This is a circular walk on the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border on the trail of the early wild daffodils that brighten the woods, fields and hedgerows. Use the map OS Outdoor Leisure Map 14, Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean, grid ref: 677 286. It's about six miles, about three hours walking (plus a short detour of a mile there and back to a country pub).

Park in the Forestry Commission car park and picnic area at Queen's Wood, which is just south of Kempley village, which is north-west of Newent.

T his is a great spring walk on the Gloucestershire/Here- fordshire border looking for the delicate wild daffodils that still bloom in some areas. They are usually out in March but this year may be a little later.

This circle follows the official Daffodil Way at the start and then weaves through woodlands and past an old orchard, where some of the best daffodils are still to be seen.

The woods, particularly now spring is in the air, are a haven for birds and wildflowers but the walk is lovely at any time.

You are likely to see a profusion of wood anemones, garlic and bluebells, too.

It is easy flat walking, mainly on good dry tracks and there is a steady but not hard uphill gradient through Dymock Woods at the end. It's a good doggy walk, too.

The only downside is that you do get some motorway noise for some of the way but most of the way it is gloriously tranquil with just bird song to accompany you.

START

Enjoy a good view across to the Malverns as you set off. Turn left up the road from the car park and enter the edge of Kempley. You are joining a quest for the wild daffodils that has been going for many years. At one time people used to come down from London by train especially to see them.

1. DAFFODIL WAY

Shortly, turn right on the Daffodil Way which is also the Three Choirs Way and immediately right again.

The Daffodil Way is a 10 mile circular walk through woodlands and fields where the daffodils are likely to be blooming. The Three Choirs provides a long distance footpath between Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester, with a theme linking the walk and the Music Festival celebrated at the three Cathedrals for over 300 years.

Go through a kissing gate into the field and follow the left edge straight on. Go on into the next field by two huge old oaks and maintain direction. Pass farm barns and here stay straight on under a line of trees. Go through a galvanised kissing gate and head on across to woodland.

2. DYMOCK WOOD

Go through a wooden kissing gate into the mixed woodland and follow the dry well surfaced path through. Go over a crossing track and continue on all the way to a lane.

3. LANE

Turn right and shortly cross the motorway. Turn left and come alongside woodland, ignoring a footpath. Pass cottages and then turn right by the Betty Daws Wood Forestry Commission sign.

4. BETTY DAWS WOOD

Enter the wood and shortly follow the track right. Stay with it as it bends round and continues through the edge of the wood. After a few minutes, keep your eyes open for a kissing gate on the right. Go through this, and left a yard or two to the field corner. Don't go through this next gate but stay in the field and turn right. Follow the hedge on your left all the way to the bottom corner where you cross a footbridge.

5. GREENAWAYS WOOD

In Greenaways Wood there are two paths ahead. Take the left hand one which is drier and better defined. It takes you through the wood and then near the end it bears left on a wider track and soon leaves the wood through a barrier.

Here on the right is a wonderful wild daffodil meadow in an orchard – Gwen and Vera Field's Nature Reserve cared for by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

Turn right on the lane. It's not long before you reach Shaw Common on the left.

6. SHAW COMMON

Go straight through this woodland which is a great place for daffodils. Go over two stiles on each side of a crossing track and just continue on down through what is known as Hay Wood. There may be some sticky sections here after rain. Join a wider dryer track and continue straight on (left) and follow this until you reach another track junction with a green banded post on the right. Turn 90 degrees left (ignoring another path going off) and then the track becomes rougher and smaller and unfortunately not very well maintained. But have confidence and stay with it for a few minutes and eventually it will bring you to a stile and down to the lane. Turn right. Soon cross a ford and join Oxenhall Lane.

7. OXENHALL LANE

After about 10 minutes, opposite a lane, turn right on a marked byway.

8. BYWAY

The byway takes you all the way to a lane where you turn right to a junction.

9. JUNCTION

If you want the pub which is only half a mile away, turn left on Swagwater Lane. Keep straight on at two junctions and reach the Roadmaker Inn at Gorsley serving a good range of snacks and meals. Return to the junction.

Go down the track and past a camp site. The track then becomes rougher but continues on under a wooden barrier into woodland. Reach the motorway.

10. TUNNEL

Go under the tunnel and maintain direction. It is now an easy dry route on a good broad track, marked with footpath arrows. Turn right on a broad crossing track. Reach a junction with a seat and follow the arrow on. Ignore any side paths and ascend steadily through Dymock Forest and Queen's Wood. At a junction with another track, go left. Later, the track forks. Go left and follow it up and round to the car park.

To check when the daffodils are out ring Coleford Tourist Information Centre on (01594) 812388 for full details about the three weekend events.

The Roadmaker Inn, Gorsley, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7SW. Tel: 01989 720352. Please call before setting out to confirm opening times.