Field Visit: Little Doward and Arthur's Cave
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20 May
Saturday 20 May (Field Visit): Little Doward and Arthur's Cave. Led by Jim Handley (EHT Champion for the Dowards and Arthur's Cave). Meet for a 10.30 start in the car park near the Doward Campsite between Little and Great Doward (GR: SO 547157, Lat. 51.837872, Long. -2.6579189). Do not rely on the post code for this site. Follow the instructions from the A40 detailed here by Jim: Travelling south from Ross or Hereford, turn left off the A40 at the turning for Symonds Yat West and follow the brown signs to the Doward Campsite. In detail: having turned off the A40 at Whitchurch, turn right immediately at the small roundabout. In 250 yards go left (not over the bridge). In about a mile at Crockers Ash turn left between houses. Follow the single track road with passing places for about a mile and a half. Where the road turns sharp left, go right onto a rough track past Doward Campsite entrance. Parking in 150 yards.
The walk will visit the Carboniferous Lordswood Quarry, and an excellent case study can be found here: https://deeptime.voyage/resources/lordswood/. We will view the Wye Gorge and think about its formation, visit a tufa covered cliff and a limestone pavement made up of a reef of colonial corals. We will also see some local heritage and spectacular scenery. The route is about 4 miles long on good tracks and paths, with some rough and inclined sections, but the gradients involved are not steep. Wear stout footwear and bring a packed lunch. Finish around 4.00.
Click here for a Google map of the location.