The development of geological and landscape trails in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is well underway, with the first publications now available. The intention is to highlight the unique Earth heritage that the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire have, and bring this to the attention of the public. The aims of the project are:

  • To design and print 26 trail guides illustrating the geology and landscape of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
  • To design, produce and site information boards at relevant locations.
  • To ensure that the guides and boards give understandable details relating to rocks, minerals, fossils and landscapes in the countryside and in the built environment.

Countryside trails predominate in the series, however the built environment also provides an excellent forum for education about geology. The Town and Cathedral trails in Hereford and Worcester provide information about building stones used. They give details of both local and far-travelled stone - their type, reasons for use and in some cases method of transport.

It is planned to produce the following 26 landscape and building stones trails during the next 5 years, some of which are listed below.

Herefordshire
Worcestershire
  • Glacial Lake Wigmore
  • Hereford Cathedral
  • Hereford City Centre
  • Goodrich Castle
  • Symonds Yat
  • Woolhope Dome
  • Eastnor Castle and Estate
  • Woolhope Dome
  • Black Mountains
  • Ledbury Hills
  • Wye Gorge
  • River Lugg & Presteigne Basin
  • Kington and Hergest
  • Worcester Cathedral
  • Bredon Hill
  • Lickey Hills
  • Worcester City Centre
  • Great Malvern
  • Malvern Hills (1)
  • Malvern Hills (2)
  • Bewdley Town Centre
  • Severn Valley Railway
  • Broadway and surrounding area
  • Clent Hills
  • Abberley Hills
  • The Wyche and Purlieu

Funding for the trails project is currently being provided by Heritage Lottery Fund, LEADER+ and Wye valley AONB. In addition grants have been obtained from Severn Waste Environmental Fund and a smaller grant from Hanson Environment Fund (Hanson is administered through RSNC). SWEF and Hanson are both part of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Funding has also been provided by the European Union through the LEADER Herefordshire Hills programme. Both Worcestershire and Herefordshire County Councils have contributed to the project with both cash and expertise. We are grateful to all these organisations and individuals within them for continued support.

The trails are marketed through Tourist Information Centres, Countryside Centres, shops local to each trail, bookshops, museums, and they are available directly from us at £1.95 (please make cheques payable to Hereford and Worcester Earth Heritage Trust).

For more information about the trails, and to download an order form, go to the 'Explore' Trail Guides section.