Golden Valley Pilgrim Way

Golden Valley Pilgrim Way – 59 miles, 6-7 days

Walk this circular pilgrimage route along stunning ancient paths, beginning and ending at Hereford Cathedral. The route links the Wye Valley with the Golden Valley and the flower meadows and foothills of the Black Mountains. Once you leave the city and the Cathedral behind, this is a rich and silent land, good for the body as well as the soul, visiting apple orchards, sacred sites, ruined castles, holy wells, and Arthurian legends. For foodie types, there are hidden farms that produce local cider, whisky and ice cream. The gentle wooded river valleys (with wild swimming spots) contrast well with the mountain landscapes.

Uniquely, along the way, and for a suggested donation of £15, you can sleep in the Night Sanctuaries, including a stay overnight in the cloisters of Hereford Cathedral (the first time that pilgrims have been able to stay in Anglican cathedral precincts since medieval times). Sanctuaries means camping in a medieval church overnight with roll mat and sleeping bag. An illustrated pilgrim credential or passport can be stamped in each church. All but one of these churches are situated in villages with fine country pubs (and higher-end B&Bs, if required) where you can eat local produce at the end of the walking day. Village stores are available for each section of the walk to refuel and restock each day’s packed lunch.

The Golden Valley Pilgrim Trail project also offers a shorter 2/3 day path, also beginning and ending at the Cathedral, and an 82 mile cycling route.
Hereford can be accessed by public transport from anywhere in the country making this an environmentally sensitive pilgrimage option. With the route being circular if you do arrive by car you don’t have the hassle of having to find a way back to where you left the car.

For distances of each stage and more about the project, scroll to bottom. Starting March 2023, you are also able to stay overnight in the cloisters of Hereford Cathedral. We believe that this may be the first time that pilgrims have been able to stay in Anglican cathedral precincts since medieval times.

Find out details of low-cost Sanctuary accommodation along the route (only bookable by holders of the route’s credential (passport) which can be done easily through one central administrator)

See the official route website.

See information about historical waypoints along the route.

Recommended route sections, accommodation and amenities.

Day 1

Hereford Cathedral to Madley 6.5 miles or Tyberton 10 miles

Accommodation

• Hereford Cathedral
• Madley The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Madley Church or Stables with all facilities in the Stables
• Tyberton St Mary’s Church with basic toilet facilities and washing up and hot drink making facilities

Food and drink

• Madley Village store and Post Office
• Madley The Comet Pub; The Red Lion
• Preston on Wye The Yew Tree 1.5miles from St Mary’s Tyberton

Highlights

• Hereford Cathedral has the pilgrims scallop shell symbol at the entrance to the North porch – engraved into the paving.  There is also a small medieval carving of a pilgrim figure on the left hand side as you enter the porch.
• The Thomas Traherne stainglass windows by Thomas Denny in the Audley Chapel depict the beautiful countryside of Herefordshire. Trahern’s poetry is in keeping with a celebration of nature which this pilgrimage seeks to capture.
• Eaton Bishop St Michael and All Angels Church amazing stained glass
• Madley Crypt is in the recently published book Britains best 500 sacred spaces. The large triptych of the seasons of the year is by Ed Kelly . The large contemporary paintings in the Nave also by Ed Kelly, depict the life of St Dyfrig.
• Tyberton: just inside the front door is a print of Roy de Maistre’s painting ‘The supper at Emmaus’ where Christ eats with two pilgrims.

Day 2

Madley to Dorstone: 12 miles or Tyberton to Dorstone 8.5 miles

Accommodation

• St Faiths, Dorstone with toilet and basic washing and cooking facilities

Food and drink

• Fine Street ciders on path above and to the south west of Bredwardine
• The Pandy Inn Dorstone

Highlights

• Bredwardine St Andrews Church with its monkey carving; ancient motte and fish pools. Wild swimming in the River Wye down from the church
• Dorstone Hill: Arthurs stone on route and north of Dorstone

Day 3

Dorstone to Michaelchurch 9.5 miles

Accommodation

• Michaelchurch: St Michael and All Angels Church with hot drink making facilities. For washing and toilets please use facilities at the Bridge Inn next door.

Food and drink – Peterchurch

• The Nags Head
• The Hub at St Peters Café [open some week days only]
• Casa Lupo Bistro and bar [weekends only]
• Peterchurch Village store and Post Office
• Food for thought restaurant [evenings only]
• Poston Mill: Campsite, shop and pun ½ a mile detour from route south east of Peterchurch

Highlights

• Snodhill Castle ½ mile off path
• Peterchurch St Peters Well on the path ½ a mile from St Peters church

Day 4

Michaelchurch to Clodock 11.5 miles

Accommodation

• Clodock St Clydawg’s Church with all facilities
• Craswall St Mary’s 4 metre bell tent to accommodate pilgrims available in the churchyard for the months June, July and August. Pilgrims will be able to access water, toilets and showers at Chapel House Farm. This breaks up Day 4 with Craswall being 4 miles from Michaelchurch and from 9 miles from Clodock. Staying at Craswall creates something of a rest day half way through the pilgrimage.

Food and drink

Craswall

• Chapel House Farm, Farm shop on route and down the lane from St Mary’s Church, Craswall. be able to access water, toilets and showers at chapel house and also their small shop with drinks etc.
• The Bulls Head, Craswall

Longtown

• The Crown Longtown
• Longtown Hopes of Longtown Village Store and Post Office
• Clodock The Cornewall Arms [drinks only]

Highlights

• Craswall:  A contemporary celtic cross made by Ken Watkins opposite the south facing porch of St Mary’s Church
• Cats Back Take a short detour up the Cats back for amazing views. A path after the Cats back will take you to St Thomas’ well and crossing Offas Dyke you can walk to the Holy well and Church of St Issui Partrishow in Wales.
• Llanveynoe St Peter and St Beuno’s Church with ancient cross inside church.
• Between Llanveynoe and Longtown wild swimming away from it all and on the path
• Longtown Longtown Castle on path
• Clodock St Clydawg’s well follow road over the bridge just after the pub and turn right onto the path going alongside the eastern bank of the River Monnow. The well is 200 yards down this path.

Day 5

Clodock to Ewyas Harold 8 miles

Accommodation

• Ewyas Harold St Michaels and All Angels Church with all facilities in the Parish Hall

Food and drink

Walterstone

• The Carpenters Arms 2.5 miles from Clodock

Rowlestone

• Rowlestone court Farm Ice Cream and Camping
• Ty Gwyn Cider Bar and shop 1 mile from the path following road going east from Rowlstone Court Farm

Ewyas Harold

• The Temple Bar Inn
• The Dog Inn
• The Old Stables Fish and Chips
• Village store and Post Office

Highlights

• Walterstone St Mary’s Church beautiful depictions of angel faces on memorial stones
• Llancillo St Peter’s Church is isolated and wild
• Rowlestone St Peter’s Church

Day 6

Ewyas Harold to Kingstone 9 miles

Accommodation

• Kingstone St Michael and All Angels with all facilities

Food and drink – Kingstone

• The Bull Ring
• Village store and Post Office

Highlights

• Ewyas Harold St Martins well on western border of Ewyas Harold Common
• Abbey Dore Dore Abbey on path

Day 7

Kingstone to Hereford Cathedral 7 miles

Accommodation

• Hereford Cathedral

Food and Drink

• Belmont – The Cantilupe Restaurant, Hedley Lodge, St Michaels Abbey 500 yards detour
• Many options in Hereford

Highlights

• Clehonger All Saints church
• Belmont St Michaels Abbey Benedictine Monastry

More about the project

Golden Valley Pilgrim Way is a project that seeks to enable people to experience pilgrimage using affordable and simple accommodation within churches along the route and those nearby. The trail itself is entirely within the Abbeydore Deanery in Herefordshire. The route officially starts and ends at Hereford Cathedral so that easy access via public transport is available.

The 5-7 day 60-mile route was put together to link up, not only churches, but places of historical and spiritual interest. Other forms of accommodation such as campsites are also part of the mix.
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A 2-3 day 35-mile route also beginning and ending at the Cathedral is also possible with churches involved that are already able to receive pilgrims.

We are currently being supported by Discover Herefordshire Churches and a private benefactor in order that basic facilities such as running water and a tap can be financed and installed.

Though the aims of the project include support for rural business and the agricultural community, the vision is for a route that enables people to experience the spiritual and well-being aspects of pilgrimage.

2-3 day Way

• Hereford – Eaton – Bishop – Madley GVPT 1: 6.5 miles
• Madley – Moccas – Bredwardine – Dorstone GVPT 2: 10 miles
• Dorstone – Peterchurch GVPT 3D 3: 4 miles
• Peterchurch – Tyberton GVPT 3D 4: 5 miles
• Tyberton – Madley GVPT 3D 5: 4 miles
• Madley – Eaton – Bishop – Hereford GVPT 1: 6 miles
• Total 35.5 miles

5-7 day Way

• Hereford – Eaton – Bishop – Madley GVPT 1 6 miles
• Madley – Moccas – Bredwardine – Dorstone GVPT 2  10 miles
• Dorstone – Peterchurch – Michaelchurch Escley GVPT 3 9 miles
• Michaelchurch Escley – Craswall  GVPT 4 4 miles
• Craswall – Llanveynoe GVPT 5 4 miles
• Llanveynoe – Clodock GVPT 6 5 miles
• Clodock – Walterstone – Rowlestone – Ewyas Harold GVPT 7  8 miles
• Ewyas Harold – Abbey Dore – Kingstone GVPT 8   7 miles
• Kingstone – Clehonger – Hereford:  GVPT 9 7 miles
• Total 60 miles