A wander along the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

I've just returned from a weekend in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. I only manage a tiny bit of research before we went but couldn't help noticing a old railway track to explore, so needless to say that featured high on the agenda. The most impressive part of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway that I saw was the remains of this old bridge, crossing the River Wye to the north of Ross. 

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

I think this might be some sort of workman's hut, buried in the undergrowth near the former railway line.

Old workman's hut on the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Ok, so that's probably enough pictures of the old bridge. The next few are of the track bed heading north out of Ross-on-Wye towards the north.

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Between here and the town itself, the track bed pretty much disappears as it has been ploughed over.

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Back in the town however the track bed re-establishes itself and a number of bridges and remains of bridges can still be seen.

Bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

As we neared the town, just the bridge supports remain, but these ones have been fantastically preserved and adorned with historical information about the former railway.

Remains of bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Remains of bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

As we reached the end of the walk, the heavens well and truly opened so we cut short the final stretch, but just had enough time to photograph the former engine shed, now in use as a garden centre.

The old engine shed on the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Overall a great weekend away, of which this walk was just day one. The town itself is still full of local shops and not blighted with too many brand name shops. There are plenty of small cafés, delicatessens and restaurants, and a fantastic bookshop, Ross Old Books.


    

Cycling close to the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Whilst trying to make the most of the summer, I've been out and about in the countryside cycling of late, and not doing much urban wandering. For the past few weekends I have ventured south towards Whitchurch and beyond. A few weeks ago I posted about the Whitchurch Town station and disused railway, but my latest two trips have taken me beyond Whitchurch to Long Parish and Wherwell, where the former Sprat and Winkle line used to run.

Much of this part of the line is now private and inaccessible, so I had to make do with cycling along the road beside it. Where the line used to run through Stockbridge through is now a foot-cum-cycling path, but going that far was pushing the limits of my cycling ability, and today's route was 50 miles as it was, so maybe that's one for a day when I take the car out. Here's a link to a good brochure about the Sprat and Winkle line.

All the pictures below are taken between Wherwell and Long Parish. The first four are just the bridge supports, but the last two are of one of the few bridges still intact.

Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire 

 Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

 Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

    

I'm not sure where my next venture will take me. I'm up in London a few times again next week, so maybe there'll be some more Urban Wandering taking place again, but for now I'm slightly obsessed with me sprats and winkles.