The earliest settlement in the parish of Colwall, pictured above, is a mile to the west of Colwall Stone, below Oyster Hill, which is pictured above left.

According to legend, a giant who once lived in Clutter's Cave on the Malvern Hills looked down from the ridge one day to see his wife being chatted up by a stranger.

In a fit of jealous rage, he hurled a large stone at the pair, flattening them both.

The village of Colwall Stone grew up around the murder weapon, which still sits on Stone Drive, near the post office.

However, the earliest settlement in the parish of Colwall lies a mile further west below lovely Oyster Hill, and consists of a church, a farm, a couple of houses and a former ale house.

The latter is a timber-framed building on the edge of the churchyard, where parishioners would drink after church services.

Most villages had church ale houses at one time, but the Puritans disapproved, and converted most of them into schools or almshouses.

FACTFILE Start: Colwall Station, grid ref SO755424.

Length: 7 miles/12km.

The earliest settlement in the parish of Colwall, pictured above, is a mile to the west of Colwall Stone, below Oyster Hill, which is pictured above left.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landrangers 149 and 150.

Terrain: Mainly pasture, with arable, orchards and woods; gentle, with just one brief climb.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent, apart from a few very minor problems.

Stiles: 40.

Parking: Near Colwall Station at Colwall Stone.

Public transport: Daily trains to Colwall; daily buses, changing at Great Malvern to the 675 on weekdays or the 476 on Sundays; 08457 484950 or 01432 260211 or www.herefordbus.info Refreshments: Colwall Stone and Colwall Green.

PLEASE NOTE This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.

DIRECTIONS:

1 Cross the railway on the station footbridge, pass to the left of a nature reserve and enter a field. Turn right to the far side, then continue along the right-hand edges of the next two fields. Turn left along the edge of a fourth field then across the middle of a fifth, heading towards Herefordshire Beacon. Cross a stile at the far side and continue towards the Beacon, soon joining a track leading to a lane at Evendine.

2 Turn right to Colwall Green. Keep straight on at a junction by a phone box. Turn right at a T-junction, beside a row of lime trees at the edge of the green, then cross the road to a footpath on the left. Cross two fields and the railway, heading towards Brockbury Hall Farm. When you meet the farm drive take a path on the right which bypasses the farm buildings. It's easily followed until you come to the end of a wall made from railway sleepers. The path seems to disappear, but in fact it goes straight on, overgrown with nettles and uneven underfoot. It soon improves and leads past the remains of a moat to meet a farm track. Turn right to a junction then join a path on the left.

3 Go diagonally across a cattle pasture to a pair of stiles at the far side. Cross another field to a stile beneath an oak tree. Don't cross the stile but turn right along the field edge and cross a stile in the next corner. Walk straight on through another field, following an intermittent line of trees. Proceed across a final field to a group of tall pine trees, beyond which you'll find access to a lane. Turn right to Colwall.

4 Turn left at a T-junction after the church (or walk through the churchyard) then join a path which goes through the church car park and into a field. Go to the far right corner, pass through an iron gate and keep going along a field edge to find a footbridge. Cross the bridge, take about six paces forward then turn right through nettles to find a half-hidden stile under a willow tree. Turn left along a field edge then continue along the edge of an orchard to a road junction. Cross the Colwall road and walk along the Coddington and Bosbury road for a few metres to join a path on the left.

5 Go diagonally left to meet a hedge by an oak tree and then just keep climbing through fields and woodland until the ground levels out and a waymark directs you to the right. Follow a fence down to a junction. Turn left here, if you wish, for a brief detour to the top of Oyster Hill, then return to the same point and descend to a lane. Continue in the same direction and go straight on at a junction just after Jobeys Cottage. A few metres further on take a path on the right.

6 Walk down the right-hand field edge until you find an overgrown, easily missed pair of stiles and a footbridge. Go to the far right corner of the next field and cross a lane to a path almost opposite. Walk along the left-hand edges of three fields, go through a gate and cross a track to another field. Cross to a stile into a cow pasture and bear right to South Hyde Farm. Join a lane and turn right.

7 Take a footpath on the right soon after a cottage. Follow the left-hand field edge to the corner, then bear right in the next field to a footbridge at a hedge corner. Follow the left-hand hedge through three fields until it turns a corner - keep straight on here, across the field to a path junction. Continue in the same direction along the left-hand edge of the next field. Cross a footbridge to another field and walk across to a wood.

8 Keep straight on, left of the wood, towards Herefordshire Beacon. When you come to a junction ignore a path branching right but turn right at the next junction, following a track to a lane at Colwall Stone. Turn left, then first right on Stone Drive. Keep straight on to the village centre and station.

9:45am Monday 20th November 2006

A charming cottage at Evendine.

St James' Church and the former church ale house, now used as a village hall.

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