Kyrle-on-Wye

1 Find a Wye Valley Walk board at the back of the car park, behind the skate-boarding area. Cross the footbridge to take the upward path, initially just slightly left (quite steep). At a junction, turn very sharply right on a level path, called The John Kyrle Walk, just a few paces before a multiple waymarker. After about 500yds (457m) go through a gate and descend some steps to a hollow. Turn left. This becomes a tarmac path, emerging by a house called The Cleeve. Turn left. At a road go straight across, continuing on a path beside houses. Keep on this alleyway as it crosses several residential streets, to reach the disused railway line. Turn left. Follow this, decorated with trees and occasional picnic tables, to a junction on the B4234. Cross over to take Fernbank Road (off Eastfield Road). Keep straight ahead, ignoring Woodmeadow Road. The road becomes a track, rising steadily, entering Chase Wood.

2 Turn left just before the buildings of Hill Farm, through a gate on a descending path. After about 30yds (27m) take the larger, left fork, to soon descend on a stepped path. At the bottom reach a T-junction. Turn right. At a gate turn left, following a right-hand field edge. Cross the railway again. An alleyway becomes a cul-de-sac. Turn right into Merrivale Lane but cross immediately to a narrow alleyway beside an electricity sub station. Turn right. Keep on the tarmac when it turns left. At the end of this road (The Avenue) turn right, then immediately left into Ashfield Crescent. Next take the first right then, at a skew crossroads, go along Redhill Road. Pass Ashfield Park Avenue and the primary school. Turn right at a crowd of waymarkers. (Here you are not many paces from a point on the outward walk.) Take the fenced path beside the school's playing fields. Shortly you'll reach the large churchyard. At the wall of The Prospect turn left to enter it through the 1700 gateway.

3 Leave The Prospect by the gateway close to St Mary's Church. John Kyrle was buried in the chancel here. Leave the church grounds by the main entrance, passing the fine, sandstone Rudhall's Almshouses (1575). Turn left into Church Street, then right at a T-junction, to reach the Market Hall and, opposite it on the right, John Kyrle's house. Retrace your steps up High Street, passing the end of Church Street. Stay on High Street until its end. (The tourist information centre is just on the right-hand corner here.) From this junction walk perhaps 70yds (64m) along Wilton Road to see the stone gazebo (formerly Collins' Tower, after its owner), then return to the junction.

4 Now pass in front of the Man of Ross public house (the plaque in front of it describes the 18th-century problems of muddy streets). Descend steps to reach the river beside the Hope and Anchor pub. Turn left. (Here the wheel for pumping water up to the town once stood.) Follow the tarmac path when it turns left. Go through the white bollards and across the road. Go diagonally across the grass to the pedestrian subway - this leads back to the car park.