Bespoke Walks – Available throughout the year
Explore the rich history of Hereford through our expertly guided walks, designed to inspire and inform every visitor.
- Alfred Watkins – Hereford man of many talents
- Building Hereford Through the Ages – architecture in the historic city centre
- Castle Green, Hereford
- The Civil War in Hereford 1642-1645
- Elgar in Hereford
- Hauntings & Horrors
- Historical City Walks
- Lost Buildings of Hereford
- The river runs through it – Hereford on the Wye
- A Phil Rickman Guide to Hereford
- John Venn and the Society for Aiding the Industrious
- Women in Hereford
Bespoke walks are available throughout the year. Organisations and groups planning to make a booking are encouraged to contact the Booking Officer by email at bookings@herefordguidedwalks.org.uk or by phone on 07947 924494 to discuss your requirements and schedule your walk.
Duration of a walk will be dependent on requirements but is usually one hour to one and a half hours.
Please note that the minimum number of participants we will consider for all Bespoke walks is four adults and all walks are subject to availability of suitable Guides for the subject matter and the size of your group.
Charges are £7.50 per adult, £1 per young person aged 6 to 17 inclusive and free for all under 6. Please note that we can only allow assistance dogs on our walks.
Coach parties can unload near the west front of the Cathedral, where the group can be met. The coach is required to depart immediately after unloading to one of the designated coach parking areas within the city.
Bespoke accessible walks
Wheelchair users are welcome. Members of the Guild have devised a Historical City route that aims to minimise discomfort by using the smoothest surfaces, avoiding steep slopes, bumps and narrow pavements and narrow, busy thoroughfares. Please see our FAQ section for more information. For other accessible walks please contact our Booking Officer by email at bookings@herefordguidedwalks.org.uk or by phone on 07947 924494 .
Bespoke walk overview
Explore the diverse range of bespoke walks offered by the Hereford Guild of Mayor’s Guides, each designed to bring history and heritage to life.
Alfred Watkins – a man of many talents
Born in 1855, Herefordian Alfred Watkins was the man who famously ‘discovered’ ley lines. But this was only one aspect of this multifaceted character. An amateur historian and experimental archaeologist, he was also a talented photographer, inventor, local artist and beekeeper. This walk will take you to his birthplaces, school, home and other key locations and introduce you to the man who contributed so much to the city and country of his birth.
Building Hereford Through the Ages – architecture in the history city centre
The historic city of Hereford’s varied architecture reflects its growth and development through the ages – Medieval, Jacobean, Georgian, Victorian and modern-day. We will show you our city’s architectural heritage, from the classical Shire Hall & the Baroque Town Hall to one of the oldest timbered halls in England We’ll see examples of architectural recycling, consider the story of the ‘house that moved’ and give a flavour of the fascinating history of our city along the way.
Castle Green
Is this the place where the story of our city began? Ancient religious site, front line military
garrison & royal castle to rival the beauty and power of Windsor. We do not know all of what
lies beneath our feet on Castle Green but we can tell you what we do know of this area. Today
a very pleasant place to stroll alongside the River Wye or enjoy the views of the river and
meadows beyond with a coffee from the beautiful Pavilion where our walk begins and ends.
Join us for a 90 minute stroll as we tell the stories of this site of important and turbulent historic
interest, now a peaceful green gem at the heart of Hereford city
The Civil War in Hereford
Hereford, a royal garrison heavily armed and fortified during the Middle Ages, on the front line of the English defence of its border with Wales. Our shire was one of the first to declare for the King when Charles 1st raised his standard at Nottingham in 1642, plunging the country into civil war. The city changed hands more than once as the struggle between King and Parliament played. out. Who were the key players locally? What happened in the city and what impact did the war have?
Elgar in Hereford
Discover Elgar’s links to the City of Hereford with a walk illustrated with brief extracts from music during his Hereford years. We will put this period of his life in the context of his career, from humble origins to becoming one of Britain’s most famous composers
Hauntings and Horrors
Our storytellers will guide you on a journey through the past with tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from the history, mystery, folklore and legends of Hereford. Every walk involves a stroll through various haunted sites scattered across the city. Tales of gruesome events and paranormal experiences will send shivers down your spine…join us if you dare!
Historical City Walk
Join us to explore Hereford’s history, seeing interesting and historic buildings and landmarks, hearing tales from medieval times to today, including its role in the Civil War and some of its famous people. Our commentary will bring the city’s past alive and reveal hidden depths that may surprise you!
Lost Buildings of Hereford
John Speed’s 1610 map of our county includes a tiny but detailed plan of the city of Hereford set in the top right-hand corner. The city streets are still recognisable as the ones we know today. How many changes have taken place since the seventeenth century? And how many were there before? This talk outlines some of the buildings that came and went; some of great importance and some we may ourselves remember.
The River Runs Through it: Hereford on the Wye
The River Wye has always played a central role in the life of our city, even before settlement began here on it’s banks. A natural wonder, a defence and a threat, a source of food, a route for transport and communication, a resource for industry, trade, tourism and recreation, the river is a precious artery flowing through the city. Join our walk along its banks and learn about the complex relationship between river and city, past present and future.
A Phil Rickman Guide to Hereford
An alternative walk around Hereford city highlighting the places mentioned in the Merrily Watkins series of books by the acclaimed local author Phil Rickman. His supernatural mystery series follows a charmingly flawed, recently widowed Anglican vicar and single mother, blending crime with folklore and local legends. ‘A lovely tribute’ to the recently deceased and much-loved author.
John Venn and the Society for Aiding the Industrious
John Venn was the vicar of St Peter’s and St Owen’s churches from 1833 until 1870. Together with his sister Emelia, he established the Hereford City Mission and the Hereford Society for Aiding the Industrious (HSAI).
Women in Hereford
Sinners and suffragettes, actresses and artists, this walk will introduce you to some notable female characters from the 15th century through to the present day. Some are famous or infamous, some are little known or anonymous; each has had an impact on the city, the country and in some cases the world. (This walk will start at Hereford Cathedral West Front (what3words ///client.caves.camp) and finish in Widemarsh Street.)
The Guild of Guides continues to expand and enrich its programme of bespoke walks as the collective knowledge of its members grows and evolves. With ongoing research, training, and first-hand experience, existing guides regularly develop new insights and perspectives that inspire fresh topics and updated presentations. At the same time, the arrival of new members—each bringing their own specialist interests, backgrounds, and passions—adds further depth and diversity to the range of talks on offer. This dynamic exchange of expertise ensures that the Guild’s walks remain engaging, relevant, and responsive to audience interests, reflecting both the Guild’s commitment to lifelong learning and the strength of its collaborative community
What our Customers say
“We were interested to learn more about Hereford so decided to go on the walk we saw advertised as part of the Hereford History Week. We were not disappointed Deborah provided a very interesting tour. Her excellent knowledge was enhanced by the interesting photos she showed us. Our only regret was that there was insufficient time to explore and learn more”.
Hereford History Week- St Peters Parish Walk 16th May 2026
“Thank you so much Stephen, for arranging the walking tour at short notice. My colleagues very much enjoyed it and were surprised at the pretty gruesome history of Hereford!”
Hauntings and Horrors participants April 2026
“Everyone was most impressed with Angela, as she made a superb guide. She was full of entertaining facts, which she shared in a very professional manner. We will now walk through town looking at things in a completely different way”
The Wednesday Club from Hereford, Wednesday 8th April 2026
Discover Hereford’s Heritage on Foot
Explore the rich history of Hereford through our expertly guided walks, designed to inspire and inform every visitor.
