ROSS BUGGY / MOBILITY SCOOTER ROUTE
download a leaflet from the ROSS WALKING FESTIVAL website here
OR SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE
(pictures do not show actual route)
Start:- The Bandstand, Wye Street, Ross-on-Wye. Grid Ref. SO 596240
Parking:- Park in the road at the starting point. Map;- OS Explorer 189
Length:- Approx 4 miles. Grade:- Easy/Moderate. Stiles:- None
Refreshments:- Cafés in Ross. 1 Pub very close to the start/ end.
Toilets:- In Wye Street near the start. (Disabled toilet needs a radar key).
In the Red Meadow car park, near Ross Town Swimming Pool.
At the Ryefield Centre.
Description of the route.
Start on the asphalt path that leads to the river, on the opposite side of Wye Street from the Bandstand. Head towards the river and at the Tee junction of paths, turn right. Follow this path alongside the river, past the Hope and Anchor Inn. Outside the pub is a set of steps and alongside is the new ramp that was installed as part of the Buggy Route, to provide access along the full length of the riverside. You are now on the Ropewalk, so called because its length was that of a standard length of rope and ropes were made here. The path swings right and joins a road outside the entrance to Ross Rowing Club, founded in 1870. Turn right onto the road and, walking alongside the Rudhall Brook, head off the Ropewalk. The road meets a town street, Trenchard Street. Cross the street, diagonally to the left. Go through a gap alongside the mural, on the iron fence, painted in 2009. After 15 yards, go right across a small bridge. Continue past Ross Swimming Pool, on the left, and the public toilets on your left. Leave the car park through the gateway. You are now on Brookend Street. To cross the street go left for about 50 yards and use the dropped kerbs. Return on the opposite side and turn left into a narrow alleyway. Continue up the alleyway to join another street, Millpond Street. Turn right and proceed to the pedestrian crossing. Cross the street here and turn right. Continue past the main entrance to Morrisons supermarket. About 30 yards past the entrance cross the street and turn left
Continue until you reach Grammar School Close. Turn right, passing the entrance to The Larruperz Centre, then turn left (also signed Grammar School Close). Head towards a brick building and turn right into its car park. This is the Ryefield Centre for people with learning disabilities. There are toilets inside that may be used. Leave the car park and turn right onto Ryefield Road, continue to the junction with Gloucester Road. Cross the road, turn left and go slightly downhill. After about 200 yards cross a road that comes in from your right (Alton Road). Follow the path that passes in front of the Wolf Business Park until you reach the entrance to “The Town and Country Trail”. Turn right onto the trail and follow it for about one and a quarter miles. The Trail follows the route of a section of the old Ross to Monmouth railway line. You will emerge into a small car park after ascending a short, twisty climb. Go straight across the car park, cross over a road and continue on the track, past the children’s playground on your right. On reaching the main road, cross it using the pedestrian controlled traffic lights. Go straight onto another track with a small stone marker on the left. This marks the Betzdorf Walk. It, too, is part of the old railway line and this section has been designated “The Betzdorf Walk” in honour of Ross’ German twin town, Betzdorf. At a cross-road of paths turn right. Cross a suburban street and continue straight ahead between houses. Cross another street (Roman Way) and continue straight ahead along a footpath to the junction with Archenfield Road, opposite Cleeve Lane. Turn right along Archenfield Road. Just past The Shrubbery, cross over, turn right and continue to the next junction on the left, (Middleton Avenue). Turn into Middleton Avenue and continue to the junction with Redhill Road, opposite the entrance to Ashfield Park School. Turn left and continue along a tarmac drive to the right of Castle Meadow onto an unmade road. Just past the top of a slight rise fork right, up a ramp, to the path alongside the school’s grounds. Continue until you reach the end of the school’s grounds. Turn right along private road. Continue to the junction opposite The Prince of Wales Inn. Turn left along the path that rises slightly, towards the Ross Tennis Centre. This area, known as The Crossfields, also has the Ross weather station, the putting course and Ross Bowling Club. After passing the Bowling Club, turn left into Ross Parish Church churchyard. The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is 13th century and well worth a visit. There are a number of things to see around the church, but do not miss the Prospect Gardens, laid out by John Kyrle in 1696 as a space for the people of the town to enjoy, and the Plague Cross in the lower right hand corner of the churchyard. Retrace through the churchyard and leave through the gates you entered by. Turn left down Church Street. On you right are the lovely old Rudhall Almshouses. They were originally a 14th century hospital and were renovated by William Rudhall in 1575. They are now administered by The Churches Charitable Trust.
At the bottom of Church Street, turn left onto High Street. Cross High Street so you are outside the Kings Head hotel, and turn left again. Just before reaching the junction at the top of the street, stop and look at the houses to the right of Ross Old Books. Note the blocked up doorways high in the walls. These were, originally at street level. However, when the new road, replacing Wye Street as the main route into Ross, was built in 1824 by Thomas Telford, the level of High Street was lowered to its present position. At the end of High Street, cross over to the front of The Man of Ross Inn. The pub has a nice comment on John Kyrle and another of Wylenty Pytel’s sculptures, this time of leaping salmon. Pass down the steep slope of Wye Street. At the end of the steep section of Wye Street note the house high on your left. This has been modernised into a family house with decking and new windows. But notice the archway up the steps from street level. This building was the Ross Ice House where ice from the river would be taken in winter for use in the warmer months.
You have now arrived back at the Bandstand and completed the whole of the Ross Buggy Route and learned a very small amount of the history of Ross on the way.
(pictures do not show actual route)
Start:- The Bandstand, Wye Street, Ross-on-Wye. Grid Ref. SO 596240
Parking:- Park in the road at the starting point. Map;- OS Explorer 189
Length:- Approx 4 miles. Grade:- Easy/Moderate. Stiles:- None
Refreshments:- Cafés in Ross. 1 Pub very close to the start/ end.
Toilets:- In Wye Street near the start. (Disabled toilet needs a radar key).
In the Red Meadow car park, near Ross Town Swimming Pool.
At the Ryefield Centre.
Description of the route.
Start on the asphalt path that leads to the river, on the opposite side of Wye Street from the Bandstand. Head towards the river and at the Tee junction of paths, turn right. Follow this path alongside the river, past the Hope and Anchor Inn. Outside the pub is a set of steps and alongside is the new ramp that was installed as part of the Buggy Route, to provide access along the full length of the riverside. You are now on the Ropewalk, so called because its length was that of a standard length of rope and ropes were made here. The path swings right and joins a road outside the entrance to Ross Rowing Club, founded in 1870. Turn right onto the road and, walking alongside the Rudhall Brook, head off the Ropewalk. The road meets a town street, Trenchard Street. Cross the street, diagonally to the left. Go through a gap alongside the mural, on the iron fence, painted in 2009. After 15 yards, go right across a small bridge. Continue past Ross Swimming Pool, on the left, and the public toilets on your left. Leave the car park through the gateway. You are now on Brookend Street. To cross the street go left for about 50 yards and use the dropped kerbs. Return on the opposite side and turn left into a narrow alleyway. Continue up the alleyway to join another street, Millpond Street. Turn right and proceed to the pedestrian crossing. Cross the street here and turn right. Continue past the main entrance to Morrisons supermarket. About 30 yards past the entrance cross the street and turn left
Continue until you reach Grammar School Close. Turn right, passing the entrance to The Larruperz Centre, then turn left (also signed Grammar School Close). Head towards a brick building and turn right into its car park. This is the Ryefield Centre for people with learning disabilities. There are toilets inside that may be used. Leave the car park and turn right onto Ryefield Road, continue to the junction with Gloucester Road. Cross the road, turn left and go slightly downhill. After about 200 yards cross a road that comes in from your right (Alton Road). Follow the path that passes in front of the Wolf Business Park until you reach the entrance to “The Town and Country Trail”. Turn right onto the trail and follow it for about one and a quarter miles. The Trail follows the route of a section of the old Ross to Monmouth railway line. You will emerge into a small car park after ascending a short, twisty climb. Go straight across the car park, cross over a road and continue on the track, past the children’s playground on your right. On reaching the main road, cross it using the pedestrian controlled traffic lights. Go straight onto another track with a small stone marker on the left. This marks the Betzdorf Walk. It, too, is part of the old railway line and this section has been designated “The Betzdorf Walk” in honour of Ross’ German twin town, Betzdorf. At a cross-road of paths turn right. Cross a suburban street and continue straight ahead between houses. Cross another street (Roman Way) and continue straight ahead along a footpath to the junction with Archenfield Road, opposite Cleeve Lane. Turn right along Archenfield Road. Just past The Shrubbery, cross over, turn right and continue to the next junction on the left, (Middleton Avenue). Turn into Middleton Avenue and continue to the junction with Redhill Road, opposite the entrance to Ashfield Park School. Turn left and continue along a tarmac drive to the right of Castle Meadow onto an unmade road. Just past the top of a slight rise fork right, up a ramp, to the path alongside the school’s grounds. Continue until you reach the end of the school’s grounds. Turn right along private road. Continue to the junction opposite The Prince of Wales Inn. Turn left along the path that rises slightly, towards the Ross Tennis Centre. This area, known as The Crossfields, also has the Ross weather station, the putting course and Ross Bowling Club. After passing the Bowling Club, turn left into Ross Parish Church churchyard. The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is 13th century and well worth a visit. There are a number of things to see around the church, but do not miss the Prospect Gardens, laid out by John Kyrle in 1696 as a space for the people of the town to enjoy, and the Plague Cross in the lower right hand corner of the churchyard. Retrace through the churchyard and leave through the gates you entered by. Turn left down Church Street. On you right are the lovely old Rudhall Almshouses. They were originally a 14th century hospital and were renovated by William Rudhall in 1575. They are now administered by The Churches Charitable Trust.
At the bottom of Church Street, turn left onto High Street. Cross High Street so you are outside the Kings Head hotel, and turn left again. Just before reaching the junction at the top of the street, stop and look at the houses to the right of Ross Old Books. Note the blocked up doorways high in the walls. These were, originally at street level. However, when the new road, replacing Wye Street as the main route into Ross, was built in 1824 by Thomas Telford, the level of High Street was lowered to its present position. At the end of High Street, cross over to the front of The Man of Ross Inn. The pub has a nice comment on John Kyrle and another of Wylenty Pytel’s sculptures, this time of leaping salmon. Pass down the steep slope of Wye Street. At the end of the steep section of Wye Street note the house high on your left. This has been modernised into a family house with decking and new windows. But notice the archway up the steps from street level. This building was the Ross Ice House where ice from the river would be taken in winter for use in the warmer months.
You have now arrived back at the Bandstand and completed the whole of the Ross Buggy Route and learned a very small amount of the history of Ross on the way.