Introduction..... Following on from my successful bike tour of the 11th June it was just a matter of time before I could add another tour under the heading ‘Out of Lockdown – Cycle Tours’. The criteria was that the tour should cover 10 miles. However, by 19th July a follow-on tour hadn’t happened but it didn’t mean I’d been inactive. Two tours in July came very close to reaching 10 miles but I couldn’t devote separate pages to them. I therefore take the opportunity of mentioning them here as an introduction to a bigger tour.
On the 11th July I took a trip out to Burghill where my dear mother is buried in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin there; this being the 13th anniversary of her death in 2008. The feature of this tour is the nature of the terrain which is quite hilly providing another test of my fitness. A stopover at the Three Elms pub on the way back was therefore most welcome.
On the 17th July I undertook the stiffest fitness test yet. One of the future trips I’d identified as a future candidate requires a hilly climb rising 130 metres from home. It definitely needed a recce to find out whether I could manage it. I planned to get at least half-way which still needs a climb of 100 metres. Passing through Green Crize I took the assent to Dinedor Cross, the most challenging part of the outward route. Then it was on down to Aconbury and a rest stop at the Nether Wood car park before I explored the track well into the wood. The return trip requires another challenging climb before the road plunges back down into Hereford. This trip was the first time I’d experience after effects; not surprising as we’re in the middle of a heatwave.

Tour #2
Opportunistic!.... Coming towards the end of July and that 2nd trip seems illusive. I have a couple of ideas for trips of more than 10 miles, but I’ve been restricted recently by attention to other matters and the weather of course which has been uncomfortably hot for the last week. Well, the weekend 24th/25th was set to be cooler with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast but by the morning the 25th there’s no sign of rain. It’s an opportunity too good to miss. I’m all set before 10.30 am but it’s not looking likely that my preferred options will happen this time.
Meals on wheels.... First up I make a delivery to my daughter, a sort of meal on wheels. This involves a trip across the city but at least I can lighten my load. The rest stop now determines my next move. In any case my range is 7 miles, but I’d like more. I head west on the A4103.
Straight ahead..... The A4103 between the Three Elms and Stretton Sugwas used to be an unfriendly stretch especially for bikes, but a major road improvement scheme has widened the road and provided a cycle lane. It is well over a mile and a fast stretch almost flat and dead straight. The locating of the farmers market here is the probable reason for the upgrade. It takes no time to reach the roundabout near Stretton Sugwas village. It’s time to take some photos for this trip and use social media to have a bit of fun to boot. The most significant feature in the village is the church of St Mary Magdalene. This church was rebuilt in 1878 on the site of an older one using much of the original material. It’s a great photo opportunity and apart from the religious significance, there is a lot to be learnt from the architecture and history of this church. I reach the A438 and cross over to discover much different terrain.
Topography..... Herefordshire is a most interesting county the more I think about it. Hereford itself is surrounded by low hills that provided ideal sites for Iron Age forts. It’s never too far in any direction to find conditions that are challenging for bikes. Perhaps the only level route out of the city is to the west as I’ve just found out. Yet south of the A438 lies the meandering River Wye and the land within half a mile of its banks is certainly not level. The course of the Wye here is as about 50 metres above msl, while its banks rising to double that height provide an obstacle to progress back to the city. A minor road heads south towards the river which cuts through the land with steep banks at Breinton Common. From there the road undulates, never flat all the way back to the city. I resolve to take my time using the opportunity to record some of the features on this scenic route. Quite typical in this rural setting the first stop of note is at Ginny’s Goats farm where the residents seem quite keep to make my acquaintance.
Needing directions..... Reaching the river, I head back east towards the city passing though Breinton village. Actually, this village consists of three small hamlets, Upper Breinton, the Common and my next destination, Breinton or Lower Breinton. While the minor road leads directly back to the city, further connecting roads follow the river as it takes a more south-easterly path. Lower Breinton lies on one of these roads. Interestingly, I stop to check Google Map to establish the route and two vehicles pause at the same junction. While I am vaguely familiar with this area it’s clear that the drivers of the vehicles are certainly not. I’m in a good position to advise them and it appears they’re heading to the same location as me in Lower Breinton.
Breinton Springs.....view As mentioned, Lower Breinton lies close to the river and has a most interesting feature. At the village I take another turn towards it. Well, there in the car park are the two vehicles with the occupants disembarking. ‘Ah, we’ve found it’, one exclaims offering me thanks. I’m curious to know where they are from. They are all elderly folk kitted out for hiking. It turns out they are from Dorset, a spectacular part of the country. Intrigued, I ask them why come to Herefordshire? Well, I’m sure we Herefordians undervalue the treasures that lie within the county as I am beginning to find out but of course with restrictions on international travel, places like Dorset are overwhelmed with tourists. These astute travellers are obviously keen to see the back of it for a while and what a better place to come even on a Sunday. From Breinton Springs I explain that you can walk all the way into the city along the river bank. The Springs comprises of a small car park, cider orchard, woodland and floodplain. The freshwater spring can be accessed near the car park by following a sloping path towards the river. The site includes an earthwork designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument which includes a moated camp, a deserted medieval village and an old ford site. I can well understand its attraction to walkers. Interestingly, as a local, I can reveal that plans to build a by-pass around the city near here have recently been scrapped. As a motorist, I understand that a by-pass is sorely needed for Hereford but please not here!
Sanctuary..... Returning back to the village, I have to call it a day and head back home. There’s more time than I planned used already. However, there’s one more location I must include. Adjacent to Breinton Springs car park is the Church of Saint Michael. Well, having visited Stretton Sugwas Church already, I can’t really miss this one out. It’s now past the time for morning service and solitude has returned once more except for another biker who is content to find peace resting up on a bench in the churchyard.
This parish church was almost entirely rebuilt and enlarged by P. R Kempson between 1866 - 70. A full description can be found here. Today the conditions for cycling have been just about prefect and the locations chosen just idyllic for anyone who really needs to pause and reflect on life and release some of the stress that builds up in so many of us. The church, of course is a sanctuary, a holy place yet the practicality of spending time here is greater than you would imagine. Why not sit in on a bench in the churchyard or in the porch and take a break and perhaps consume refreshments while at the same time admiring the architecture and imagine what local history this site has witnessed? Typically, the church is the focal point of the community and usually its oldest structure too.
Conclusion..... Today’s trip covered 13 miles in a time that doesn’t matter. It easily qualified for a page of its own on this site and slots in at number 2 in terms of distance I’ve covered so far. In particular it’s another confidence builder and a springboard for many similar trips in the future so watch this space!

Postscript
With the introduction of a database for CWGC burials in Herefordshire, reconciliation of my records with the database has resulted in more burials located. On 3 October 2021 I revisited St Michael's Church in Breinton. Details can be found in the introduction to Tour S2.2.