PARTS of a popular Herefordshire estate are set to opened to the public for the first time in possibly 120 years.

Paths used in the late 18th and early 19th century by the owners of Croft Castle near Leominster for carriage riding were unearthed following an archaeological survey at the National Trust property last year.

Since then, rangers and volunteers based at the venue – which dates back to the 15th century – have worked to restore some of the routes into a short circular walk for today’s visitors.

“About 80 per cent of the walk is on virgin ground,” said Jason Wood, Croft Castle’s ranger.

“It’s the first time some of these routes would have been walked for possibly 120 years.

“But there are some parts you cannot restore as it would have been too dangerous.”

The discovery came about following the archaeological survey conducted by Herefordshire Council’s archaeological projects manager, Tim Hoverd.

Further investigation revealed the routes would have been used by the gentry in the 19th century to entertain guests with carriage riding and walks during a period known as the picturesque movement.

“We saw the routes before they were restored and thought they were just old paths,” said Mr Wood.

“We didn’t think anything else about it.

“That was until it was explained to us what they used to be used for.”

Mr Wood added: “This is one of the major discoveries we have had.”

He has led the work on linking some of the routes to form the circular walk which is just under two miles long.

It passes a number of impressive vantage points including some of the estate’s famous valley pools, and oak trees as old as 800 years.

One of the volunteers, John Parsons, said he hopes visitors will feel they can get away from it all while walking the newlydiscovered route.

“Most of the walks are on the western side of Croft Castle, but this is the only walk on this side of the parkland,” he said.

“I hope people will get the sense they are walking through a lovely unspoilt area which has had very little human interference.”

The walk will open to the public on Saturday with a ranger-led walk the following day beginning at 2pm.

Ana Vaughan, from the National Trust, said: “We are really pleased to be opening the new carriage ride walk at Croft Castle.

“Although it is a new walk, it’s a chance for visitors to explore the 19th century pathways around the castle grounds.”