Look west from the hills and you'll be treated to a real winter wonderland if snow has fallen on the patchwork of fields.

Herefordshire Beacon, topped by the spectacular hill fort of British Camp, overlooks a group of Worcestershire commons often known collectively as Castlemorton Common. However, this name is more accurately applied to the north-eastern common, while the others include Berrow Downs, Hollybed Common and Coombegreen Common.

All these, together with the Malvern Hills, are part of what was formerly a much larger area of commonland. Though that is now fragmented, each common remains joined to its neighbours by narrow strips of land, which are also held in common, and therefore available for public access.

This means there are many different walks to be enjoyed. The walk described here is just one example and if you want to explore the commons more thoroughly it's easily done, with the help of the Ordnance Survey Explorer or Harvey's map.

The commons provide valuable wildlife habitats, with grassland, scrub, woodland and wetland. One notable feature, which is also found on the adjoining smallholdings and farms, is mistletoe, which grows on apple trees and hawthorns in a profusion seen almost nowhere else in England.

There are also several ponds on the commons, the largest of which is Mill Pond, inhabited by dozens of water birds. Berrow Downs has some superb black poplars, while Coombegreen Common is studded with thousands of centuries-old anthills, which attract ant-guzzling green woodpeckers in summer. On neighbouring Hollybed Common only a few anthills survive because the land was ploughed for potatoes during the Second World War.

FACTFILE

Start: British Camp, Wynds Point; grid ref SO762404.

Length: Six miles/10km.

Black Hill is a favourite sledging spot.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150, Harvey Superwalker Malvern Hills.

Terrain: Malvern Hills, including the grassy and stony ridge-top but mostly the wooded, very muddy lower slopes, together with lowland commons, marshy in places.

Footpaths: Excellent.

Stiles: None.

Parking: British Camp.

Public transport: Bus (First 44) or train to Great Malvern then Newbury Coaches 675 to British Camp, Mon-Sat; Astons 363/364 from Worcester to Great Malvern via Upton passes close to British Camp, Mon-Sat; trains stop daily at Colwall, one-and-a-quarter miles away by footpath; from Easter onwards the Malvern Hills Hoppa serves British Camp on weekends and bank holidays; Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www. worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables or www.herefordbus.info Refreshments: Malvern Hills Hotel.

DIRECTIONS

1Take the well-used path to the summit of British Camp and then descend over Millennium Hill to a junction marked by a round route indicator. Choose the path signed Hangman's Hill and Pink Cottage', heading along the ridge beside the Shire Ditch. Before long, the path descends sharp right to join a lower one but then continues south along the ridge.

2Arriving at a major junction, keep roughly straight on, signed The Gullet and Midsummer Hill', along a rocky, ridge-top path. Fork right into woodland after a short distance, just before you reach the top of the next small hill on the ridge. The path is narrow at first and easily missed, but it is well-used and soon meets a wider path. Continue in the same direction on this wide path, ignoring all turnings.

3Turn left at a sign for Gullet Quarry, by the entrance to Eastnor Park. The path forks when you reach the quarry lake: take the right branch, with a stream on your left. Walk along the edge of woods, soon swinging right to meet a minor road. Walk along here, past woodland, to the A438 at Hollybush. Cross over and turn left on a footway.

4Re-cross the road to common land at a sign for Bank Cottage. Fork right and walk parallel with the road at first, then to the left of All Saints' Church. Continue along a strip of grassland, which is part of Coombegreen Common, with Golden Valley to your left. Ignore tracks providing farm access and just keep straight on. The common soon becomes wider but never so wide that you lose sight of the hedge which bounds it on your left. When you see the hedge turning a sharp corner, turn left too. Follow the hedge to a house called Washloe, at the next corner.

5Walk forward a few paces to a wooden post then turn left, using a wide path at first, which cuts a convenient swathe through the anthills. As you approach the far right corner of the common, leave the path and head to the top left corner instead. Walk along a narrow strip of land, passing an enclosed sheep pasture. After this the common widens out again. Turn right and descend to Mill Pond. Walk either way around the pond to Hollybed Common.

6Keep close to the left edge of the common and leave it in the next corner by Tyrus House. Walk along another narrow strip of land, heading towards the hills and ignoring a track going to the right. The common eventually widens out again and then you'll soon cross a road to Berrow Downs. Walk past a group of black poplars. Ahead of you, the trees, gorse, bracken and brambles look impenetrable but if you go obliquely left you will intercept a path which finds a clear way through. Leave the common in the top left corner and follow a track past a house and then, after about 200m, past another house, Dales Hall.

7Bear obliquely left across grassland, passing under power-lines and soon joining a path which climbs gently through woodland. Turn right when you come to a junction and British Camp will soon come into view. A narrow path leads to the top of a valley then turns left above the valley to join a bridleway which runs below British Camp to your starting point.

11:21am Monday 15th January 2007

Winter colouring on the Malvern Hills.

Black poplars on pretty Berrow Downs.

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