The valley of Dick Brook is just one of several highlights of this lovely walk in the undulating country to the north of the Abberley Hills.

Dick Brook is a tributary of the Severn and joins the river close to Shrawley Wood.

Throughout most of its length it runs along a secluded wooded valley, much of which is inaccessible.

However, there are footpaths beside the brook in places and this walk uses one of them, between Dunley and Heightington.

Though the valley is a tranquil place today, it played a small part in the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in the 17th century.

Local engineer Andrew Yarranton built locks on the lower part of the brook so that boats loaded with iron from the Forest of Dean could gain access from the River Severn to a forge located on the banks of the brook. The surrounding woodland provided the charcoal needed for smelting.

Areley Kings is another highlight of the walk. It began life as a tiny agricultural settlement but has developed into a large residential suburb of Stourport-on-Severn.

Our route bypasses the housing estates in favour of the site of the original village, where St Bartholomew's church and a small cluster of old houses occupy a fine hilltop position with extensive views.

DIRECTIONS

Cross Stourport Bridge and descend steps to the River Severn. Follow it upstream for 200m then take a bridleway which leads to a road. Turn right, then left on Rectory Lane. Pass Areley Kings church and timber-framed Church House to join a footpath at a kissing gate. Follow the right-hand hedge downhill.

Cross a stile and Burnthorne Brook then turn left and follow the brook to Ribbesford Road. Turn right, then immediately left by Field Cottage to join Burnthorne Lane. Pass Bank Farm and Brook Cottage Farm then turn right when you reach Ford Cottage. After a few more paces join a footpath on the left, opposite a bungalow called Little Falls.

The slightly overgrown path leads to a waymarked junction where you turn left. Cross two stiles then keep straight on across fields to a lane. Turn right for a short distance then left on a track. Ignore branching paths. After passing The Homestead continue in the same direction along a field edge.

After passing a stand of conifers you will see a house on your right. As you draw level with it, go through a narrow gap in the fence on your right and follow another fence so that you pass to the right of the house and garden to meet a lane.

Turn left and descend to the valley of Dick Brook. Just before you reach the brook cross a stile on the right and follow a path through bracken then beside the brook for a while before going straight on across a meadow.

Head towards a stile and footbridge at the far side but don't cross them. Instead, follow a garden fence to a stile giving access to woodland. The path passes the remains of a weir then continues alongside Dick Brook. Before long, you arrive at a waymarked post showing three paths. Stay on the one which follows the brook.

Continue past a footbridge (don't cross it), joining the Worcestershire Way, though only for a very short distance. After passing an abandoned house go forward on another waymarked path, leaving the Worcestershire Way, which turns left.

The path is a little overgrown at first and then further on it's blocked by a fallen tree. Scramble past this on a steep and slippery bank then turn right when you reach a large yew tree. Walk along a holloway to find steps leading up to a stile which gives on to pasture.

Follow a succession of waymarked posts up the field to a gate at the top, enjoying marvellous retrospective views as you climb the slope. Go through the gate and continue across a field to Dunley Road. Turn left, then first right by Heightington chapel.

After 400m join a footpath on a bend. Walk across a narrow field then turn right to a stile at the far side. Walk across a large field, aiming initially towards houses at the far side, then aim just to the left of them as you get nearer.

Look for a waymarker at a field corner, turn right, then soon left between two stone-built houses to meet a lane. The footpath continues almost opposite, at High Oak Farm.

Pass through the farmyard, go through a gate to a track and keep straight on by the hedge. Go diagonally left in the next field, to a stile in the far bottom corner. The path then bears left through a wood to a T-junction. Turn right then go through a gap to a field. Head for the far side, over a stile and then across another field.

n Go through a plantation then across another field to a stile which gives access to Areley Wood. A clear path winds through the wood, descending to meet a track which leads to Ribbesford Road. Cross to Areley Lane and follow this towards Stourport. When you see the bridleway you used at the start of the walk join this to retrace your steps to the river and Stourport Bridge.

FACTFILE

Start: Stourport Bridge, GR 808710.

Length: 6.5miles/10.5km.

Maps: OS Explorers 204 and 218, OS Landranger 138.

Terrain: Mixed farmland and woodland, moderately hilly; one path is blocked by a fallen tree - you will have to scramble up a slippery bank to get round it.

Stiles: 15.

Parking: car park near Stourport Bridge.

Buses: 293/294 on Mondays to Saturdays, 300 on Sundays; Traveline 0870 6082608.

Refreshments: Stourport.