This is a very short walk on the edge of town, ideal for a summer afternoon or evening.

If you live at Ronkswood or Warndon Villages it's right on your doorstep and you don't need to use a car or bus to get to it - take the Crowle road (B4636) out of town, and join the Withy Wells bridleway on the other side of the M5.

Alternatively, you could combine the walk with a visit to Worcester Woods Country Park - a signposted bridleway links the country park and County Hall with the B4636 near the new hospital.

Spetchley Park is on the route of the walk and well worth a visit to see the gardens, open most days in summer.

There are also several buildings of interest in Spetchley village, including All Saints' Church, which stands on an embankment near an attractive cast-iron bridge spanning the main road.

There are timber-framed houses and a former smithy, and some lovely brick houses too, including Home Farm, which has a timber-framed dovecote in its grounds, visible from the road.

The countryside is pleasant and gentle, if unspectacular, with several small woods and lots of fine oak trees in the fields and hedgerows.

The highest points are North Hill and Round Hill, each a modest 75 metres but offering some good views.

Some of the best views, however, are from Bredicot Lane, looking north-east towards the Crowle ridge and Trench Wood.

Wildlife isn't particularly abundant but you should see some characteristic farmland birds, including the increasingly rare partridge.

Buzzards are likely to be present too, and possibly kestrels. As far as mammals are concerned, rabbits and squirrels are the most likely sightings, but foxes and deer are resident too.

The downside to all this is something with which we are all too familiar in Worcestershire - the illegal obstruction of footpaths with crops. Complaints should be addressed to the rights of way officer at County Hall.

directions

If starting from Spetchley, walk east beside the A422 until you can join a bridleway on the south side of the road. Follow it along a field edge until it is crossed by a path coming from Spetchley Park.

Turn left on this path, tossing a field of maize and then a railway bridge. Take care crossing the two stiles beyond the bridge as vegetation currently conceals the plank footbridge which lies between them.

The right of way runs diagonally across the next field towards the far right corner but it has been cropped over. So until the crop is harvested follow the easiest available route to the far side of the field.

Turn right by the far hedge and you will soon see two overgrown stiles which you need to cross before going forward by a field edge to meet a road at Sneachill.

Cross the road to a path almost opposite, which runs along an overgrown field edge. You should be able to go straight across the next field but crops bar the way so follow the left-hand edge to the far left corner and go through a gate.

Follow a field-edge path to the A422. Cross with care to rejoin the footpath on the other side.

Walk along a field-edge track. In the far corner the track bends right - go through a gap here and diagonally across a field. Again, the path has been cropped over but a prominent tree makes a useful guide.

A little further on you'll find a stile, engulfed by nettles. If this is too intimidating you can get through the fence nearby, but beware of barbed wire.

Descend a slope towards a road then turn right by a field edge.

At the far side of the field you may have to duck under an electric fence to access a track. Turn right, going through a gate then forward a few paces before turning left on a grassy track between fields.

Climb over a gate to the next field and follow the left-hand edge to Bredicot Lane. Turn left. When you come to a junction turn right to cross the railway and walk to Pershore Lane (A4538).

Cross to a "no through road" opposite, which becomes a bridleway passing Withy Wells and King's Wood.

As you approach the M5 start looking for a stile on the left. Once you've located it you can't miss the excellent path going diagonally up North Hill.

As you draw level with a telephone mast, go through a gate and cross a field to another gate at the far side, then across the next field to a stile.

Go forward across Round Hill to a gate then descend towards the road at Spetchley, heading for the bottom left corner of a field.

Pass close by a thatched cottage to meet the road opposite a brick house with Dutch gables. Turn left to return to your starting point.

FACTFILE

Start: either at Spetchley (GR895539) or on Bredicot Lane (GR900552) - the route description given here begins at Spetchley.

Length: 4.5 miles/7.2km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: gentle, mixed farmland; some footpaths are well-maintained but most are overcropped and/or overgrown, with abundant nettles in places (wear thick trousers or use a stick to beat them down).

Stiles: 7, and one padlocked gate.

Parking: find roadside parking at Spetchley (limited) or on Bredicot Lane (see map).

Buses: 350 to Spetchley, Mondays to Saturdays; on Sundays take a bus to the new hospital and walk from there - it's only 10-15 minutes; Traveline 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: pub at Sneachill.

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.