SOME places are at their best in summer, others in autumn, but to experience the full glory of an English spring there are few better places than that wedge of mostly unspoiled countryside bounded to the east by the River Teme and to the west by Bromyard.

Hundreds of different walks are possible in this area, but this one has a bit of everything - lush meadows grazed by herds of Hereford cattle alternate with ancient orchards of cherry trees and damsons. Hedgerows and stream banks gleam pale yellow with thousands of primroses, while silver birches are complemented by the pure white blossom of wild cherries on Bringsty Common.

FACTFILEStart: Knightwick, 300m west of Knightsford Bridge, A44; grid ref SO731559.

Length: Six miles/9.6km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 149.

Terrain: Pasture, orchard, woodland, arable; quite hilly in places.

Footpaths: Most of the paths are excellent, but there is a padlocked gate at one point and waymarking is missing in places.

Stiles: 22, plus one padlocked gate.

Parking: Behind the bus shelter near Knightwick Butcher's.

Buses: Worcester-Hereford 420, daily; www.herefordbus.info or Traveline 0870 608 2608 Refreshments: Pubs at Knightwick and Meadow Green are close to the route.

PLEASE NOTE: This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.DIRECTIONS1 Walk along the roadside verge towards Bromyard until you can join a footpath on the left. Cross a cherry orchard, go through a gate and continue through a field. Ignore a stile on the left and keep going to the far end of the field where a gate gives access to a lane. Walk along the lane for 300m until you can join a footpath on the right, going diagonally left to a stile. Proceed along a field edge, joining a track which passes in front of Knightwick Manor. Having passed the farmhouse, go into a field on the right and head for the far left corner. Walk through a strip of woodland then across an orchard to a junction near a stone bridge. Turn right to cross the bridge and follow a track to a lane. Turn left, staying on the lane for just over half a mile.

2 After a steady climb, the lane levels out and you'll soon see a footpath sign on the right. Descend into a valley and then climb out of it, passing just to the left of a farmhouse, Lower Elmores End, and ignoring a track which goes off to the left. Keep straight on uphill instead, on a path which climbs into woodland and gorse scrub. A stile soon gives access to an offshoot of Bringsty Common, so from now on, you are free to explore the woodland should you wish. The path, however, continues straight up, soon passing a cottage. Ignore another path branching left.

3 Turn right at a junction by the sign for Little Common and pass two more houses to arrive at the main part of Bringsty Common. Take the left-hand track, which leads to a junction marked by a footpath sign. You may choose any route to the A44, which is not yet visible but is certainly all too audible. The surfaced track on the left is the easiest route to begin with and after a short distance you'll come to a five-ways junction. The grassy path which bears right into woodland is a good option. It leads to a T-junction where the best choice is left, soon rejoining the surfaced track and following it to the road. Cross to a footpath opposite.

4 Walk along the left edge of a field by a garden hedge. At the hedge corner continue across the field, bearing slightly right towards a hedge bounding another property. Pass to the left of the hedge and, when you reach the corner, go diagonally to a stile visible in the field corner. Enter a pasture and keep fairly close to the right-hand edge, cross a marshy area at a plank footbridge, proceed to a fence corner then go to a gate on the right. Walk along the left edge of the next field, passing a wood and eventually meeting a lane. Turn left past a cottage.

5 Cross a bridge and take a footpath on the right, crossing unfenced grassland to pass a pair of evergreen holm oaks and then proceeding to a stile ahead. Cross a wooden footbridge and follow the path to the right, above Sapey Brook, towards a stone bridge. Don't cross this one, but keep straight on across grassland to cross an iron footbridge beneath a tall conifer. Turn right at a footpath junction on a well-trodden path. Ignore another path branching right and proceed to a lane.

6 The path continues opposite, bearing right to pass through a line of pollarded willows to a stile hidden in a hedge. Turn left in the next field, with a large pool on your left (on the other side of a fence). Cross a stile into another field and turn right, following an obvious path to a lane at Meadow Green. Turn right, then immediately left. Turn left again by the bus shelter, signed to Clifton. After 250m, take a left path through a narrow orchard, turning right, down through fields to Whitbourne.

7 Turn right to a junction near the church, turn right again, then take a footpath on the left, crossing three fields to meet an avenue of statuesque trees (mostly beeches and planes) high above the River Teme. Turn right and walk to a track. Turn left, following the track to the A44, and then left again to Knightwick. If you cross the road you can walk most of the way on a wide verge, protected from traffic by a ditch and a line of trees.