Geo-Trips :: The Daffodil Way
Kempley and Dymock
A walk from Kempley, Sun, 22 Mar 2015 by Philip Halling
Every year in the early spring wild daffodils bloom in the woods, and some farmland in north-west Gloucestershire. The villages of Kempley and Dymock in particular are very popular with visitors and walkers. This walk follows the Daffodil Way which was opened in 1988 on the initiative of the Windcross Public Paths Project, with support from the Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucestershire. The 8 miles long path is a gentle walk on flat terrain, passing through woodland, meadow and farmland, and orchards in the Leadon valley. For a short distance the walk follows the long defunct Gloucestershire and Herefordshire canal. A highlight is the old medieval church of St Mary’s, Kempley, now in the care of English Heritage; it is renowned for wonderful medieval wall paintings. The walk passes through the village of Dymock, where there is a pub, providing the opportunity of refreshments. The village of Dymock was home to a number of poets in the years leading up to the First World War including: Robert Frost, Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, and John Drinkwater, collectively known as the ‘Dymock Poets’.
This part of Gloucestershire is known as the Golden Triangle and is the reason why the wild daffodil is the county flower of Gloucestershire.
On the day of our walk the morning began dull and grey, fortunately for the second part of the walk from Dymock onwards the cloud lifted resulting in a beautiful sunny afternoon.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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New war memorial in Kempley
This war memorial to the sons of Kempley lost in WWI and WWII was unveiled in... more
Plaque on Kempley war memorial
Plaque on new Kempley war memorial which was unveiled in October 2014. [[[4401047]]]
Farm buildings, Kempley
Farm buildings beside the Daffodil Way in Kempley.
The Daffodil Way
The Daffodil Way crossing farmland and passing farm buildings near Kempley.
Daffodils in Dymock Wood
Wild daffodils are a feature of this area of north-west Gloucestershire and draw... more
Daffodils in Dymock Wood
Wild daffodils in Dymock Wood.
The Daffodil Way, Dymock Wood
Each springtime the Daffodil Way around Kempley is a popular walk, here the walk... more
Country road and M50 near Dymock
Country road and M50 motorway passing Dymock Wood.
Bridge over a former railway
A bridge carrying the M50 motorway over the former Gloucester to Ledbury railway.... more
The Daffodil Way beside the M50
Having followed the M50 motorway for a short distance at this point the Daffodil... more
Daffodils beside a stream near Dymock
Daffodils beside a stream near Dymock, this brook is easily mistaken for the... more
Track and Daffodil Way
Track and Daffodil Way approaching Boyce Court near Dymock.
Boyce Court
Boyce Court viewed from the south. The house was built in 1835 for Drummond... more
Former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal
The remains of the former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal near Boyce... more
The former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal
The remains of the former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal near Boyce... more
Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal, near Boyce Court
The remains of the former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal near Boyce... more
The former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal
The remains of the former Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal near Boyce... more
Weir on Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal
Weir on Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal near Boyce Court.
Bare winter tree
Bare winter tree, willow I think, beside the Daffodil Way south of Dymock.
Ewes and lambs near Boyce Court
Ewes and lambs viewed from the Daffodil Way near Boyce Court.
Beauchamp Arms, Dymock
War Memorial in Dymock
War Memorial in front of Dymock church.
Springtime in Dymock
Dymock church and war memorial on a spring day. At the time of the photograph a... more
A Morgan car rally
A Morgan car rally in front of Dymock church.
Daffodil Way near Shakesfield
Daffodil Way near Shakesfield following a farm road to Allum's Farm near Dymock.
Dymock viewed from the north-west
Dymock viewed from the Daffodil Way near Shakesfield to the north-west.
Ewes and lambs
Ewes and lambs near Allum's Farm, Dymock.
View to Ridge Hill
View to Ridge Hill and its transmitter above Much Marcle, from the Daffodil Way... more
Farmhouse, Allum's Farm
The farmhouse of Allum's Farm viewed from the Daffodil Way, it is interesting to... more
Daffodils in front of Dymock church
Daffodils below the wall in front of Dymock church.
Wild daffodils
Wild daffodils beside the Daffodil Way in an orchard near Allum's Farm, Dymock.
Wild daffodils
Every spring people flock to this corner of Gloucestershire to see the wild... more
The Daffodil Way south of Allum's Farm
The Daffodil Way passing through an orchard to the south of Allum's Farm, Dymock.
Sheep near The Old Rock
Sheep in an orchard beside the Daffodil Way near The Old Rock.
Three ewes
Three ewes in an orchard beside the Daffodil Way near The Old Rock.
Three ewes
Three ewes in an orchard beside the Daffodil Way near The Old Rock.
Daffodil Way approaching Allum's Grove
Daffodil Way approaching the small wood of Allum's Grove.
Daffodil Way in Allum's Grove
The Daffodil Way passing through Allum's Grove.
Clearfell in Allum's Grove
An area of felled trees beside the Daffodil Way in Allum's Grove.
Still standing...
All that remains of this old cottage is the chimney and it remains much as it was... more
Ploughed field near Kempley
Ploughed field beside the Daffodil Way near Kempley.
Daffodil Way approaching Kempley Brook
The Daffodil Way crossing a ploughed field as it approaches Kempley Brook.
Arable land near Stonehouse Farm
Large ploughed arable field near Stonehouse Farm, the farmhouse of which can be... more
Friar's Court, Kempley
Friar's Court viewed from the passing country road near Kempley.
A choice of footpaths
Two footpaths crossing farmland near Kempley, of the two the one on the right is... more
The Daffodil Way
Footpath signpost on the Daffodil Way near Kempley.
Kempley church
The church of St Mary's dates from the 12th century and is the original church in... more
Kempley church
The church of St Mary's dates from the 12th century and is the original church in... more
Daffodils and Kempley church
This corner of north-west Gloucestershire is renowned for its daffodils, here they... more
Daffodil in Kempley churchyard
The tower of Kempley church
The church of St Mary's dates from the 12th century and is the original church in... more
Road junction in Kempley
Road junction near Kempley church which can be seen in the background.
Kempley Court
Kempley Court viewed from the Daffodil Way to the west.
Arable land beside Kempley Brook
The Daffodil Way follows Kempley Brook to the left of this ploughed field.
Memorial cross to Audley Money-Kyrle
This sandstone Memorial cross to Audley Money-Kyrle is inscribed 'A.W.Money-Kyrle... more
Memorial cross to Audley Money-Kyrle
This sandstone Memorial cross to Audley Money-Kyrle is inscribed 'A.W.Money-Kyrle... more
Kempley Brook and Hill Brook Farm
Hill Brook Farm viewed from beside Kempley Brook on the Daffodil Way.
View to Matthew's Farm
View to Matthew's Farm in Kempley.
Road passing Hill Brook Farm
The Daffodil Way follows this country road passing Hill Brook Farm.
Farm at Lower House, Kempley
View to farm buildings at Lower House and what appears to be a milking parlour.
Daffodil Way, Kempley
The Daffodil Way approaching Queen's Wood near Kempley.
All images © Philip Halling and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
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