HERE'S a lovely walk for a late spring day, full of burgeoning vegetation, luxuriantly green almost every step of the way.

The River Severn adds its own abundant charm to the first part of the walk, after which a truly delightful green lane heads eastwards to the main road, which intrudes only briefly before a quiet lane leads into the small village of Earl's Croome.

Worcestershire is renowned for its large number of Norman churches, and St Nicholas's at Earl's Croome is one of them. The tower is neo-Norman, but the rest is genuine, with characteristic chevron carving above the doorways.

More unusual, however, is St Mary's Church at nearby Hill Croome. It has a saddleback roof to its tower, which is rare, perhaps unique, in Worcestershire, though there are several in Gloucestershire. St Mary's stands on a miniature hill in what used to be a quiet and remote location halfway between the rivers Severn and Avon.

Unfortunately, it acquired two ghastly new neighbours in the 20th Century, the M5 and Strensham Services, so it's not the most peaceful place in the world anymore.

However, those who are interested in church architecture will find a visit well worthwhile. It requires a short detour from the main walk, adding no more than a mile to the length.

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.

DIRECTIONS

n Leave Upton by crossing the south side of the bridge and then taking a tunnel under the main road to join a bridleway (Severn Way) which runs north through riverside meadows.

Turn right when you reach a junction marked by a yellow arrow. After 100m, join another bridleway at a gate on the left. The bridleway follows a field edge at first but soon takes the form of a lovely old green lane, bordered by ancient trees and masses of cow parsley.

Several footpaths branch off the bridleway, but you want the fourth on the right. You'll recognise it by the fact that there are unusually long metal gates either side of the bridleway at this point, and an overgrown stile just beyond the right-hand gate. Go through the right-hand gate and keep to the left-hand hedge through fields and orchards to meet the A38. Cross to a lane opposite and walk into Earl's Croome.

Take the second right, towards St Nicholas's Church, then take the second footpath on the left, just before the church. Push through nettles then over a stile into a field.

Turn right, passing the church and keeping about 50m from the right-hand hedge. Climb over an old metal gate and cross a small field to a stile. Go diagonally to the far left corner of a paddock and then across to the far side of a field.

Cross a stile and footbridge and take a trodden path across another field to meet the A4104. Turn left into Baughton. Cross over and turn right after the phone box, walking along a lane to a junction. Turn left.

After about 900m, take a track on the right which runs along the left edge of a rape-field (don't be put off by the misaligned footpath sign). About 400m further on, the track comes to an end in a large field. Go diagonally across it to the far left corner, heading towards the southern part of the Malvern Hills.

(NB: If you're making the detour to Hill Croome you should leave the track shortly before it enters the field - look for broken waymark discs on a gatepost and head directly to St Mary's Church from this point. Return the same way.)

As you head towards the Malverns, there is a strip of woodland on your right, and a tall hedge on your left. When the hedge comes to an end there is a gap and then a line of five trees. After the third tree, there is a gate beside a concrete bridge. Cross the bridge and you'll find the line of the path is now visible as it crosses another field.

Cross a footbridge at the far side, after which the path is easily followed to a road. Turn right on the verge then take the first footpath on the right, which is also a farm track.

About 200m beyond the farm the track ends at a cottage but a path continues through a copse. Cross a footbridge at the far side and turn left, soon crossing another footbridge then walking along a field edge until a stile on the left gives access to a street. Turn right, then right again at a junction by a post box. Walk to the A38 at Ryall, turn left a little way and cross to another path. Walk along the edge of an orchard to the top left corner where you have no choice but to climb over a gate. Go along the top edge of the adjoining orchard/paddock, through a gate in the corner and through another paddock to a stile hidden in the far right corner. An overgrown path then leads to a road.

Cross to a street called Ryall Meadow and walk along it until you can join a footpath which leads to the River Severn. Follow the river to Upton.

FACTFILE

Start: Upton Bridge, grid ref SO 851407.

Length: 7 miles/11km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Riverside meadows, arable fields, orchards, woodland, no hills.

Footpaths: Most are fine but some are well below standard, including one at Ryall which stands out as particularly poor. Waymarking is intermittent, you will have to climb over two gates and you will need nettle-proof clothing.

Stiles: 15.

Parking: Upton.

Buses: Aston's 372/374 daily, First 363/364 Mon-Sat. Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Refreshments: Upton, Earl's Croome, Baughton and Ryall.