THERE is some lovely countryside around Clifton but the condition of the rights of way is a disgrace.

That's why it doesn't often feature in this series. Last week, however, hope triumphed over experience, prompting one final attempt.

As it happened, the very first footpath of the intended walk was blocked. It was a bad start and worse was to come.

But the day had its lighter moments. For instance, a signpost indicating a spectacularly overgrown path at Harpley carries a local authority notice proclaiming "path open". It's good to know that a sense of irony is alive and well at County Hall.

Don't be put off: the hard work has been done for you, and the impossible paths weeded out.

It's worth braving the usable ones to visit Lower Sapey, a gem of a place in a secluded valley where the peace is broken only by birdsong.

There's not much there, just a farmhouse and St Bartholomew's church, but both are worthy of their setting.

A booklet available in the church describes the local countryside as "enchantingly beautiful" and it's hard to argue with that.

St Bart's is no longer in use but has been sensitively restored by the Churches Conservation Trust. Those who find Gothic churches a bit overblown will appreciate the simplicity of this Norman survivor, its oak-framed porch draped with tendrils of sweetly scented white jasmine.

St Michael's church at Upper Sapey, Herefordshire, is interesting too.

Don't miss the row of five quaintly carved headstones near the door (look at both sides of them). Inside, you'll find a superb Norman arch and more carvings.

DIRECTIONS

n WALK north beside the main road then cross to a bridleway at Otheridge Pool Cottage. The bridleway is easily followed as far as the first gate, beyond which it continues beside the left-hand hedge through three fields.

When the hedge turns left, turn right instead, heading for a gate near a line of trees.

Walk past the trees to another gate, cross a brook and follow the left-hand hedge uphill. Ignore a gate on the left and go through another straight ahead.

Walk towards Burton Court. As you approach the first buildings, take another bridleway which branches right. The farmer has made a path (as the law requires) across a cornfield - follow it past two oak trees to the far side of the field, then take care at a gate, which is armed with barbed wire.

The bridleway continues across the next field but there is no discernible path here and you will have to tread through broad beans.

You will probably go off course and reach the other side too far to the right. If so, turn left to find a gate half-hidden under an ash tree and balanced dangerously on one hinge.

Once through the gate, follow the left-hand edges of two fields then proceed towards two green trailers. You will see a waymarked stile ahead but this footpath is blocked. It runs direct to a road and can easily be bypassed, using either the field edge to the right or the farm drive to the left (which it joins anyway).

Cross the road, walk up a lane opposite and turn left by Church House.

This path leads into St Michael's churchyard then leaves it in the top right corner - in theory. The stile is blocked but there is a hedge gap further to the left.

Push through here into a field, turn right to the stile then left on a well-made path.

Cross a stile and turn right by a hedge. When the hedge turns right, continue across the field, to a stile near the bottom left corner.

Go to the top corner of the next field. You should then be able to continue in the same direction across another field but the path is blocked, so follow the left-hand edge until a waymarker points the way along another field edge and then through a gate into the adjacent field.

You should now (according to the OS map) keep straight on by the left-hand edges of several fields to a lane. But it's not so simple.

The first stile is so badly overgrown that it's easier to climb over a nearby barbed-wire fence. Then a succession of stiles with patchy, misleading waymarking has you crossing and recrossing the hedge. You will walk along the edge of a golf course at one point but keep a careful watch for a stile enabling you to return to the fields. Eventually, a driveway leads to the lane. Turn left and keep straight on at a crossroads.

Several footpaths branch off the lane but obstructions mean it's easier to stay on the lane (though we shouldn't really give in to the path blockers), eventually turning right towards Harpley, where there are more blocked paths.

Eventually, the lane turns sharp right. Turn left on a track instead, and follow it past derelict Thorn Farm. When it comes to an end, continue across two fields. Turn right in a third field, descending to ford a brook. Turn first left on a track to Lower Sapey. After visiting St Bart's, continue along a lane, turning right at two junctions to reach Clifton.

FACTFILE

Start: Clifton upon Teme; grid reference SO714616.

Length: 7 miles/12km.

Maps: OS Explorers 203/204; OS Landranger 149.

Terrain: Gentle, but expect nettles and brambles; you will also have to walk through crops so avoid wet days (or suffer considerable discomfort) and wear old clothes because astonishing quantities of dirt can transfer from crops to clothes.

Stiles: Eight, with at least one locked gate and a barbed-wire fence.

Parking: Clifton.

Buses: 310/311/312/313/314 Mon-Sat, jointly operated by First and Bromyard Omnibus Co (tickets are inter-available); Traveline 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: Clifton.

PLEASE NOTE: This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication.

No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.