Hill, across English Newton Common to Newton Court and back via the old track
up in the wood.
This is a hollow at Callow Hill - massed lady's smock, with planted oilseed
rape behind.
Looking out towards Monmouth/Lydart from the bottom edge of Callow
Hill woodland. Route follows hedgeline top left.
Monmouth town somewhere down there, from further across the bank.
Looking back to Callow Hill wood. This bank is called English Newton Common
on the OS map, although it's in Wales-the border is up in the woods there. There is a ruined stone building up the bank in the middle distance. More
photos of that needed...
Buckholt Farm and Callow Hill. Every sheep in that field had two lambs it seemed.
(I'm sure some even had three actually)
A springhead off the path right above Newton Court Farm, still flowing.
Looking back towards the Buckholt, and Grist Castle wood in the centre,
Callow Hill right.
Looking along the flat course of the original start of the track -
at Newton Court Farm entrance.
Above and below are 'old' buildings at entrance to the farm.
A deliciously crumbling rustic building next to Newton Hall, near the barn below.
How long before it's 'converted' into a hideous 'country house' ...?
The return route went up here on the old RUPP. Which stands for 'road
used as a public path' if you didn't know, though this is a defunct class
of public route now- RUPPs should now all be bridleways (no motors)
or byways open to all traffic (BOAT). Most are now the former.
Newton Hall, with Newton Court beyond. The grey railings make it look a
bit like an old schoolhouse- a bit remote if it was... How could I not include the fingerpost on the right in the picture properly ? Doh!
Newton Court. All the land here must have been attached to it once. It has a huge
view towards Monmouth. And almost continuous din from the A40 down in
the Wye Valley....
Newton Court walled garden and barn. Looking back towards Newton Hall
And the cherry tree below:
Looking down and up the old track between Newton Court and Welsh Newton
Common. It was a RUPP, but these don't exist now, so current status not known.
The depth of it suggests a lot of traffic over the generations.
Farther north up the track.
The track levels out here, and meets other tracks. There's a pond in the
trees on the left.
This is the ruined Kennel Farm half way along the track. This is just in Wales.
Barn (unmolested as yet) not too far from Kennel Farm ruin.
Big view out over Herefordshire plain, and just about in England.
Didn't pay enough attention to the depth of field did I ? Lunch in the sun at the
top of the ridge which leads to Callow Hill 'back door'. I walked out of the wood on
the left , and crossed the valley to get here. Below the bird-in-flight is a herd
of 20 Roe deer grazing- some even lying down, which I don't think
I've seen before- they're usually much too nervous. Shame you can't see them.