnor Forest from New Radnormoderate9.0 miles
Walk 1787 Pembridge, Eardisland & the Arrow Valleyeasy/mod7.4 miles
Walk 3643 LLan-fawr & Lugg Valley from Whittonmoderate7.5 miles
Walk 1673 Shobdon Hill and Croft Ambrey from Shobdon Estatemoderate12.5 miles
Walk 1998 Harley's Mountain from Lingeneasy/mod7.5 miles
Walk 1950 Golden Valley - Hardwicke to Dorstonemoderate11.4 miles
Walk 2179 Merbach Hilleasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 3631 Panpunton Hill & Stowe from Knightonmoderate7.8 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

No suggestions for this area.

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.