WITH its springy turf, stunted hawthorns and dry-stone walls, Bredon Hill brings an enticing hint of the Cotswolds to Worcestershire.

It is, in fact, a Cotswold outlier, cut off from the main escarpment by glacial meltwater at the end of the Ice Age, and left stranded in the Vale of Evesham.

Just like the main Cotswold escarpment, Bredon has a gentle dip slope, mostly under cultivation, and a much steeper scarp slope, which is mainly pasture.

It's the scarp slope which features in this walk.

Parts of the scarp and summit have been designated a National Nature Reserve, one of only four in the county. This is in recognition of Bredon's rich limestone flora and an extremely rare insect, the violet click beetle, which lives on the rotting material found in the hollows of ancient trees.

You can understand why it favours Bredon Hill when you see the massive old oak trees on the slopes above Great Comberton.

You're not likely to see any violet click beetles.

What you will see are fallow deer. There is a wild herd resident on the hill, but even if you don't see any of those you can expect to see farmed deer at Woollas Farm.

The summit is dominated by a tower known as Parsons' Folly, built by a Mr Parsons of Kemerton in the 18th Century. During the Second World War it served as an observation post for the Home Guard.

Just below the tower is the Banbury (or Bambury) Stone, a weathered chunk of rock with a striking resemblance to a kneeling elephant.

Nearby are the earthworks of an Iron Age fort which was excavated some years ago, revealing the skeletons of 50 men who had died in battle.

DIRECTIONS

JOIN a footpath on the north side of Eckington Bridge, going diagonally across a meadow, aiming just to the left of a clump of tall trees. Turn right along a track, shortly go left at a junction and right at the next.

Arriving in Birlingham, turn right along a lane, right at a junction by a post box and soon right again on to a "no through road".

After crossing Berwick Brook keep straight on into a field and follow its right-hand edge until you can cross a channel of the River Avon at a footbridge by a weir. Go straight on to cross the main channel at Nafford Lock.

Walk up to Nafford Road and turn left. The road soon bends right: join a footpath at this point.

Walk across a large field and continue along the left-hand edge of the next field. Keep as close to the edge as you can to ensure you don't miss a stile into another field.

Follow the right-hand edge of this next field until the hedge turns away, then descend into a valley. Walk uphill to Great Comberton and turn left along a lane.

Take the first footpath on the right, walking through the churchyard to another lane. Turn right. When the lane bends right join a footpath on the left. Follow the waymarkers through Manor Farm then straight on until another waymarker directs you to the left.

Join a track which soon swings right uphill.

After passing through a gate continue forward to a stile in a fence on the right and head obliquely uphill, passing a large oak tree.

Don't stray too far from the fence, which is now on your left: before long two stiles take you back to the other side of it.

Just keep climbing now, crossing back to the right-hand side of the fence at the next stile (there are no waymarkers here).

Climb to the top of the escarpment and turn right to find a stone stile where you can cross the wall which runs along the rim.

Walk along the rim of the escarpment on a bridleway, passing the Iron Age fort, Banbury Stone and Parsons' Folly. The bridleway soon enters a small wood, at the far side of which you will see a signpost for a footpath.

Follow it downhill, guided by frequent waymarkers. Once you reach a large sheep pasture just make sure you head down towards the bottom right corner.

After leaving the pasture turn left on a track for a short distance. Leave it just after a cattle grid and go diagonally left towards Woollas Hall.

Approaching the entrance to the hall, turn right on the access road, following it downhill to pass Woollas Farm.

Just after a brick barn join a path on the left which goes diagonally to a road.

Cross to a path opposite which goes diagonally across a field to meet a brook. Turn right until a footbridge allows you to cross the brook and again go diagonally across the next field.

Walk past a farm to Eckington and go straight on along Upper End then Hacketts Lane.

Go left on School Lane and soon left again to join Cotheridge Lane, walking past the Anchor Inn to meet Church Street (the main street) opposite the Bell Inn.

Turn right to Eckington Bridge.

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.

FACTFILE

Start: Eckington Bridge GR923424 - on the River Avon south of Pershore (B4080).

Distance: 7 miles/11.2km by car, 6.25 miles/10km by bus (get off at the bridge, return from the Bell Inn, thus cutting out the road-walking).

Maps: OS Landranger 150, OS Explorer 190.

Terrain: undulating mixed farmland, mainly pasture; one short, steep climb.

Stiles: 25.

Parking: Eckington Wharf Picnic Site, south of the bridge.

Public transport: Astons 382/392/395 Worcester to Pershore via Eckington, excellent hourly service Mondays to Saturdays; County Bus Line 08457 125436.

Refreshments: Shop and two pubs at Eckington.