Ross Ramblers started from the car-park at Bishopswood for the Tuesday morning walk on December 9th.

They crossed the river by Kerne Bridge and joined the Wye Valley Walk, eventually turning back up through the woods to join the Welsh Bicknor road above Goodrich.

It was a clear frosty morning giving great views of the bridge and the valley. Sometimes the walking was safer on the muddy paths than on the black ice on the road.

The redundant paper factory buildings on the east bank of the river came into view as the walkers started the descent from the road to Welsh Bicknor Youth Hostel. It was once the rectory to the disused church at Welsh Bicknor. In 1651 the manor house and surrounding land were seized from the Catholic Richard Vaughan and given to Phillip Nicholas of Llansoy in Monmouthshire. From that time until an Act of Parliament in 1884 this area was a detached part of Monmouthshire, hence the name "Welsh" Bicknor.

From here the 14 walkers squelched through the woods but crossed still-frozen fields back to the start point after about 6.5 miles.

Recovering from the Ross Ramb-lers' Christmas festivities the previous day, just seven walkers set out on Sunday, December 14th, in glorious weather, for a nine mile circular route. The outward section from Ledbury to Coddington church passed through the village of Wellington Heath and then through Raven Hill Wood. It was heavy going in places due to rain on the Friday night. The return took walkers over Oyster Hill with great views of the Malvern Hills and the Black Mountains. They then passed Hope End House - once the childhood home of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning - and finally walked through Frith Wood back into Ledbury.

For details of the morning walk on Tuesday 23 December contact Thelma on 01989 563874. The local Ramblers Association Winter Festival walk on Saturday, December 27th, will be a seven mile energetic walk in the hills south of Ross, leaving Fernbank Road car park at 10 am. Bring packed lunch. Details from Yvonne 01594 839294. Ross Ramblers welcomes non members on their walks, at their own risk. Please wear suitable clothes and footwear for country walking and contact the leader if you are in doubt about the grade of walk