Click here for the latest news re the Forest of Dean and District Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association

Jenny Carling is working with the FODDC to use some of the European funding they have been given for community projects in the district. The goal of the Forest of Dean & District Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association is to provide a series of linked circular rides/carriage drives throughout the area and free to users. The project, will enable riders to go from Dymock in the north of the district to Tidenham in the south using a mixture of quiet lanes, forestry commission tracks, public bridleways (including new ones to be created) and unused railway tracks.

Click here for more info and to see how you can help - 24 Feb 2010

BHS respond to Natural England’s Consultation on Coastal Access - 17 Feb 2010

The British Horse Society has submitted its response to Natural England's Coastal Access Scheme: Consultation. The text of the consultation document does not clarify how negotiated access for equestrians will be provided. The BHS feels that Natural England must urgently specify their approach to providing wider public access for horse riders otherwise they will lose another opportunity to provide access for equestrians.
Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare stated: “This is a superb opportunity for Natural England to demonstrate its commitment to the provision of safe off road equestrian access. However equestrians are still in the dark as to how this is to be provided due to the lack of any written guidance to show coastal access authorities and equestrians how to achieve this.” A copy of The Society’s response to the consultation can be viewed at http://www.bhs.org.uk/Riding/Riding_Off_Road/Consultations/Consultation_Responses.aspx

The BHS Forestry Campaign: Now write to your MP

The British Horse Society’s recent postcard campaign has made the Forestry Commission (FC) aware of riders’ views on forestry access in England. Now the BHS is calling on all equestrians to lobby their MP to support the forestry campaign, and fight for better access for riders and carriage drivers to their forests across England.

The Forestry Commission England's public forest estate extends to about 258,000 hectares of land. This could provide miles of safe off-road riding which is badly needed for all sections of the equestrian community. While many forests in England allow equestrians free informal access, an increasing number discriminate against equestrians, requiring them to purchase a permit, whilst walkers and cyclists are allowed free access.

Many equestrians cannot afford to pay a permit fee, as 25 percent of horse owners earn less than £10,000 per annum, and so paying for access particularly discriminates against lower socio-economic groups. This discrimination is increasingly pushing riders into riding on the roads, which is inherently less safe, and less enjoyable, than off-road riding.

In England horse riders currently have access to only 22 percent of the public rights of way network, whilst carriage drivers have access to only five percent. The British Horse Society wants to end this discrimination, and wants the Forestry Commission to sit up and listen and to treat equestrians the same as it does walkers and cyclists.

When asked about the Forestry Campaign, BHS Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, Mark Weston, said: “We now need MPs to require the Forestry Commission to end their unfair discrimination against equestrians.”

Please add your support to the campaign and send a postcard to your MP. Postcards are available from the BHS Access Department. Alternatively, you can download a letter to print and post to your MP from http://tiny.cc/NoFCpermits

For further information, please contact Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare on 01926 707760 or mark.weston@bhs.org.uk.

Forests that discriminate against equestrians by requiring permits in our area are: West Midlands – Wyre Forest, Ludlow Forest, Cannock Chase

The full UK list is as follows:

West Sussex -Tilgate, Gravetye Woods, St Leonards Forest
East Sussex – Sheffield Forest, Beckley and Bixley Woods, Darwell, Battle Great Wood, Abbots Wood, Friston Forest, Barnes Wood, Snape Wood, Burwash Woods
Kent – Clowes Wood, Bedgebury, Hemsted, Kings Wood, The Denge, Lyminge Forest, Covert Woods
Surrey – Abinger, Chiddingfold, East Horsley
Berkshire and Hampshire – Alice Holt, Bramshill (Warren Heath, Heath Warren, Gorrick, Crowthorne, Bramshill Common), Chawton Park, Forest of Bere (West Walk, Hundred Acres, Creech) , Havant Thicket
Isle of Wight - Parkhurst Forest
West Midlands – Wyre Forest, Ludlow Forest, Cannock Chase
Nottinghamshire – Sherwood Forest
Dorset – Ringwood, Wareham, Moors Valley Country Park
Cornwall, Devon, West Somerset – Wootton Courtenay, Goatshurst, Wind Down, St Audries, Birds Hill, Kennisham Hill, Croydon Hill, Culm Davey, Blackdown Hills, Blackborough, Sheldon, Wild Warren, Parehayne, Farway, Monkton Wyld, Hole Common, Morganhayes, Est Hill, Great Plantation, Canonteign, Soussons, Fernworthy, Abbeyford, Berydown, Eggesford, Bithefin, Wadland, Northcombe, Witherdon, Burley Down, Lydford, Denham, Cann Woods, Herods Foot, Burley Down, Bradbridge, Quoditch, Holsworty, Cookbury, Melbury Hill, Hartland Group, Stowe Wood, Swannacott, Wilsey Down, Halvana, Cardinham, Laneskin, Grogley, Bishops – Hustyn, Idless

Read the article on Public Rights of Way from Herefordshire Councils web site.  Herefordshire Council have contracted out the Public Rights of Way department  together with  Highways and Parks.  The new contact details are listed at the bottom on the article. - click here

Read Laura's report on her ride using some of Herefordshire's bridleways, whilst raising money for charity.

The British Horse Society’s Access and Rights of Way Department works to improve the bridleways network.  Click here to visit the BHS website to read more and for their useful links.  

BHS launch new ride in Wales

The British Horse Society launched its latest long distance route, The William Morgan Ride, on Friday 22 May 09.  
The route is the latest in a series of long-distance trails for riders, walkers and cyclists in Wales, and forms the penultimate stage of the Great Dragon Ride, which will enable riders to travel the length and breadth of Wales on horseback. It is scheduled for completion in 2010. 
The route was officially opened on Friday 22 May at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, Powys. Information on the route, including maps and horse-friendly accommodation, can be obtained from the BHS Access Department on 01926 707712.

The Radnor Forest Ride in the Brecon Beacons

The Radnor Forest Ride, which joins the Three Rivers Ride in the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Jack Mytton Way in Shropshire, will mark the start of the Creating A Network To Encourage Riding (CANTER) campaign. 

The Radnor Forest Ride leaves the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitors Centre, crosses the A40 and the River Usk, travels northwards to Upper Chapel, at which point it is possible to connect to the Epynt Way. The trail continues East, crossing the A470 and the River Wye just south of Builth Wells, then on to the A44 at New Radnor. The final leg of the journey passes through some forestry to Llanbister Road Station then on to Lloyney crossing the River Teme into Shropshire.

What state are the Herefordshire bridleways in?
We get the general impression that they are in need of some tender loving care and attention, particularly those which have gates across them.

Can you find them? Are they useable? Do you ride them? Do you care what state they are in?

We are asking ALL OF YOU to ride or walk you local Bridleway and report back on your findings. Let us have details of conditions - good or bad - with grid reference or simple map, photo so that they can be identified. A call to the Herefordshire Rights of Way department would also set the ball rolling. Tel 01432 260571 / 260572. Engineering Services, ROW Dept, PO Box 234, Hereford, HR1 2ZD.

The rights of way office normally get about 1500 complaints a year! When the Ramblers did a survey, the number went up to 2800! As with most government departments, the Rights of Way department has to set priorities. If we do not communicate with them they will be unaware of our problems.

Are you prepared to help with a working party to clear bridleways?
Do you know of any lost rights of way?
Do you know of anyone who would grant a permissive route so that a circular ride could be made?

Are any bridleways that you use not on the Definitive map? If so, could you apply to have them marked before they are lost? Do not forget, many byways are great for horses. Check for them on the Definitive map.

Jo and myself can only do so much. But with the help of nearly 400 members, we might just get a hinge on that gate, or be able to ride a few kms off road without having to carry a machete or mounting block!

Non Motorised User Crossings Survey

The Highways Agency are looking at the main trunk roads through Herefordshire with a view to maintenance and improvements for non motorised users who cross these routes. Namely the A49, M50 and A40. If anyone has a particular problem along these routes, if you let me know, I will pass your comments on.
Email Brenda Pomfret
Email Jo Gardiner

The contact details for Herefordshire Rights of Way Department are detailed below. Please report any problems you encounter when using bridleways.

Rides & Walks  

Visit the Natural England website for Riding & Walking routes in your area. Just click here.

WANTED: Local rider, with own transport and tolerably sensible horse, interested in covering reasonable distances (10-20 miles) with fellow enthusiast. I live near Hay-on-Wye and have a welsh cob, section D. The riding around here is really good, but I would like to get out to different locations - like the Brecon Beacons (I am good with an OS map) to explore further, preferably with a like-minded person. Any offers? Ring 01497 831347 or e-mail jennyweatherburn@hotmail.com.

The Three Rivers Ride

If you give Brenda Wickham a map she can find a riding route across it. She had drawn a possible route from the Sabrina way into Wales. From East to West, it would start at Bromyard and go through to Brecon. The new route would span “Gods own Country” (Herefordshire) and go into the Black Mountains. On the way it would crossed three rivers, the Lugg, the Wye and the Usk and would be known as the “Three Rivers Ride” - a new Regional Route. To check its viability she wanted an “average rider” to ride the whole route.

This challenge was all I needed - an excuse to go off on my horse for three weeks and possibly have an adventure. The first thing I had to do was to persuade a friend to come with me. Then “we” decided to go at the end of April/beginning of May. (Perfect riding weather as it turned out.) We would ride for three days, rest the horses for three, ride for four, another three days rest and then take however long it took to finish. I had all winter to find and book suitable accommodation – we decided early on that we did not want to “rough” it with tents, pack horses and cooking on camping gaz.

We decided to start in Wales and travel West to East ie head for home (the Thames Valley). Our horses were fit but not “Wales” fit and so to start we would only attempt 8 – 10 miles each day and build up gradually. Arranging accommodation in Wales was no problem at all. I rang the tourist boards at the local big towns and they sent me their brochure. In the National Park it was easy to find accommodation for us and the horses - trekking is understood and welcomed. There were four of us now and thankfully, at the last moment, five. All female, average age somewhere in the 50s, Alison, Julie-Anne, Shirley, Judith and Valerie. Valerie volunteered to drive the car with our cases, New Zealands, feed etc.
We had booked a luxury horsebox to take the horses to Libanus – at least we were able to arrive in style. With the horses bedded down in stables for the night, we went to the Pub and our comfortable B & B. Although the route the next day to Cantref had quite a few roads we did not met a car once! That night we had hostel accommodation and the horses were in a field together for the first time. No problems with the horses but among the humans we found out who did the snoring (that was going to affect the room allocations form now on).
The next day we climbed the Allt and took the high road with views of the Usk valley on one side and Langorse Lake on the other - absolutely amazing. That night we stayed on a farm at Bwlch – a proper farm, with cows, silage, and comfy beds. Our third day took us over yet more mountains of heath and unbelievable views. We just had to stop every ten minutes to say “Wow”. The tracks were clearly marked and well used – thanks I think mainly to the local trekking centres who not only keep the bridlepaths open, but have also established new safe routes alongside main roads. We left the horses for the weekend at Cwmfforest and went home to our families on Thursday night.
We returned and set off again on the Bank Holiday Monday. We headed towards Lord Herefords Knob - one of the more scenic spots in the British Isles. Did we met anyone? Well, yes, four cyclists towards the end of the afternoon, but where was everyone else? The next day it was the same story but this time the only person we met was the Ice Cream man in the Car Park on Hay Bluff. He said he had had a busy day the day on the bank holiday but we were his first customers that day – at lunch time. After our cornets we rode up Cefn Hill - Wales to our left – England. We were on top of the world ! And , so, our heads still in the clouds, we rode into foreign land, England. Immediately we lost the route. At first there was no sign, then there was one pointing into a garden and under a washing line. The sheep were replaced by cows in the fields, the tracks seemed unused and the gateways were overgrown.
This was all forgotten in the pub that evening and after a hearty breakfast we set of the next day in good spirits. However no sooner were we out of Dorstone than we found the overgrown bridle path was totally blocked. Not wanting to get scratched anymore we took down the wire into the field and went up to the farm house. The farmer was on his tractor. “Blocked, is it? You had better go back then” was his immediately response. I told him that I was meeting a journalist at 12.30 and it would such be a pity if I had to explain why I was late. He then he capitulated , let us use his driveway to the road and whispered “You won’t let on, will you?” Later we found out why we had so many problems. “Bridle paths”, we were told with a sneer “we don’t use them, we ride over each others land”. It had been difficult to find accommodation in Herefordshire for the horses. Now I knew why. Hacking, Trekking, using bridlepaths is not what the local horseowners do. This was hunting country.
After the breath-taking view of the Wye valley we rode through the Bulmer orchards which were in full bloom. When we got to Tellington, north of Hereford, our second week was up and sadly Shirley and Judith had to take their horses back home. Julie-Anne and I decided to press on with the last stretch starting the following Monday. By now we were covering about 12 miles a day and it was getting flatter – four days, we thought, and tried to make arrangements. It should have been easier for two to find accommodation but even so, we had to stay with one lovely lady for three days. We also had to find a field on the route for the horses. We made these arrangements by going around in the car looking for fields and then findAnne and I decided to press on with the last stretch starting the following Monday. By now we were covering about 12 miles a day and it was getting flatter – four days, we thought, and tried to make arrangements. It should have been easier for two to find accommodation but even so, we had to stay with one lovely lady for three days. We also had to find a field on the route for the horses. We made these arrangements by going around in the car looking for fields and then finding the farm-house. (the rate for one night’s grazing for our horses always seemed to be £5 each). The route remained difficult to follow but well worth the effort. One of the biggest problems was that although we were using the 1.2500 maps, hedgerows have gone and with no path or hedgerow we had to navigate through crops. It was more like orienteering, but as Julie-Anne and I do “TREC” we saw it as good practice. Again, we did not meet anyone, certainly not on horseback, no cyclists, no walkers, no one. Not much habitation either just wonderful rolling hills with secret valleys..

We got to Bromyard on the third day and checked out the join with the Sabrina Way on the fourth. There we met a man who ran a Riding Centre. It is encouraging to think that his young riders will be able to use these routes. Herefordshire County Council are most supportive of the BHS initiative and I cannot recommend a riding holiday on these new routes too highly. The total cost for the 3 weeks was £560 each. That included all accommodation for ourselves and the horses, big big English breakfasts, picnic lunch, evening meals with wine and our petrol. And, we did not have to find someone to look after our horses at home. Our horses loved it, our riding improved, we returned fit and well and, like all good travellers, with many a tale to tell.
Alison Adocks
THE THREE RIVERS RIDE
The Three Rivers ride is part of a BHS Ride UK initiative, with the idea that all the existing long distance holiday routes should be joined together, so that people can easily find their way from one to another on waymarhed routes with a leaflet showing the way and a B&B lit to hand. This is a most exciting scheme and will encourage riders to take their horses on holiday to their mutual benefit.
The three rivers ride, crossing the Lugg, the Wye and the Usk, will connect the Sabrina Way in Herefordshire to the Brecon Beacons National park.
It will be the first riding route in the county, but as it is all on bridleways and quiet lanes it is also available to walkers and cyclists too.
It had been hoped that the route could be opened this year but it has been decided to postpone until next year because of the condition of the bridleways and the difficulty in finding a safe route across Herefordshire.
Brenda Wickham is the BHS co-ordinator for the Three Rivers Ride and she is being assisted by Brenda Pomfret and Jo Gardiner members of the Herefordshire BHS committee. Anyone wishing to help out by riding the route please get in touch with Brenda or Jo.

Public Rights Of Way
The Rights of Way Section
The Rights of Way Section is part of Amey Herefordshire, who manage the rights of way network on behalf of Herefordshire Council.

There are approximately 4,400 registered public rights of way in Herefordshire, ranging in length from a few metres to several kilometres. In total there are over 3,400 km [2,113 miles] of rights of way, about the same distance as all the Public Road Network in the County.

The status and location of public rights of way are contained within the definitive map and statement. Rights of way shown on the definitive map and statement are without prejudice to other rights that may exist.

The Rights of Way Section is responsible for the management of the Public Rights of Way Network in Herefordshire.

There are three categories of Rights of Way:

A footpath may be used only for walking.
A bridleway may be used for riding or leading a horse, as well as for walking. Cycling is permitted, providing cyclists give way to riders and pedestrians. Driving a horse-drawn vehicle is not permitted.
A byway open to all traffic (usually called 'a byway') is used for walking, riding or leading a horse or cycling. There is also a right of use for any kind of wheeled vehicle, including motor cars and horse-drawn vehicles.
This includes the practical maintenance and improvements of paths such as:

signposting paths where they leave a metalled road
where appropriate, way marking of footpaths, bridleways and byways
maintaining and controlling natural vegetation on the surface of footpaths and bridleways
the provision and maintenance of bridges over natural watercourses and ditches
ensuring that public rights of way are available to use safely and kept unobstructed
ensuring stiles and gates are installed and maintained
investigating reported defects and taking appropriate enforcement or legal action, if necessary, to ensure paths remain open and available
surveying the network to monitor our performance
The Public Rights of Way Section working in partnership with Herefordshire Council are also responsible for the updating and continuous review of all Public Rights of Way which are shown on the Definitive Map. This map may be inspected at the Amey Herefordshire Offices Tel: 01432 261800 for details. Extracts of the Definitive Map are charged at £10.00 for an A4 extract and £20.00 for an A3 extract. The Definitive Map is the official record and most up to date source of information recording the location and status of Public Rights of Way.

The Herefordshire Public Rights of Way Section is committed to protecting and maintaining public rights of way and making the best use of available resources in order to do so.

How to contact us
If you have any problems when using any of the routes please contact us:

By email: ameyherefordshire@amey.co.uk

In writing:
Public Rights of Way Section, Amey Herefordshire, Unit 3, Thorn Business Park, Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford HR2 6JT

By telephone: 01432 261800