Hastings and St Leonards Natural History Group
Day 2
The Hastings and St Leonards Natural History Group on a walk devised and lead by the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tour Guides.
The walkers from Sussex enjoyed warm sunshine as the guides described the local Forest area which has many things in common with their home territory. Both the Forest of Dean and Sussex had iron industries dating back to at least Roman times.
At Newland, All Saints the “Thursday Walkers” learned of the connection between the Hall and Gage families of the former Highmeadow House here in the Forest and their own Firle Place back in Sussex.
Bob their driver from Hams Travel was on hand at Redbrook to offer a visit to Monmouth in the afternoon as an alternative to the pleasant walk up to the Kymin with the Roundhouse, the Naval Temple and the fabulous view over Monmouth and far beyond.
Day 1
Following a visit to English Bicknor, the Thursday Walkers enjoyed a river trip on the Wye at Symonds Yat East with Kingfisher Cruises before crossing the Wye on the Saracen’s Head rope ferry and tackling the ascent from the Biblins to King Arthur’s Cave and the Iron Age Hill Fort on the Little Doward
Previously the tour guides had shown them the salient points between English Bicknor with it’s Motte and Bailey remains and Symonds Yat Rock with the ramparts of the iron age promontory hill fort and world famous view.
At New Weir, Kate Biggs of the Wye Valley A.O.N.B. Overlooking the Wye project kindly summarised the work being carried out to this important site. The interpretation was aided by the depiction of New Weir on the information board taken from an 1800 watercolour by Hereford artist James Wathen