A climb on to Marvellous Merbach Hilll (Walk 48 option). Xxxxxx

About trip

Distance (kms) 11.3km Minimum Time: 3hrs 30mins 'Ascent: 1,330ft Difficulty Level: 3 - Hard Paths: Landscape: 'Dog Friendliness: Parking: Public Toilets: Description: Directions: At Point 5 on Walk 48 turn right, along a bridleway (not into a field). In perhaps 100yds (91m), where the drive bends, take a gate with a blue ‘Wye Valley Walk’ marker. Follow the field boundary on your left, initially staying low. Through a triply fastened gate, very gradually ease away from the field boundary, ascending. Join the track from Benfield Farm in the fourth field, 50yds (46m) before a cattle grid. Now seemingly in forest, walk for 400yds (366m), to between the penultimate and final pole before the farm, Point A. A hand-painted footpath sign marks some steps up into trees, skirting Woola Farm. What price its view? Join a steep, extensively cracked concrete track, uphill. Pass to the left of some corrugated sheds just before the brow of the hill. This is something of a false top, but the way to Merbach Hill is clear ahead. In the last field before the common, hug the field boundary on the left to observe the right of way, then, over the stile, turn right for 40yds (37m) to resume your line. A green path cuts through scattered hawthorn, silver birch and rowan in what in summer is a sea of otherwise impenetrable bracken and brambles. You will come to a double fork (no waymarkers). Keep ahead, for here you are just 130yds (119m) from the trig point and a memorable view. Whatever the origin of the Golden Valley’s name may be, when you are atop Merbach Hill you cannot refute that you have struck a rich vein of scenery. Prominent to the south-west is Hay Bluff: head towards it for about 60yds (55m), to reach a good path. Turn left, to an easily seen wicket gate. Enjoy this modest, sheep-grazed plateau to pick up a dirt track from Golden View. Go ahead on the tarmac lane for 350yds (320m), taking a fingerpost just before Pwll Cwm. Go down the left edge of two fields. Turn left on a gravelly, grassy lane for 50yds (46m). Now take a stile on the right. Out of this field, take a few paces to your left, rejoining Walk 48 at a fingerpost and a holly tree, Point 6.