Whitebrook, Trellech and Beacon Hill

At the large green in the small scattered village of Whitebrook, which has a scattering of houses, the route joins the long distance Wye Valley Walk. It enters an area of dense woodland, dominated by sycamore.Through the trees there are views of the River Wye itself down below.

Up ahead, there is the first view of the deep, densely wooded cleft of the Whitebrook Valley. Looking slightly downhill to the right at the road, a house with masonry walls adjoining it can be seen. This is the start of a series of mills. Once this was a busy industrial area - wire was produced here in Tudor times - but by the early 18th century, wire making was ended and the water powered mills found a new use making paper. Tradition has it that the white paper for the old style five pound note was made here.

There were five mills in all and there is ample evidence of mill ponds and weirs, now transformed into attractive ornamental features. The best of the sites is Mill House at the top of the hill, which includes extensive industrial buildings and its own mill pond.

The road climbed steadily uphill beside the busy White Brook. Little cottages and grander stone houses now line the road all the way, clinging somewhat precariously to the steep hillside.

The route leaves the valley and turns off towards woodland. Beside an old wall of huge boulders with large trees sprouting from the top the path soon becomes an old packhorse route, roughly paved to give a grip on the steep sections. This is mixed woodland in which areas of oaks stand next to plantations of young conifers.

Trellech Common, at the top of the hill, is a more open area with gorse and heather adding colour among the trees. The final part of this section of wooded walk is along an old track lined with beech trees.

Leaving the woods, views open out over farmland to the hills of South Wales. The way winds downhill towards the village of Trellech, dominated by its church tower and spire. Translated Trellech, or Trelleck means 'village of stones' and relates to a trio of tall standing stones, probably erected in the Bronze Age, which are known as 'Harold's Stones'.

The oddly named 'Virtuous Well' was famous for its claimed cures for a variety of illnesses, and was a place of pilgrimage. The springs are surrounded by a stone wall with seats for weary pilgrims.

The final section of the walk is down a quiet lane, but the dark mass of conifers ahead promises a return to woodland. There is a last fine view to be enjoyed on the summit of Beacon Hill, the highest point of the walk at 306 metres, before the path plunges off into the trees. Which remains the case all the way back to the starting point of the walk.