(S/E) From the main road in English Bicknor just to the South of the Church, take the dead end road called Balls Hill, signposted ‘Coldwell Walks’. Walk to the bottom of the hill and turn right on the road following the Coldwell Walks sign.
(1) After only 50m take the footpath on your left. Cross a stile and continue ahead to a gate. Take a diagonal left to a second gate. Pass through a third gate and cross the field to a stile. After the stile, continue ahead along a track. After 700m, you come to stile and the track ends shortly after in a field. Head diagonally left up through the field aiming for the right hand end of the hedge. When you reach the corner of the hedge continue ahead keeping the hedge on your left.
(2) When you reach the road, turn right and walk the short distance to the Forestry Commission ‘Yat Rock’ car park on your left. Walk a short distance until you reach the pay and display machine and signs on your right. At that point, turn right along the footpath. Walk through the car park past the wooden fingerpost to the refreshment hut. Walk past the refreshment building to the far left hand corner of the picnic area and take the steps that lead steeply downhill. The steps emerge onto a track. Turn right and walk up to the road. Turn left and walk, with care, down the road for approx.150m. (A)
(3) Turn right onto the public footpath near the bollards. Follow the footpath with care as it winds down through woodland for approx 1km before reaching the river bank and the Wye Valley Walk. Turn right along the Wye Valley Walk, with the river on your left.
(4) When you reach a metal kissing gate, turn right up a track that is bordered on the left by conifer trees and the right by broad leaved trees. Continue to follow the track as it climbs up away from the river. The track passes through a gate and continues on through woodland.
(5) The track eventually becomes a lane. Continue up the lane for approx 400m. About half way up, in woods to your right, is a strip of common land with two derelict lime kilns being restored as part of a community project. (B) After the kilns reach a T-junction. Turn left and retrace your footsteps back into the village of English Bicknor.(S/E)
Waypoints
S/E : km 0 - alt. 146 m - Main road in English Bricknor
1 : km 0.29 - alt. 127 m - Bottom of the hill
2 : km 1.93 - alt. 158 m - Woodlands Road
3 : km 2.67 - alt. 118 m - Public footpath
4 : km 3.71 - alt. 43 m - Metal kissing gate
5 : km 4.82 - alt. 95 m - Lane
S/E : km 5.72 - alt. 146 m - Main road in English Bricknor
Useful Information
Bus route: 35; 745 Bus stop : English Bicknor Village Refreshment : Café at Yat Rock car park
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
(A) At 600ft above sea level,Yat Rock viewpoint is a tourist hotspot attracting thousands of visitors every year to admire the views. The name comes from a local word for ‘gate’ or ‘pass’ or, rather more confusingly,‘rock’.''
''The viewpoint is at the tip of a triangular six-acre Iron Age hill fort and there is evidence of nearby caves being used by Mesolithic hunters. The river below was once heavily industrialised with iron ore mining and smelting. These days it is one of the best canoeing sites in Southern England and the rapids were bought by canoeists in 2003.
(B) Lime kilns were once common in the limestone areas of the lower Wye Valley and Forest of Dean – there were at least 10 in English Bicknor alone. The stone would be heaped on roaring fires rising to temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius, leaving behind ‘lump lime’ used to fertilize fields or mixed with water to produce ‘lime putty’ mortar or ‘lime wash’ used to waterproof walls, bleach paper or preserve leather.
Reviews and comments
4.3 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Clarity of route description 4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map 3.7 / 5
Walk interest 4.7 / 5
Bob4MH
Overall rating :
4 / 5
Date of walk : 11/09/21 Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
As noted by others parking seemed impossible until the spot opposite the school was found. A very pleasant walk, easy to follow. Quiet apart from the Yat Rock car park area, but you can take advantage of the facilities there. The path(s) zigzaging down to the river at 3 had just been cleared and made obvious. The only downside was the long climb back up from the river which got steeper at the end!
hamishcrob
Overall rating :
4.3 / 5
Date of walk : 16/06/21 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
We really enjoyed this varied and interesting walk, with the views from Yat Rock spectacular.
The directions were a bit frustrating, especially as there are several exits from the path down from Yat Rock -- we went to the foot of the path as indicated, but then had to use Google Maps to get back on track, adding over a mile to the walk, so more specific instructions would have been helpful. As a previous reviewer said, car parking was difficult to find though obvious when we got to the Primary School Car Park itself, so an update to this would be good.
doughumphries
Overall rating :
4.7 / 5
Date of walk : 07/09/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Finding a parking space isn’t obvious so we parked on a grass verge opposite the Primary School in EB. A pleasant stroll initially through pastures with a gradual ascent with wonderful views from the top. Symonds Yat was a welcome break with toilets, refreshments and fantastic views of the River Wye meanders. The route down through the Forest from the road to the river was narrow and a bit overgrown in places which added to the adventure. Open meadows then welcomed us as we ascended back up to EB. We were blessed with fine weather which enhanced the journey with its outstanding views.
