The Shobdon

Circular Walk

FREE

DISTANCE: 5.5 miles

Walk InformationThis leaflet has been designed to tell you all you need toknow about the route before you set out.

About ShobdonThe outside of St. John’s Church and its parkland settinghide an extravagant Georgian “Strawberry Hill” Gothic-style interior. Everything except the 13th century towerwas built in 1753-6 to the design of Horace Walpole. The interior is a visual feast of Wedgwood blue and whitewith stucco panelling and gothic furnishings and isperhaps the finest example of its kind in the Country.

The original Norman church was dismantled to makeway for this Georgian creation under instructions fromthe new lords of the manor, the Bateman family. Parts ofthe old church were carefully moved up the hill to createthe Shobdon Arches.

The Shobdon Arches were removed from the Normanchurch at Shobdon in 1751-2 and carefully re-erected infull view on top of the slope to the north of ShobdonCourt as a folly. Despite having been moved, the Archesare still an important example of mid 12th centurysculpture in the Romanesque style. For many years there have been schemes put forward to remove thearches and house them somewhere more sheltered andsecure. However the recent growth in interest andappreciation of the historic landscape has meant that theArches have now been recognised as an importantexample of an 18th century folly within a parkland settingof high landscape value.

Shobdon Hill has been at the centre of the local timberindustry for many years. The mixed woodland providedtimber for many uses. There are indications of pastcoppicing, hardwoods for furniture and building and larchthat was used for sailing boat masts. At its peak therewas an aerial ropeway from Shobdon Wood to thesawmills at Kingsland carrying timber for processing.This ropeway was in use until the 1930s when alternativetransport became more accessible.

ParkingThere is parking at Shobdon Arches Visitor Centre.

RefreshmentsRefreshments can be obtained from local pub, garageand village shops/Post Office in Shobdon.

StilesGatesSteps

Narrow BridgesSlopes

1210 (3 kissing gates)1 flight between & 04 steep, 1 gradual between &

Shobdon Circular Walk

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CIRCULAR

W A LK

Always follow the Country Code. Enjoy your walk!

Walk them all...There are 15 circular walks in the county ranging indistance from 2 to 10 miles and four of these walks are‘Miles without Stiles’ routes .

For more information on the other routes or to downloadthe leaflets please visit:www.herefordshire.gov.uk/circularwalks

This route is managed by Amey Herefordshire contact customer services Tel: 01432 261800

or email: streets@herefordshire.gov.uk

Designed & produced by Herefordshire Council.

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© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Herefordshire Council 100024168 2013The Ordnance Survey mapping within this publication is provided by Herefordshire Council under licence from Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its function to promote walking in the County. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use.All information correct at time of publication (March 2013)

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NORTH

Welcome to Mortimer CountryFor details of accommodation and otherattractions in the area in the area visit

www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

If you are planning a walk and intend tovisit an inn/cafe – always ring ahead

to check opening times

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