Unique in England

Tackle this easy walk from Moreton and you will enjoy attractive countryside, beautiful villages and well-maintained footpaths, all signposted (as the law requires) where they leave the road.

Two of the paths are slightly overgrown but only for a few paces in each case. Unlike last week, you won't encounter any type of deliberate obstruction.

The popularity of this area with walkers is indicated by the number of long-distance paths which run through it - Monarch's Way, Heart of England Way, Donnington Way and Diamond Way.

Of these, the Monarch's Way (610 miles) will be familiar to anyone who has done much walking in Worcestershire. It attempts to follow the approximate course of Charles II's escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

The Heart of England Way (100 miles) runs from Milford Common in Staffordshire to Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire, the Donnington Way (62 miles) links pubs serving beer from Donnington Brewery and the Diamond Way (60 miles) was devised by the North Cotswold group of the Ramblers' Association in 1995 to celebrate the RA's diamond jubilee.

The walk described here uses short stretches of these longer walks and passes through villages such as Aston Magna, Draycott and Blockley.

The Cotswold area is unique in England for the harmonious relationship which exists between buildings and landscape - the use of local stone combined with an appropriate, unpretentious style means that villages look as though they are part of the landscape, not imposed upon it.

The downside to this is the congestion caused in the villages by those who come by car to admire them.

Fortunately, Blockley and its neighbours are fairly immune to this, probably because they don't stand on any main through roads. Consequently, it remains a pleasure to explore them on foot, especially lovely, flower-filled Blockley.

Towards the end of the walk, the footpath crosses the access road to Batsford Arboretum and Falconry Centre, providing a good opportunity to visit these if you wish - simply turn left when you reach the access road.

directions

A path leads from the station past Budgens to the A429. Cross with care and enter a park opposite. Walk to an avenue of lime trees then turn right, leave the park, cross a road and join a footpath which heads towards the far left corner of a sheep pasture.

As you draw nearer to the corner you should adjust your direction slightly to aim for a gate close to overhead power lines. Keep straight on by the edges of the next two fields then along a track to the hamlet of Dorn.

Continue straight on, crossing a road into another field. The path runs by the edge at first, then across the centre, climbing gently before descending to a junction in a valley.

Turn right to the far side of the field, then left to a cottage. Turn right under the railway and follow a track towards the village of Aston Magna. Ignore a footpath branching right. Turn right when you reach the village, past Church Farm, then straight on along a road signed ''unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles''.

Take the first footpath on the left, along a field edge. When you reach the corner, turn left, then soon right, crossing a railway bridge and following a roadside footpath. Ignore a left turn to Batsford and Moreton.

When the road eventually makes a sharp right turn take a footpath on the left (look carefully for the footpath sign or else you may be misled into taking an adjacent farm track). Slightly overgrown for the first few paces, the path soon becomes clear, running straight across fields to a road.

Turn left to Draycott, then right at a crossroads on a ''no through road''. At the end of the road turn left on a footpath which leads to another road. Turn left for a few paces to join a footpath, crossing a field to the far right corner.

Follow the waymarked path across three further fields and a garden, then past Mill Row to Station Road. The footpath continues opposite, using a driveway. When the driveway bends right, two paths are indicated on the left. Take the path which goes to the right, along a field edge, then through a strip of woodland to another field.

Go diagonally left to meet a road, and left again into Blockley. After exploring the village, walk through the churchyard and down to the main road. Turn right then second left (Heart of England Way/

Monarch's Way). The well-trodden path is easily followed until you enter a large, steepish pasture - go up to the top left corner then join a walled lane.

Turn left for about 100m. After passing through a gate, turn right through another. Follow a field edge, cross a ridge-top road and keep straight on through woodland and fields. From now on, the way back to Moreton is never in doubt - just follow the well-trodden path, further aided by the frequent waymarkers.

FACTFILE

n Start: Moreton-in-Marsh Station, GR206327.

n Length: 8 miles/13km.

n Maps: OS Explorer OL45, OS Landranger 151.

n Terrain: gently undulating mixed farmland, mostly pasture.

n Stiles: 17.

n Parking: car park next to station.

n Public transport: Thames Trains/Great Western to Moreton, daily; also possible by bus but connections are badly planned; Traveline 0870 608 2608.

n Refreshments: good choice in Moreton; pub and hotel (with brasserie) in Blockley and also Murray's, an upmarket deli which serves drinks and snacks.

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.