THERE is pleasant countryside to be enjoyed throughout this walk, and several interesting buildings too, including Sugarbrook Manor, Fish House Mill and Needle Mill Cottage, a survivor from the days when needle-making was an important cottage industry in the north-east of the county.

But the highlight of the walk is Worcestershire Wildlife Trust's Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve at Upton Warren, a wonderful place to watch a wide variety of birds.

Glimpses of the nature reserve may be had from the path between Brickhouse Lane and the A38, but a short detour will enable you to explore the wetland more fully.

But please stick to the paths and note that permits may be required for non-members of WWT - find out more by emailing worcswt@cix.co.uk or dialling 01905 754919.

FACTFILE

Start: Bromsgrove Station, SO968693.

Finish: Droitwich Station, SO892633.

Length: 9 miles/14.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landrangers 139 and 150.

Terrain: Mixed farmland, mostly pastoral.

Footpaths: Ranging from adequate to good, except for one which is seriously obstructed by barbed wire (see map). Many walkers will be able to get through, but some will find it difficult or impossible. The county council was informed on December 2, but that doesn't necessarily mean the path will have been cleared yet. Alternative routes from Upton Warren are unattractive but will be preferred by some walkers - consult Explorer 204. Another option is to end the walk at Upton Warren, catching the 144 bus.

Stiles: 21.

Public transport: Excellent train service, except Sunday mornings. The 144 bus operates daily to Bromsgrove via Droitwich and Upton Warren, but connections to Bromsgrove Station don't operate Sundays. Rail Enquiries 08457 484950. Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Refreshments: Several opportunities along the way.

DIRECTIONS

Leaving the station from platform one, walk up the approach road, turn right at the crossroads and then right again on St Godwald's Road. Keep straight on until you can join a footpath on the right, just before a sports club. The well-trodden, waymarked path is easily followed to Maidsmere Cottage.

Turn right on a track then keep straight on along a field edge to reach a stile. Turn right, cross the railway and then turn left, following the railway to Sugarbrook Lane.

Turn right, then left on Fish House Lane. Walk to Church Mill House then turn right on a bridleway. Follow it to a road and turn right, then left on Brickhouse Lane.

The lane eventually ends at a field gate, but a footpath continues forward beside the River Salwarpe. The path soon crosses the river at a footbridge, after which you turn right.

Follow the river to the A38. If you don't want to visit the nature reserve, cross the road now to Swan Lane. If you do want to visit the reserve, you will find entrances to both left and right (it's in two parts). The official access points are at grid references 936677 and 932673. Return the same way to Swan Lane.

Stay on the lane until you can join a footpath on the left, 200m beyond the M5. Turn left for a few paces, then go through a gate into the adjacent field and follow the right-hand fence.

Cross a stile in the corner and walk to the far right corner of the next field, then turn left in another, following a fence/hedge to the corner. You have a choice here: turn left or right. At the time of writing, the path is obstructed in both directions. I would recommend turning right, past a plantation (unless you know the path has been cleared, in which case turn left). Fight your way through the barbed wire (if it's still in place), then turn left to Coley Pits Lane, and left again.

Turn right by The Brook House, towards Withy Furlong. Take the first footpath on the left, at a hedge gap. Follow the left-hand hedge to a junction and keep straight on to a lane.

Go down Brine Pits Lane opposite. It becomes a bridleway at Brine Pits Farm, continuing in the same direction. Eventually the bridleway turns right: keep straight on instead, joining a footpath. Cross Salty Brook near a Vodafone mast and proceed to another stile, where three paths are indicated. Choose the middle one, crossing a field to the far left corner.

Turn left on Crutch Lane. The easy option now is to follow the lane to Droitwich. For a slightly more hazardous experience, follow it for 100m then join a path on the right, at Droitwich Golf Course. Read the warning notice and stick to the left-hand edge of the course. Keep left at a junction and follow a fence to a steep flight of steps. Take great care in descending as they are very slippery when wet.

At the bottom, go diagonally across a field, following tyre tracks. Turn left when you meet another set of tyre tracks and proceed to a stile. Continue across another field, soon forking left to a road. Turn right through an underpass into a housing estate, then turn first left.

After a short distance, turn right on an overgrown footpath (watch for concealed steps). Go left at two junctions, then walk through a churchyard, leaving it at the far right corner to descend to a road.

Turn right under a viaduct, cross Vines Lane and the River Salwarpe then turn right into Vines Park. Follow the canal at first then cross a footbridge to follow the river instead. Keep on between river and canal, then stay with the river when the path forks. Walk past the Railway Inn to Kidderminster Road and turn left. Keep right at a junction then continue past Baxenden Chemicals to the station.

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.