Staunton, Buck Stone, Near Hearkening Stone and Suck Stone

The walk begins in the picturesque village of Staunton, situated on the ridge overlooking the Wye Valley. Heading out into the surrounding woodlands, you soon encounter the Buck Stone, a prominent balancing rock perched high on the hillside. Legend and geological study alike have long fascinated visitors with this striking monolith, which offers sweeping views across the borderlands toward the Welsh hills.

Continuing through the dense canopy of Highmeadow Woods, the trail leads past the Near Hearkening Stone. This massive conglomerate boulder has earned its folkloric name from tales that whispers or sounds spoken on one side can be distinctly heard on the other, or that it served as an acoustic pulpit in times past.

Winding deeper into the forest paths, the route approaches the magnificent Suck Stone, one of the largest detached masses of rock in the Forest of Dean. Formed from Quartz Conglomerate, this imposing natural sculpture towers above the woodland floor, surrounded by lush ferns and ancient trees.

The return leg meanders gently back through quiet country lanes and woodland tracks, completing a thoroughly rewarding loop that bridges two counties and immerses you in the rich natural and industrial heritage of the border country.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.