LARGE areas of common land remain in and around Malvern, most of which are well known. But there are also smaller patches too, which tend to be overlooked.

One of these is the linear common which borders the road running from Barnard’s Green to Guarlford. There are some veteran trees and a brook along the southern edge of the common and a couple of attractive pools by the northern edge, making it a pleasant and convenient place from which to strike out into the surrounding countryside.

FACTFILE

Start: By Guarlford Road (B4211) on the eastern edge of Great Malvern near Hall Green, grid ref SO800453.

Length: 6¾ miles/11km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Arable, pasture, orchard and woodland, no hills.

Footpaths: There are no major obstacles but the overall standard is low. Waymarking is patchy and paths crossing arable fields are often not reinstated after ploughing.

In such cases the correct routes are described here but you will see from the footprints that local walkers use field-edge alternatives.

Stiles: 28.

Parking: Roadside, between Mill Lane and the Bluebell.

Buses: Several buses stop close by, including all which serve Poolbrook, Pound Bank, Hall Green and Barnard’s Green eg 44/44C from Worcester to Malvern via Pound Bank and Barnard’s Green, or 41/42/43 (which depart Worcester as 362/363/364, but change service numbers at Upton); worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Bluebell Inn on Guarlford Road.

DIRECTIONS

1 Take a lane called Hall Green which leaves the north side of the road between Mill Lane and the Bluebell. After 200m, turn right on a footpath.Ignore a stile on the right and continue along a wide grassy path to meet a road. Turn left and after 100m take a path on the right. Walk along the left-hand edge of a field to a junction at the far side and go into another field opposite.Ignore a waymark and head towards the far left field corner. Cross a stile near the corner, after which the path is easily followed for a while.

2 After passing Garter Wood, the waymarking ceases but the path continues straight on along two field edges. You’ll then see a hedge on your right going diagonally towards South Wood.

Go through a gap to the left of the hedge into the next field and go diagonally to the far corner of the wood. Walk along the field edge until a gap gives access to the next field. Turn right and walk to the next corner. The path should then go diagonally to the far corner of the wood but you will almost certainly find it hasn’t been reinstated. Most walkers use the field edge, and the waymarking, which resumes soon after this point, seems to confirm this by directing us along the edge – but this is inconsistent with the county council’s Definitive Map.

3 Meeting a road, continue opposite, across a field then over a wire fence by a fallen stile.

Go straight on through a cherry orchard, to the right of Dripshill Wood, then straight on through meadows to meet the B4211 by Fowler’s Farm. Cross the road and take the Hanley Swan road, almost opposite. Follow it to a T-junction by Priestfield Farm and turn left.

Take the next path on the right.

Head towards the far left field corner but initially keep to the right of a line of trees in the middle of the field before going more sharply left to the corner. Continue in the same direction across the next field, or as near to it as you can, given that the path may be obstructed by fencing. Join a lane.

4 Turn right, then soon right again at a T-junction. Take a path on the left and cross a dairy pasture, meeting a hedge and following it to the right. A decrepit stile soon gives access to a track.

Turn right, ignoring a waymarked path at a stile. Take the next path, which isn’t waymarked but leaves the track just a few paces further on, at a gate. Go diagonally right to a waymarked stile visible across a field. Cross a farm track and another stile. There’s another track here and it’s tempting to join it, especially as the waymarking is ambiguous, but the right of way is actually obliquely across a field to a waymarked hedge gap. Don’t go through the gap but turn right to follow the hedge until a stile gives access to the track mentioned above.

5 Walk a little way along the track then change to the other side of the hedge at a stile, but continue in the same direction, next to the hedge. At the next field corner turn right, cross a stile, cross the track and cross another stile to a dairy pasture. Pass a solitary oak tree so that you meet a lane to the right of a barn. Turn left along the lane and keep straight on at a junction to reach Tickeridge Farm. Take a path on the right, walk across three fields to meet a road and turn left.

6 Take the next path on the right.

Walk along a field edge then over a stile in the corner. Follow overhead powerlines through the next two fields then go along the right-hand edge of a fourth field, after crossing a footbridge. Turn left when you meet a lane, then left again after a few metres, on a bridleway incorrectly waymarked in yellow. Turn right just before a farmyard then follow the bridleway (Wood Street) along Ox Hill.

7 Turn right by a bench, cross a stile and descend to a junction beyond a footbridge. Go straight on if you want the most direct route, but for a more interesting route turn left instead and keep straight on at all unmarked junctions.

You’ll eventually come to a waymarked junction where you turn right along a track, Mill Lane, and follow it to the road near Hall Green. Turn right to your starting point.