A very large party of walkers from Ross and other groups, 35 in all, took advantage of the sunny weather on October 31st for an eight mile walk in the hills and valleys around Grosmont, led by Neville.
The walk started from the A465 west of Llangua with a steady climb, and many awkward stiles, to reach the substantial remains of 12th century Grosmont Castle. After taking a welcome break for coffee they descended into the valley to follow the River Monnow past the weir as far as their lunch stop at Llangua Bridge.
After lunch, the group climbed gradually towards Rowelstone and visited the beautiful Norman church of St Peter, built around 1130 before turning east again to re-cross the Monnow and return to the cars. The walk allowed plenty of time to enjoy the views and this year's wonderful autumn colours.
The walk the following Tuesday, October 3rd, took place in somewhat different conditions! Torrential rain preceded the start of this three and a half mile morning walk, and wind had knocked down many of the leaves. However, it soon began to clear up as Sally led the nine walkers from Little Birch village hall to complete a figure of eight circuit of the area started a couple of week's before. The fallen leaves actually made many of the paths easier by providing a soft, and very colourful, carpet over the mud and rough stones of old rights of way.
In an area where mature conifers had been felled in Athelstans Wood, it was interesting to see how fast the naturally seeded birch was filling in the space between the planted broadleaved trees in their plastic tree shelters. This colourful, more open, area, set off the tall and more uniform stands of surrounding conifers. On the way back to the village hall the walkers stopped to look at the elaborate Victorian restoration of Higgins Well, a stone built edifice near a spring that was once of considerable importance to villagers and passing travellers. Sally explained that this had been a subject of much local controversy when the landowner, a Mr Higgins, had tried to fill in the spring to prevent their 'trespass'. He changed his mind when his house was flooded. Believing that the spirits of the spring were having their say, he built the well on this site which was subsequently restored for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
The Ramblers local monthly programme and contact information is displayed in Ross Library, the Tourist Information Centre, the Heritage Centre, and Escape (shop). There is also a country-wide walks finder on the internet at http://www.ramblers.org.uk">www.ramblers.org.uk