Hereford - City & Riverside

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Spy Mission around Hereford City & Riverside, with Agents helping Ima Spook, a retired spy living in Hereford's High Town, track down the missing four digits of a postcode and beat his rival Kay Geebee to the secret of Ed Sawtails, a suspected double agent.

The operation covers approximately 1.1 miles and should take around 1.5 hours to complete. You'll start at The Black and White House Museum in the centre of town, explore some of Hereford's lesser-known parts as well as the cathedral, follow twists and turns around St Owen Street and St Peter Street, pass St Peter's Church, investigate the cathedral grounds, head down to the river, cross a bridge, return via Castle Green and loop back to High Town.

This Trail is wheelchair accessible and pushchair accessible, with no steps at all to negotiate and no steep hills. Expect a few twists and turns, bus shelters on St Owen Street, and a narrow road section where the road narrows opposite Chandos Pharmacy.

Keep your squad alert around roads. Carefully cross St Peter Street when safe to do so, stay aware of traffic near the world map and the monument in the middle of the road, and do not lean over the edge of the bridge. Part of the route has CCTV, and the cathedral area is described as a safe zone, with lots of people around the north door area.

Getting There

By car: Start your mission at The Black and White House Museum, in the centre of town (HR1 2AA). The nearest parking is Gaol Street Car Park (HR1 2HU), using ///dose.deputy.holly. The Trail loops back to the Bull and starts and ends in the centre, called High Town.

By public transport: Make your way to The Black and White House Museum, in the centre of town, to begin the operation. The circular route returns to High Town once Ima Spook's missing postcode digits have been tracked down.

Need the Loo?

Useful comfort-break intel: find toilets after Clue 01 and at the cathedral around Clue 11. There are also toilets if you head left around the cathedral.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Agents and sniffer dogs can join this dog friendly mission 🐾

Keep canine recruits close around the road crossings, the narrow section opposite Chandos Pharmacy, the riverside and the bridge. If you meet the ducks, don't feed them bread - the route suggests other foods instead.

Food & Drink Stops

Code-cracking works best with decent supplies, so pick up provisions at the start for a picnic or an energy boost later on.

There are one or two cafes on St Owen Street, then none until you get back. Stop at the cathedral around Clues 11 - 15 for refreshments, where there is a cafe, and you'll find pubs and cafes in Hereford's High Town at the end. Pubs and cafes in Broad Street are close by too.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Hereford Cathedral

Ima is happy for Agents to take time out and explore the cathedral. It is free to enter, although donations are welcome, and it houses the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library exhibitions. There is a charge to view the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library.

The Black and White House Museum and the Bull

The mission begins at The Black and White House Museum in the centre of town, making it a natural place to linger before or after the operation. The Bull next to it is described as a symbol of Herefordshire and a well-known landmark.

Castle Green and the Riverside

The route heads down to the river, crosses a bridge and returns via Castle Green with the river on the left. This stretch brings riverside paths, a bridge crossing and views back towards the cathedral - ideal for a slower wander once the spy work is under control.

Hereford Cathedral Timeline and Broad Street

The operation follows the timeline along the kerbstones around the cathedral before continuing to the front of the cathedral and nearby Broad Street. With pubs and cafes close by, it is a handy historic-and-refreshment finale for Agents who want to stay in the area a little longer.

More Hereford Trails

If your squad fancies another operation, there are two other Trails around Hereford: Old Hereford and Hereford Cathedral and the City.