A Gentle Walk Around Buckholt Woods

Starting From Monmouth Leisure Centre

Head towards town and take the first turning right just after the Toll house, through the Burgage to Dixton Road. Turn right and proceed until you reach a kissing gate on your left. Cross the field diagonally right to a stile by a house (Little Leasbrook), go through a kissing gate and the track will bring to Golf Links Lane. After about 100 yards, take the track to pass Leasbrook Bungalow and cross the stile into the field ahead. Go along the field, keeping the hedge on the right, cross the next stile and bear diagonally right down the field, through a gate and over the stream.

Bear diagonally left and go through the lower of two iron gates (not into the orchard) below Newton Court Farm. Cross this field, go through another gate, and turn right. With the fence on your right walk to the top of this field and turn left along a well defined track to a pair of gates. The Monmouth Golf Links are on your left. Go through the right hand gate, on through the next gateway and straight on to a stile at the end of this field.

Bear half right to a further stile by a gate and head towards the farm. Keeping the farm buildings on your right go through a gateway into the farmyard. Ascend the farm drive to the Hereford Road. Looking back you have a marvellous view of English Newton Common.

Cross the cattle grid and turn left for a few yards walking carefully along the narrow road, then right at the signpost marked Buckholt Woods which once belonged to the Duke of Beaufort (buck being derived from beech).

Ascend the fairly steep path going through mixed broadleaved and conifer woodland, and past a wooden barrier. After about 100 yards, fork left and continue to where a broad track joins from the left. Proceed along this broad track for approximately 400 yards and descend from the woods down steps which zigzag to a stile. The views here are breathtaking - Overmonnow is directly in front of you, with the Blorange and Skirrid Fawr to the right, and the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Over the stile, and keeping the hedge on your left, go to the end of the hedge and turn right, going across the field to a stile (next to a gate). Turn right at the lane, then almost immediately left to go down a farm lane. Go over the stile on the left just before the barn and walk diagonally right across the field, over another stile by a power line post between two trees, and carry on down towards a wood, crossing the stile which is near the bottom corner of the field. Turn right after the stile along the edge of the field with the wood on your right, until you reach a gate on the right. Go through and keeping the hedge on your left go down for about a hundred yards to a large gap. The views on the way down are to Osbaston and St. Mary's Church.

Through the gap, cross a stream, and continue up a track to where it finishes in a field. Turn right and follow the hedge to the gate at the bottom of the field - there are views of the Kymin on the left. DO NOT go through, but continue left to the next gate where there is a footpath fingerpost. Go through and down a short track to the road. Turn left and immediately right and follow the footpath through the vineyard down to the river.

Turn left to walk along the river to reach the weir on your right. The weir was constructed to provide power for a forge which was originally on this site. The footpath now bears left away from the river straight towards the end of a tarmacked lane. This lane will join the Osbaston road near the infants' school. Turn right and after passing Monnow Mill continue to the Hereford Road. Bear right and then turn left at the traffic lights. After 100 yards, turn right into an alleyway which leads to the Burgage, then turn left to reach the car park.

A pleasant circular walk through woods and farmland with lovely views over Monmouth and to the Black Mountains.

Approximately 5 1/2 miles, 3 1/2 hours (4 - 4 1/2 hours with two stops). The way mark is a white disc with a yellow arrow bearing the number one.