Water way to see birds

That makes for a walk with high wildlife potential, even on the industrial fringe.

Many species of birds are present on all three waterways, though the Severn has the widest variety, including kingfisher, heron, cormorant and water rail.

Former Severnside brick pits at Northwick Meadows now form a valuable marshland habitat where increasingly scarce birds such as snipe are sometimes seen.

Bevere plays host to sandpiper and tufted duck, among others. Mallards and mute swans are present everywhere, while moorhens favour the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

The former water treatment works at Barbourne is on the route of the walk.

Since the waterworks closed the site has been given by Severn Trent Water to Worcester City Council for use as a public park. It's basically just grassland at the moment but the planting of 100 native trees by Severn Trent employees will add to its interest as the trees mature.

A couple of information panels on the site provide details about the history and development of water provision in Worcester.

The first waterworks was built in the 1620s on the east bank in the city centre but this had to be closed to make way for the new bridge in 1778.

A new waterworks was then built at Barbourne but all that remains of this is the base of a brick watertower which was demolished in 1957.

The surviving buildings are more recent; the former engine house, for instance, was built in 1868 and extended in 1902. The system in use at Barbourne from the 1850s was technologically very sophisticated, using sand filtration to good effect.

Today, however, Worcester's water comes from modern treatment works at Strensham and Trimpley.

Another feature of the walk is Pitchcroft, which is a major asset to the city today.

In Roman times, however, this was where the slag from the nearby ironworks was dumped.

This was removed in the 17th Century by Andrew Yarranton who reworked it at his forge upriver at Shrawley.

WALK north on the east bank of the River Severn.

When you reach the far end of Pitchcroft go through a white gate and forward along a street.

Turn right past Worcester Yacht Chandlers then shortly left across the former waterworks site.

Cross Barbourne Brook, turn left then right through a new housing development.

Go straight on along Park View Terrace and at the end of it join a footpath running towards Northwick.

Watch for a path descending to the riverbank - this is not necessarily a right of way but it's an established path.

The alternative is to follow the top path a little further to Northwick before turning left to the river near Old Northwick Farm. Either way, follow the Severn north.

After leaving Bevere behind the meadows come to an end and you're faced with a wooded cliff. Walk uphill then turn left along field edges above the cliffs.

Joining a track at Hawford turn right, then left at a junction, past King's Hawford and up steps to the A449.

Cross then turn left to Hawford Mill to find a footpath descending into woodland to meet the Droitwich Canal. Join the towpath and follow it until you meet a lane at a bridge.

Turn right.

At a junction by Hill House turn left on Egg Lane.

At the next junction turn right on Jacob's Ladder Lane, then turn left when you come to Danes Green, shortly crossing to a footpath on the right which leads past Grange Playing Fields.

Keep a look out for a stile on the left where you join a footpath/cycleway across a new housing development, until you can turn left on Robin Drive back to Danes Green.

Turn right to a junction with Dilmore Lane and cross to a footpath between houses 44 and 46.

Keep straight on at all junctions to meet the A38. Cross and turn right, then soon left on a track which leads to a field.

Follow a well-trodden path to the far side then turn right until you can pass under the A449.

Turn left along a road, then very soon right on a track at Holy Claines Farm, opposite a sign for Springbank Bungalows (you may find that the sign has been turned round to point the wrong way).

The track takes you past a golf course, across Barbourne Brook and past the bungalows to an industrial estate where a path to the right skirts grassland.

When you reach a junction by a waymarked gatepost turn left, then left again to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

Cross bridge 17 to access the towpath and turn left to Worcester.

While you can leave the canal at any point, the best way to end the walk is to follow it to Diglis where it meets the River Severn.

It's just a short stroll from this point past the Cathedral to the 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: Worcester Bridge.

Length: 11 miles/17.5km.

Maps: OS Landranger 150, OS Explorer 204.

Terrain: towpaths, riverside meadows, traffic-free lanes and one large arable field.

Stiles: 16.

Buses: This is quite a long walk but you don't have to do all of it if you don't want; at no point are you more than a few minutes walk from a bus stop - useful services include 22, 144, 303 and numerous Citibuses, most of which run every few minutes, though services are much reduced on Sundays.

Refreshments: Worcester.