Tuesday 25th April 2023 Haugh Wood near Hereford

A long a difficult drive, almost to Hereford. Starting in Haugh Wood.  A fantastic day to be out with lots of warm sunshine (a frost on the car first thing). Very muddy in places after the recent heavy rains. A good walk,  11 miles with 1600 feet of ascent

The car park in the Haugh Wood

Two deer spotted below

Then near Mordiford we came across Garstone - the man in the barrel and the legend of the Dragon of Mordiford.

A young girl named Maude was out picking berries one day when she heard what sounded like a cat's meow. She stumbled across the dragon! 

Maude scooped up the wide eyed dragon who gratefully cuddled into her arms. Maude gave it milk and fish from the river Lugg and they played hide and seek together.

As the dragon grew so did Maude's love for her friend. During the days it would play in the woods an drink and splash in the local rivers.

As it got bigger so did its appetite. Its claws and teeth had grown and it had started to hunt local chickens and sheep.  The locals began to notice...

Eventually the villagers hired a creative mysterious and daring man called Garstone who was an expert at dealing with dragon problems. He hid in a barrel by a stream where the drakon was known to drink.

After days of waiting the dragon landed to quench its thirst.

Garstone launched out of the barrel and.....the dragon was never seen by the villagers again. Garstone never revealed what happened.

Mordiford and water wheel being refurbished.

Through the woods and past the bluebells

Backbury Hill and our destination later in the walk

Perfect place for a picnic at lunchtime

Bluebells

Rape seed in the distance

A feast of wild floweres with bluebells...........

............Cowslips................

...............and dandelions...............