(S/E) From the Forest Retreat, turn left downhill and follow Broom Hill road for 1⁄2 mile to the Bracelands entrance, on your right.
(1) Follow the track heading straight on beyond the entrance, passing a wooden barrier. By a gate from the campsite, turn left, with a grey waymark and a sign to “River”.
(2) At the bottom of the valley, turn right, still following the grey waymarks along the stream. After 1⁄4 mile, look out for a disused mine level on your right. Continue down the valley; after 3⁄4 mile you cross the Wysis Way and shortly afterwards pass the Oldstone Well spring on your right.
(3) On reaching the River Wye, turn right and follow the riverside path for 1 mile to Symonds Yat East.
(4) Beyond the Royal Lodge Hotel, take the walled footpath on the right signposted to Yat Rock.
After 200 yards, turn right up steps through the trees and past a bench. The path continues uphill with intermittent steps; at the next junction by a wooden fence, turn right (again signposted “Yat Rock”). On meeting a broad path below a barrier, take a few steps left then take the path opposite, still climbing with intermittent steps.
(5) Just before the road, turn right up some stone steps and past a small, low cave on your left. A further flight of stone steps leads up to the picnic area by the Symonds Yat Café.
(6) Cross to the footbridge and bear left along the boardwalk to visit the Yat Rock viewpoint. Returning to the café, bear left through the staff car park to the road. Follow a footpath on the right that passes behind a white- painted house.
(7) Cross the entrance road for the main Symonds Yat car park and continue along the path ahead (with yellow “Christchurch to Symonds Yat walk” waymarks, which you will follow from now on).
(8) After 600 yards cross the exit road from the car park, still following the yellow-waymarked path. Ignore a track on the right and climb to pass to the left of Mailscot Lodge. The path continues beyond the drive, shortly crossing another forest road (within sight of the road on your left).
(9) Cross another forest road, still following the mostly level path with the woodland sloping down to your right. Eventually you pass the assault course on your right and emerge past a barrier onto a road. Turn left to return to the Forest Retreat. (S/E)
