Lea and Paget’s Wood is a gentle, quiet ancient woodland with wide paths and space to stretch little legs. It is cool and shady with gaps in the trees where the sun streams through and a breeze to keep the air fresh. There is a small parking area and wide gateways make this wander suitable for off-road pushchairs. Only 20 mins from Hereford city centre this is a great place to experience some peace and quiet in an open, airy woodland.
Lea and Paget’s Wood
Distance: just over 3/4 mile
Time: around an hour at toddler speed
Guide
From the parking area head back down the hill past the detached garage on your left. The gate way with a style is on your left opposite the white house.
Go through the gate and down the grassy track to the next gate. Through here and follow straight on along the trail next to a fence. This bridleway is part of the Wye Valley Walk.
Soon you will arrive at the gate into the woods. Through this gate you step into a bright, airy woodland with a wide, well maintained path.
After a short while there is a trail heading down through the trees on the right, we went this way.
And turned left at the bottom where there is a useful information sign. We’re not sure how accurate this map is, see our map below for more detail.
If you have brought a pushchair then stay on this trail and wander to the end, turning left at the junction (see our map below).
If you’re after a bit more adventure then follow us down the trail to the right of the information sign!
Over the wooden footbridge…
.. and up the hill next to the fence line, turning left by the tree with the blue dot.
There are so many wonderful things to look at in these woods. Our adventurer really loves moss at the moment and spent ages hunting down and touching different patches of moss! It’s also beautiful to look up at the canopy and all of the different shaped leaves, how many trees can you identify?
Keep following this trail through the trees until you come to a clearing with the most amazing tree-top bench! Unfortunately it was just mummy and her adventurer on this wander so we couldn’t safely enjoy the view from this seat but we might well return with another grown up as it looks like fantastic fun.
We followed the trail next to the tree-bench and onwards through the woods. Our wander took place at the end of summer therefore the path was quite overgrown, keep in mind that your adventurer may need a lift over some of the bushier bits.
When you arrive at a t-junction, turn left.
The view above was beautiful here too.
This trail now re-joins the bridleway that we started out on. Wander past two right hand turns… (you could add an extra loop onto this wander by taking the first right hand turn which should bring you out at the second right hand turn, see Herefordshire Wildlife Trust map).
… and take the right hand fork (this is where the wider trail from next to the information sign comes out).
Keep left at this post…
… and this post.
There are lots of different shaped boxes on the trees for birds and other things? And of course, more moss!
This bridleway now winds down through the woods back to the gate that we came through.
Before you head out of the woods take a look at the lime kilns next to the track. They look like mounds of earth and then you spot the brickwork. Don’t let little adventurers explore these alone as they could easily slip inside.
Head back through the gate and follow the grassy track back to the parking area. Make sure you take a good look at the fabulous view across the Wye Valley.
Use this map to guide you on your way. Click to enlarge.
Directions: From Hereford take the B4224 to Fownhope. After driving through Fownhope take the first left, Hawkers Lane. Continue on Hawkers Lane, past 2 right hand turns for Common Hill Lane. When you see the garage (pictured below) on your right keep driving past the driveway and as you go under the trees you’ll see a small parking area on your right.
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