Teme Valley near Tenbury

Length: 6 miles/10.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 203, OS Landranger 138.

Terrain: Orchard, pasture and arable, with only the gentlest of slopes.

Footpaths: A parish footpath map, displayed next to the parish hall at the start of the route, is a promising sign. But don't be fooled - the very first footpath is obstructed and this sets the tone for much of the walk. However, most problems can be avoided and there is nothing at all to stop you getting through (though only because the truly impossible paths have been checked and rejected). Follow the directions carefully, wear nettle-proof clothing, perhaps carry secateurs and please consider reporting problems to the county council.

Stiles: 23.

Parking: Eardiston.

Buses: Yarrantons' 758 Worcester-Tenbury service, Mon-Sat; www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables; Traveline 0871 200 2233.

Refreshments: Nags Head, Lindridge.

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 Take the footpath between Lindridge Parish Hall (at Eardiston) and Yarrantons' bus garage. It should go straight across two fields but there appears to be no access to the second field so bear left to join Mill Lane at a gate. Walk down the lane and you'll see a stile at the far end of the footpath, where it meets another. However, the stile is seriously overgrown so you may prefer to continue down the lane to find an anglers' stile (not on the right of way) offering easier access. Follow the river Teme through three fields.

2 As you approach to within 100m of overhead powerlines, go diagonally towards the road, struggling through a combination of oil-seed rape stubble and young brassicas. Cross an overgrown stile in a fence and continue across the next field, heading towards a pair of traffic signs to find another overgrown stile hidden in the hedge. Turn left, then right by the Nags Head.

3 Take the first footpath on the left, which is easily followed through a plum orchard then diagonally left through a cherry orchard. Pass to the left of a pond to find a gate. Walk through a dingle into a field then head towards St Lawrence's church at Lindridge. Pass to the left of the church and go to the top of the churchyard. Pass through a gate into a field and go left, past woodland, to a corner. Walk down the edge of another field and keep straight on at a fence corner, towards Woodston Farm. Follow the waymarked path past farm buildings and then left along a track. Once you've left the farm behind, the waymarking comes to an end, but keep straight on along a field edge.

4 Cross a footbridge, walk along another field edge, then turn right at the far side and walk uphill to the top corner. Climb over a fence/gate (beware barbed wire) and go diagonally right to an orchard. Walk through it to the A456 and turn right. Two paths on the left are completely blocked so there is no option but to follow the road. Join a path on the right after 300m, and walk down to the bottom left corner of an orchard. Turn left along a field edge, then enter another orchard. Ignore the waymark pointing right and follow the left edge instead, down to a gate in the far corner.

5 Go left along a field edge, through a gate in the next corner and along a track until you meet a cross-path after Woodston House. Turn left on this path, which is uneven underfoot, partially overgrown and too narrow - beware barbed wire. Continue along the edge of a cherry orchard then turn right at the top. Leaving the orchard, continue along the top edge of a field. In the next field go diagonally down towards the bottom, but don't go all the way into the corner - look for a concealed stile at the end of a patch of bracken. Cross into an apple orchard. The right of way goes straight across but is blocked by trees, so go along the right-hand edge instead, to the far side. Climb an overgrown stile into a field.

6 Turn right, going through a gateway and walking to the right of a line of pear trees at the base of a slope. You then have the choice of an overgrown, rotting stile and a partially blocked gate for access to a wood - the gate is a better bet. Walk 30 metres along a good path then take a very faint path going left through nettles to a footbridge. Go up the bank to a waymarked post and turn left. The nettle-covered path is faint at first then improves briefly before disappearing altogether. Keep forward past a large ash tree and the path becomes just discernible again, climbing slightly to follow a fence to a lane. Turn right.

7 Take the second path on the left. Walk past a farmyard and a bungalow then along the edge of orchards. Continue straight across two pastures then along a driveway, ignoring branching paths until you've passed Damson Tree Cottage at Frith Common. Turn right to Brook House then go left into woodland. Once through the wood, bear left across a garden to a lane and turn right to find a bridleway. After 200m turn left, at signs for the bridleway and a footpath. The footpath is closed, following flood damage, but the bridleway remains open and is easily followed to Dumbleton Farm where a right turn quickly leads to a lane descending to Eardiston.