Guysrambles

New long distance path The Wyche Way will open in September 2015

The Wyche Way is a new long distance path that links two national trails – The Offa’s Dyke Path and The Cotswold Way. It was opened in September 2015.

Note from Guy: The Wyche Way is now open and the book is available for sale. Read more here.

The 79 mile trail commences from Kington in Herefordshire (close to the Welsh border) and crosses superb countryside, including the spectacular Malvern Hills, to meet The Cotswold Way at Broadway Tower.

The trail is the brainchild of Guy Vowles, who is not only a very experienced long distance walker, but also the instigator of two other long distance trails, The Palladian Way and The Ross Round.

Guy first heard of the name from a fellow member of The Cheltenham Rambling Club, who had walked much of the same route in a number of circular walks at the end of the 1970’s. The idea had lain dormant since that time but Guy immediately saw the potential for a great new linear trail.

The name is best known from an old ‘Saltway’ crossing of the Malvern Hills known as The Wyche Cutting,but there is also the connotation of Which Way (to go) and there is also an area in the original settlement of Kington close to the church known as the Wych where one can find several buildings bearing the name.

Guy has been greatly assisted by Jim Mason, who is a councillor in Winchcombe, near to the end of the trail. Jim has been much involved in the new Walkers are Welcome initiative (WAW) which is so strong in Winchcombe, and many other towns and villages throughout Britain.

Coincidently Kington is also a WAW town and will now have seven long distance trails passing through this small but atmospheric town. The lovely spa town of Malvern is likewise a stronghold for walkers, and is an ideal halfway point on the trail with all possible services available.

There will be an official opening of the trail on Friday 18th September as part of the Kington Walking Festival. Please contact Guy at guyvowles@talktalk.net if you would like to attend or find out more.

More details of the trail are available at www.guysrambles.co.uk. An affordable guide book of The Wyche Way will be be on sale on the same site from September 2015. Please let Guy know if you would like to pre-order.