The Castle & The Common

Yarpole

5.6 miles

Ending Pub is Dog Friendly

Intro

A circular walk in the wooded areas of Oaker and Bircher Coppices. Includes a county-distinctive detached bell tower church dating back to 1332, and Croft Castle which harks back to a similar period.

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One of the six Herefordshire Churches that has an unusual detached bell tower dating back to 1332. The three large enclosures are thought to represent stock and farmstead enclosures dating from the Iron Age. Within the wooded areas of Oaker and Bircher Coppices and Lyngham Vallet, there are remains of circular levelled platforms once used for charcoal burning.

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recommended route Hiking Trail · Herefordshire

The Castle & The Common

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Visit Herefordshire

Follow the Castle and Commons Trail in Herefordshire to explore historic castles, open commons, and charming countryside villages steeped in heritage.
Photo: www.wheelywonderfulcycling.co.uk, Visit Herefordshire

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A circular walk in the wooded areas of Oaker and Bircher Coppices. Includes a county-distinctive detached bell tower church dating back to 1332, and Croft Castle which harks back to a similar period.

moderate

Distance 6.6 mi

2:50 h

866 ft

906 ft

305 ft

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Visit Herefordshire

Difficulty

moderate

Overall difficulty

moderate

Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

906 ft

Lowest point

305 ft

Best time of year

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Track types

Asphalt

2.5 mi

Forested/wild trail

2.3 mi

Path

1.2 mi

Road

26 ft

Unknown

2927 ft

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Roadbook

This route takes you to the east of Leonard’s Church in Yarpole, where you will come across the church with a detached bell tower. These bell towers were built with thick stone walls and are thought by some historians to have doubled up as places of refuge or safety when the village was threatened.

On the walk, the path up to Bircher Common is very well signposted. As you climb up the the southern side of Bircher Common look over your shoulder for great views over North Herefordshire and into Worcestershire. Walk through the woodland in between Oaker Coppice and Bircher Coppice to pick up the Mortimer Trail heading west.

When you leave the Mortimer Trail, head downhill into the grounds of Croft Castle. You might like to take a short detour here to look around this historic site.

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