In the next of his articles about local walks, Tom Davies takes us along a figure-of-eight route that includes the chapels at Posbury and Oldridge. This walk of 4.1 miles takes approx 2 hours. It uses bridleways and footpaths and is not recommended after heavy rain.
The starting point is the car park at Posbury Chapel (A).
Turn left and then take the footpath down to Venny Tedburn through the grounds of the former convent. On reaching the road at Posbury Lodge (B) turn right and after about 100m take the signposted bridleway on your left (C).
Cross the River Culvery by the footbridge and then climb up to Oldridge (D) enjoying the panoramic views in all directions. The chapel and some cottages are on your right at the end of the bridleway where it joins a road. From here you can see Posbury Chapel.
Continue upwards on the road from the chapel soon arriving at Tomhead Cross (E) where you take the right hand track, another bridleway now heading back towards Posbury. At this point you will have been walking for an hour.
Follow the bridleway downhill through Blackalder Wood crossing the Lilly Brook using the footbridge soon reaching the Tedburn road at Meetford Cross (F).
Turn right towards Venny Tedburn and on reaching a bridleway on your left just after the bridleway on your right which you took earlier in the walk (C) climb up to Merrymeet Cross (G) and then take the right hand track back to Posbury Chapel where you should be now able to identify the bell tower of Oldridge Chapel peeking above the trees of Blackalder Wood.
It is worth noting that if you have the time and energy when you reach Tomhead Cross (E) then a walk along the Oldridge Road as far as Cleave Cottage or even further will be rewarded with stunning views . Turn left at Tomhead Cross for this option.
To extend the walk by 2.5 miles you can take the bridleway straight ahead at Tomhead Cross (instead of right or left) which takes you through Little Fairwood Farm to Lillybrook close to Tedburn St Mary then along Lillybrook Lane to Frankford Farm and along the Lilly Brook to Meetford Cross (F).
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