Croft Ambrey was the second in our series of Five Hills Walks–derived from the superb Herefordshire’s Rocks and Scenery ISBN 978 1 9010839 16 4 Logaston Press.

Mike Install has written a report with some photos.  Here they are:

We were met by the three EHT Champion volunteers, Robert Williams, John Charles and Sue Spencer, at the National Trust entrance of Croft Castle.   After a brief outline for the day we set off, stopping to admire the magnificent old Spanish chestnut trees.  Reputedly these trees were said to be grown from chestnuts taken from a captured Spanish Armarda ship.  It is more likely that they were planted in the sixteen hundreds.

The ascent was fairly easy, through National Trust and Forestry Commission land, albeit a little muddy.  On arrival at the Iron Age hill fort Robert described the view over the Vale of Wigmore, which was a little restricted due to the mist.   He also recounted how Murchison had visited the site with the Rev. Thomas Taylor Lewis of Aymestrey and the resulting publication of The Silurian System.  We were told about the re-enactment of a visit by the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club with Murchison and the DVD which was made.  This is available for loan from the TVGS library.  We all agreed that as it was not picnic conditions we would descend back to Croft Castle for lunch.

After lunch we walked up to Fishpool Valley which had once been landscaped in the Picturesque style.  We also visited two quarries.  The first was Limekiln Quarry with the remains of a limekiln under conservation.  The second was Highwood Bank Quarry with its face of nodular limestone and fossils, including brachiopods and crinoids.

On returning to the Croft Castle tea rooms we enjoyed an impressive display of pamphlets, maps and books all set up by Robert.  The highlight of which was a copy of Murchison’s The Silurian System.  This generated a great deal of interest and discussion.  A real highlight of the day.

We all had an informative day out and would like to express our thanks to Robert and the team for giving up their time to lead the walk.

I will finish with a bit of a gripe.  It takes quite a lot of work to organise these trips, from making contact with the leader, arranging dates, publicising at evening meetings, by email and on the web site.  Taking note on the written list, those who wish to come along, setting up an email list and sending at least two reminders of the date and time etc etc.  It therefore gets my goat when those who are committed do not turn up AND have not had the courtesy to at least let me know.

There you are, I’ve said it.