Coppet Hill from Kerne Bridge
Herefordshire
Coppet Hill rises within a loop of the River Wye between Goodrich and Welsh Bicknor, a mix of ancient woodland and open hillside that has been common land since medieval times and became a local nature reserve in 2000, its open common giving dogs with good recall off lead freedom on top. Trustees drawn from the parish own the hill, and the Friends of Coppet Hill do the conservation work that keeps the open slopes free of scrub. There is no parking on the hill itself and access is on foot only, so this route starts at Kerne Bridge, crosses the Wye and climbs through woodland onto the open common, where paths follow the ridge to viewpoints looking out to the Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountains, the Clee Hills and the Malverns. A circular route taking in the ridge and a riverside return covers around 7km, with a real climb through the woodland.
This is a dog friendly walk through varied country, with shaded woodland on the lower slopes giving way to open, breezy common on top. The Wye offers a stretch of riverside for a dog to cool off, though the current can be strong so supervise closely. Coppet Hill is unfenced common land, and while grazing was not confirmed at the time of writing, dogs should be kept under control on the open sections as a precaution and near the steep river bluffs on the northern edge. There are no facilities on the hill, but Goodrich and Kerne Bridge both have pubs a short walk or drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 7.0 km (4.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 20 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, River, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- None on the hill; pubs in Goodrich and at Kerne Bridge, a short walk or drive away.
- Parking
- No car park on Coppet Hill; roadside parking near Kerne Bridge or in Goodrich village.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Coppet Hill from Kerne Bridge, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Church Farm Cottage Staunton
Sleeps 4 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £693 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in HerefordshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Coppet Hill from Kerne Bridge dog friendly?
Coppet Hill scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness, and it's a genuinely enjoyable walk for dogs of all sizes. The route offers a good mix of shaded woodland on the lower slopes and open, breezy common on top, with a stretch of the River Wye along the way for a cool-down — just keep a close eye on your dog near the water, as the current can be strong.
Can dogs be off lead at Coppet Hill from Kerne Bridge?
Dogs with reliable recall can enjoy off lead freedom on the open common at the top of the hill, which has been common land since medieval times and is unfenced. On the woodland sections and near the steep river bluffs on the northern edge, it's sensible to keep dogs closer to you, and while grazing wasn't confirmed at the time of writing, it's worth keeping that in mind on the open slopes too.
What should I know before visiting Coppet Hill from Kerne Bridge with my dog?
There's no dedicated car park on the hill itself, so most visitors use roadside parking near Kerne Bridge or in Goodrich village, with the route starting at the bridge and crossing the Wye before climbing through woodland. There are no facilities on the hill, but there are pubs in Goodrich and at Kerne Bridge if you need refreshments after the walk. The circular route covering the ridge and a riverside return is around 7km with a real climb through the trees, so it's worth knowing your dog is up for a workout.
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