Veteran-Cycle Club video archive - Almeley to Hay on Wye

This Hereford section ride was filmed from a head cam while riding a high wheeler. Almeley to Hay on Wye is approximately 14 miles on quiet roads. This ride celebrates two long standing and popular members of the Section, Ken Mais and Colin Barrat, who were good friends and who both lived in Madley. Fourteen of us gathered for the ride at the Bells Inn Almeley but it was not open so we mounted up and rode to the New Strand, Eardisley. Here we were able to enjoy coffee and excellent cake. Suitably fortified we recommenced the ride, through what Wordsworth describes as the most beautiful landscape in Southern Britain. The Herefordshire countryside was certainly looking its best in the sunshine. We rode to Whitney on Wye and then a short stretch on the A438 before turning left over the toll bridge rumbling over the wooden planking. At Clifford the group divided, Mike on his ordinary and a couple of others opting for the flat route to Hay, the rest turned left up the hill and over the route of the old railway to Priory Wood. Then it was mainly downhill into Hay and the Cafe Hay for lunch. The return route was through the centre of Hay and the sight of an Ordinary certainly turned heads. The return ride was flatter along the Wye flood plain, the only issue being the uneven and potholed road surface for which Herefordshire is notorious. On reaching Eardisley we took a short detour to the 900 year old Great Oak thought to be last survivor of a forest mentioned in the Domesday Book. On reaching Almeley we retired to the Bells Inn which was now open for a drink and a natter before the journey home.

[@PaulWhitcomb-ty6md]

Interesting bridge at ten minutes. Looks like maybe a former aqua-duct? The ground still looks pretty damp, too. Good pea-growing weather!