Worcestershire & Herefordshire

Croft Ambrey walk at Croft Castle

Evening sun through trees at the top of a hill at Croft Ambrey, Croft Castle, Herefordshire — Evening sun at Croft Ambrey, on the Croft Castle estate, Herefordshire | © National Trust/James Dobson

A ramble through fields and woodland, a circuit of Croft Ambrey Iron Age hillfort, then back to your starting point via the outskirts of the picturesque Fishpool Valley.

Near to

Croft Castle and Parkland

Start point

Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659

Access to walking trails

All our walking trails are within the parkland at Croft Castle, so you'll need to pay the admission fee or present your National Trust membership card to access them.

Address
Croft Castle, Yarpole, Nr Leominster, HR6 0BL
Directions via Google Maps
By train
The nearest train station is Leominster, 7 miles from Croft Castle.
By bus
There are bus services from Ludlow to Hereford, passing close to Ludlow train station and Leominster. Get off at Gorbett Bank for a 2¼ mile walk to Croft Castle.
Cycling
For cycle routes, search the Sustrans website.
Sustrans website
By road
The entrance is off the B4362, north at Cock Gate between Bircher and Mortimer's Cross. The property is signposted from the A49 between Ludlow and Leominster and from the A4110 at Mortimer's Cross. Postcode for satnav: HR6 0BL.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads and under close control at all times as livestock graze in the woodland pasture and in Fishpool Valley.
Car park
There is a car park 100 yards from the walk starting point.
Toilet
There are toilets with baby-changing facilities near the tea-room.
Play area
There is a traditional play area and a natural play area at Croft Castle. Children's trails are available during holidays.
Tea-room
The Carpenters tea-room at Croft Castle is open from 10am to 4pm.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659
Stage 1
Turn right at visitor reception and go through the gate, following the track around to the left. You'll see markers for the blue trail, which will take you up the hill and past a cottage on your left.
Stage 2
Continue up the hill through two more gates and past some ancient chestnut trees, until you reach the gate at the entrance to the woods. On a clear day, you can see Leominster, Kington and as far as the Welsh hills.
Stage 3
Go straight ahead through the gate, continuing up the hill until you reach the outer ditches of Croft Ambrey.
Stage 4
Follow the path to the left, which takes you on a clockwise tour of the hillfort.
Croft Ambrey hillfort
You can still see traces of this Iron Age hillfort, which was in use for over 600 years. In its heyday, the fort would have had high, steep ramparts. Excavations have revealed there was once a heavily fortified entrance on the western edge with timber gates and guardrooms. Along the northern edge there are views into the next valley. Excavations in the southern portion uncovered evidence of Romano-British fire ceremonies, animal sacrifices and feasting.
View of Croft Ambrey Iron Age hillfort from the parkland at Croft Castle, Herefordshire | © National Trust Images/Robert Morris
Stage 5
Once your circuit is complete, go back down the same path you came up by to the outer ditches of Croft Ambrey.
Stage 6
Follow the blue marker left along a path skirting the edge of the woods. Sticking to the fringe of the trees, the path will turn right, until you cut across the field returning to the gate by visitor reception.
End point
Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659
Trail map
The Croft Ambrey hillfort walk at Croft Castle, Herefordshire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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The East, or Entrance, front of Croft Castle, Herefordshire

Place

Croft Castle and Parkland

1000 years of power, politics and pleasure in an intimate family home

A stone building in the woods at Croft Castle, Herefordshire

Trail

Croft Castle Fishpool Valley walk

Discover this historic landscaped valley with its chain of dams and pools, carefully planted trees and architecture such as the icehouse, grotto, pumphouse and limekiln.

The old pumphouse in Fishpool Valley on the Croft Castle estate, Herefordshire

Trail

Highwood and Fishpool walk at Croft Castle

Explore the historic paths and woodland of Fishpool Valley, take in views over the landscaped pools and visit the remains of the summerhouse, icehouse and Gothic pumphouse.

Ancient trees on the walk up to Croft Ambre Croft Castle, Herefordshire.

Trail

Croft Castle ancient tree walk

An enjoyable stroll through the fields, taking in ancient trees including an avenue of chestnuts and the 1,000-year-old Quarry Oak, as well as a medieval church.

Yarpole, near Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9PW

01568780246

croftcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk

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