Meander among the flowering meadows

It was originally little more than a cluster of hamlets, but the building of the Worcester-Hereford railway in 1861 prompted substantial development.

However, this was concentrated at Colwall Stone and Upper Colwall, leaving Colwall and Colwall Green largely unspoilt.

Colwall is famous for its village hall, a former church ale house. This 16th Century, timber-framed building stands on the edge of the churchyard. Most churches had ale houses at one time but the pleasure-hating Puritans converted most of them to schools or almshouses in the 17th Century.

Colwall Stone takes its name from a boulder which stands in the village centre outside the post office. Legend has it that this huge stone was hurled from the Malverns by the giant who lived in Clutter's Cave. One day, he looked down from the hills to see his wife being chatted up by a stranger. In a fit of jealous rage, he flattened them both with the boulder.

Colwall Station, with its very own link path to the Worcestershire Way, is the ideal starting point for walks in the area. It has also recently acquired an attractive new neighbour - Colwall Nature Reserve.

This newly developed amenity right next to the station packs a variety of habitats into a small but perfectly formed space, with the Malverns providing a splendid backdrop to the scene.

There are two ponds, with ducks and moorhens resident on the larger one - though the moorhens are rather shy, with a tendency to hide among the reedmace. There is a bench by the larger pond, making birdwatching (or picnicking) a comfortably civilised experience here.

Beyond the ponds, a small stream meanders through woodland, its banks graced by wild garlic and bluebells, while the distinctive flowers of yellow archangel can be seen in drier areas of the wood. There is also an area of alder carr (wet woodland dominated by alder trees) and some impressive willows, which have recently been pollarded.

DIRECTIONS

Take the foot-bridge across the railway and keep left on a track which leads to a gate where you'll see the familiar symbol of the Worcestershire Way. However, before you join the Way, you might first like to explore Colwall Nature Reserve, which is accessed through another gate on the right.

Joining the Worcestershire Way, follow it south to meet a lane at Evendine. Turn right along the lane, leaving the Worcestershire Way behind and soon reaching Colwall Green. Keep straight on at the first road junction, then left at the next, passing the Yew Tree pub.

Join the first footpath on the right, which leads along the right-hand edge of a field until a stile gives access to a fenced path running beside the railway. Follow this to a point where you can cross the railway then proceed into another field. Cross to a gate at the far side.

Turn right in the next field. After a while you'll need to cross a stile to continue in the same direction but on the other side of the hedge. When another stile gives access to the next field you should proceed by the hedge until it turns a corner. Don't go with it, but continue across the field, soon passing to the right of a line of oak trees.

Once these oaks have been left behind, keep going in a similar direction to pass an isolated pair of oak trees then go through a hedge gap into another field. Walk to the far right corner and pass through a small coppice to meet a lane.

Turn right into Colwall. Walk past the church ale house to a road junction and take the footpath opposite. When you reach a path junction you will be confronted with three choices. Take the middle option, heading towards a Severn Trent sewage works. Bear right between the two separate parts of the works and then go diagonally right across a field.

Cross a footbridge and stile to another field and go straight across. Pass through a gate at the far side and turn right on a track. Follow it along the edges of three fields then cross two way-marked stiles close together. Follow a trodden path across a meadow and past a grove of tall poplars to find a stile and a plank footbridge.

n Cross the next field to a footbridge, then continue along the edge of another field until a stile leads to a path junction. Turn right, shortly passing through a small gate and eventually joining a farm track. Keep on past the farm and stay on the track until you reach the workshop of Alan Eldridge (furniture maker).

Cross a stile on the right, opposite the workshop, and take the right-hand path. Keep straight on at the next junction and follow the path to a lane. Turn right into Colwall Stone.

Take the first path on the left, skirting the playing fields of the Downs School, then pass a house and turn right on a track which leads to a road. Join a footpath opposite, which will bring you to the centre of Colwall Stone. The station is more or less opposite, beyond the hotel.

FACTFILE

Start: Colwall Station, grid ref SO756424.

Length: 5.5 miles/8.8km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Mostly pastoral farmland, with good paths and gentle contours.

Stiles: 21.

Parking: Colwall Station.

Public transport: daily trains to Colwall; Rail Enquiries 08457 484950.

Refreshments: Pubs and shops at Colwall Stone, pub at Colwall Green.

DISCLAIMER

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.