REMOTE from main roads, the lovely riverside meadows, woods and marshes be-tween Bevere Island and Grimley comprise an almost secret landscape known only to those who walk the towpath or travel by boat along the Severn.

Bevere Island itself is well known, however, and so is the adjacent lock, which has won awards for its landscaping.

The island used to be known as the Camp because, historically, it served as a place of refuge for Worcester's citizens, whether from Danish raiders, plague or civil war.

The nearby Camp House Inn was licensed by Cromwell after the Battle of Worcester to cater for the watermen who worked the Severn trows.

In the early 19th Century the adjacent meadow was used as a racecourse, but the racing ceased in 1834 after the squire of Thorngrove withdrew his support.

Thorngrove stands on the other side of the A443, from which the best views of it are obtained, though you will pass within 100 metres of it at Sinton Green.

This was once the temporary home of Lucien Bonaparte, who had been exiled from France by his brother, the Emperor Napoleon, for having made an "unsuitable" marriage.

Start: Grimley slip road, off A443 about 4 miles north of Worcester; GR 829605.

Length: 6.5 miles/10.4km.

Maps: OS Landranger 150, OS Explorer 204.

Terrain: Level, with no hills. Mainly mixed farmland and riverside meadows, with some quiet lanes. Some of the footpaths are overgrown in places.

Stiles: 27, and there are also several electric fences and strands of wire across the footpaths around Sinton Green; none of these represents a real problem, but one or two aren't easy to see until you're almost upon them.

Parking: At the top end of the Grimley slip road.

Buses: Midland Red 293/294/304, Whittle's 295/296 and Yarrantons' 758 Mondays to Saturdays; Kestrel Coaches 300 on Sundays and bank holidays; also Midland Red 312/313 from Clifton to Sinton Green, Mondays to Saturdays; County Bus Line 08457 125436.

Refreshments: Camp House near Bevere Lock, Wagon Wheel at Grimley, New Inn at Sinton Green, Hunters Lodge at Oakall Green, Shop at Hallow Heath.

WALK south along the Grimley slip road until you can join a footpath on the right. Pass a house and go along the edge of the garden, then straight on across grassland, with masses of wild flowers all around and a flooded gravel pit below you on the right. At the far side turn left to find a path giving access to the A443. Cross with care.

Turn left, ignoring a signposted footpath (it's blocked) and continuing to a crossroads where you turn right on Dark Lane. Fork left by a footpath sign at a junction just after Dark Lane Cottage. Walk to a T-junction, then turn right.

The footpath soon bends left and leads to a stile. Climb over and walk along the right-hand edge of a field. At a junction turn right on a track which leads back to Dark Lane. Turn left towards Sinton Green.

There are two triangular greens at Sinton Green. Go diagonally along the edge of the first, smaller one, then cross a lane to join a path to the right of Mayfield Cottage. The path leads straight across a field of runner beans. At the far side cross a stile then turn right on a track along the edge of another bean field.

In the corner of the field turn left along its edge. Just before you come to the next corner look for an overgrown stile on the right and then follow a path along the edge of a garden. Continue down a stony track to a junction of three footpaths. Turn left, and, after 250m, left again at the junction with another track.

Turn left again when you come to another junction. A few paces further on cross a stile on the left and walk along the right-hand edge of an orchard (ignore the signpost here). In the bottom corner go through a gate into the adjacent field and turn left along its edge.

Continue along the edge of the next field until nearly level with a dead tree. Turn right to cross the field to a lane and turn left to Oakall Green. Fork right past Hunters Lodge, then right again.

After passing Oak Hall Farm Barn turn left on a footpath which leads directly to another lane. Turn left to return to Sinton Green.

Keep straight on past the New Inn, the two greens and the duckpond. At Ivy Cottage you'll see two footpaths. Join the left-hand one at a black gate and walk along the left-hand edge of a field.

Ignore a stile on the left and continue to the field corner and then straight on along the right-hand edges of the next two fields.

At the end of the second one turn left a little to find a footbridge hidden in a copse. After crossing the bridge and a subsequent stile it's basically straight on over fields to reach Moseley Road. Turn left to Hallow Heath and then left by the A443.

Pass Oakleigh Garage, then cross to a footpath opposite Tony Matthews Cars. Follow it straight on across fields towards the River Severn. In the final field the path goes to the right then around the field edge to Camp Lane. Go forward to the Camp House Inn then turn left on the Severn Way.

Keep going past Bevere Lock and Bevere Island then through peaceful meadows until you meet a track just beyond Grimley Marsh. Turn left to Grimley and go through the churchyard.

Turn left along a field edge to an open gateway. Leave the Severn Way here and go straight on across fields to return to your starting point.