IN August 2003 I mentioned that the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust (HWEHT) and its partners were attempting to gain European Geopark status for our region. A geopark is an area which is recognised as containing sites of significant importance in terms of geology, archaeology, ecology and culture, with the emphasis on geology.

The designation was duly made in 2004, only the third such in the UK - the others are the North Pennines and Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh.

The benefits of geopark status include the provision of extra funding for geo-conservation, a raised awareness among the general public of 'earth heritage' and an increase in tourism which should boost the rural economy.

Though it is entitled the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark, it actually covers 1,250 sq km of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire. Places of particular geological significance close to Worcester include the Knightsford Gap at Knightwick, where a torrent of glacial meltwater in the last Ice Age cut deep into the hills, causing the Teme to suddenly abandon its north-south course to flow eastwards instead, below such formidably steep-sided formations as Ankerdine Hill and Osebury Rock.

Just to the south of Osebury Rock rise the wooded ridges of the Suckley Hills, which are also of geological significance and form a major part of this week's walk. HWEHT and its partners have erected an information panel on top of Round Hill to inform passing walkers about the 400-million-year-old story of these limestone ridges which once lay under tropical seas.

Two very special nature reserves are also visited during the walk, both of them owned by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. Crews Hill Wood is a fairly small ancient woodland with an unusually wide range of species.

The wood had been untouched for 100 years when the Trust acquired it in 1997, and management is still kept to a minimum. The other nature reserve is the much larger Knapp and Papermill, a beautiful place with a varied range of habitats. There are concessionary footpaths in both reserves, allowing further exploration away from rights of way.

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.

FACTFILE

Start: On the A44 at Knightwick, at the turn for Suckley and Alfrick; grid ref SO731558.

Length: 9miles/15km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Undulating pasture and woodland.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent.

Stiles: Eight.

Parking: On the old road behind the bus shelter opposite the turn.

Buses: 420 Worcester-Hereford via Knightwick daily (First Midland Red on weekdays, Bromyard Omnibus Co on Sundays); details on 01432 260211 or www.herefordbus.info (far superior to the Traveline website)

Refreshments: There is a well-stocked shop at Alfrick and the Talbot Inn is near the starting point, across the Teme footbridge.

DIRECTIONS

1. Join the south-bound Worcestershire Way, which initially uses the lane signed to Lulsley and Alfrick. After 900m it leaves the lane on the right, in the form of a bridleway which climbs to a ridge and heads south. It takes you across Round Hill and down to a lane then through Crews Hill Wood before eventually descending right to cross a lane and then climbing to a second ridge. Turn right at an unmarked junction, then left at the next, still on the Worcestershire Way. Turn left again after 700m, on a bridleway. When the Worcestershire Way turns right, keep straight on instead, across a field to meet a lane at Upper Tundridge Farm.

2. Turn right, cross Leigh Brook and turn left, passing Lower Tundridge Farm. As you approach Mousehole Bridge, look for two adjacent paths on the right. Take the path nearer the bridge (the one with a broken fingerpost) and walk across a field to a stile, then along the right-hand edge of another field, climbing through trees to a third field. Cross a stile on the right and turn left through a wood, left again at a waymarked fork, and left by a static caravan. Continue past a house to meet a track and turn left.

3. Cross Leigh Brook at a footbridge, entering Knapp and Papermill Nature Reserve. Go left up the bank to Papermill Meadow then turn right. Shortly go through another gate and descend to walk by Leigh Brook. When you come to a collection of gates, go through the green one and re-cross the brook at Pivany Bridge. Turn left, soon entering a field. Follow the left-hand edge then cross a stile to Millham Farm and walk forward a few paces looking for a faded sign directing you left. Proceed to another stile where two paths are waymarked. Take the left-hand one, crossing a field to meet a lane. Turn left, passing the main entrance to the nature reserve.

4. Turn right on a lane which becomes a track after Knapp Farm. Follow it uphill then past the buildings at Patches Farm, and keep going to meet a road at Alfrick. Turn right, and go straight on by the war memorial, signed Folly Road and Green Street. Keep going along Folly Road at the junction with Green Street. At the end of the road, continue straight on along a bridleway. After passing through a gate, turn left on a field-edge track signed 'public road'. It crosses the former Worcester-Bromyard railway, swings right, then immediately left, descending between wooded banks before levelling out and leading eventually to Hill Road.

5.Turn right, passing Upper Court and Colles Place to reach Lulsley Court. Follow waymarks to the left, which guide you past The Hopkiln and other former farm buildings then into a field by the River Teme. Keep left at first before moving towards the river and walking past Osebury Rock, then across another field to the road. Turn right to Knightwick.