Look up: A stunning view of the Malverns from Broadwas, where you can also see an abundance of wildlife, including rabbits, curlews, buzzards, heron, kestrels and the fearsome little owl.

WITH both natural and man-made attractions, this is an easy and very pleasant walk in the Teme valley just to the west of Worcester.

Being low-lying, with patches of marshland, and an abundance of pools, streams and ditches, this used to be an excellent place to see flocks of lapwing, along with good numbers of snipe and curlew.

Sadly, as some of the damper pastures have been drained and converted to crop production, these birds no longer visit in any numbers. Even so, occasional individuals still turn up in the surviving undrained pastures.

Other species which are more likely include moorhen, mallard, heron, kestrel and little owl. The latter, unlike most owls, is active during daylight hours: look for it on top of fence posts or telegraph poles, or in oak trees, where it favours low branches close to the trunk.

As its name suggests, it is our smallest owl, not very much bigger than a blackbird, but a fierce predator nonetheless.

Another predator present in the area is the buzzard, which is easily seen, though sometimes you might hear one first - listen for a distinctive mewing call. While there are no guarantees with birds, you won't fail to see rabbits, which are abundant here.

If you do this walk in late afternoon, when the light is beginning to fade, you will see dozens of them, particularly around Blackfield Cottage.

St Leonard's Church at Cotheridge is full of interest too. It is one of the most distinctive churches in the county, with white-painted stone walls and a weather-boarded, cruck-framed tower. The nave and chancel were built around 1125, but the tower was probably added later, though no one is sure exactly when.

You won't fail to see a few rabbits.

If you find the church unlocked it is worth going inside to see the oak crucks, an impressive Norman arch and some mediaeval floor tiles.

Most of the tiles are patterned, but some of them are decorated, rather intriguingly, with pictures of elephants.

FACTFILE

Start: Weston Hill, Broadwas, grid ref SO768556.

Length: 5 miles/9km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Mostly sheep pasture, marshy in places, with some arable. No hills.

Footpaths: None of these paths is actually blocked but the overall impression is not particularly encouraging. Several are very poorly maintained, with some difficult stiles, locked gates, intermittent waymarking and misleading signage.

Stiles: 28, and you'll have to climb over a couple of fences too.

Parking: Near the bus shelter on Weston Hill, or near Broadwas village hall.

Buses: Worcester-Hereford service 420, daily; 01432 260211 or www.herefordbus.info Refreshments: Broadwas.

DIRECTIONS

1 Join a footpath at a gate opposite the bus shelter, by the turning for Broad Green, Wichenford and Martley. Walk through an overgrown area then along the edge of an orchard. Entering a field, keep to the left-hand edge, ignoring a branching path but turning left at the next hedge corner. Proceed to a junction and turn right across the field, then left along the edge to find a post waymarked with the logo of the Three Choirs Way. Cross a marshy area and go through a gate. Turn left and walk through three fields.

2 Turn right at a path junction in a fourth field, passing derelict Blackfield Cottage. Cross a very poor stile in the next corner and go diagonally right to the far corner of a long, narrow field. Cross a stile and join a farm track which goes to the A44. As you approach to within about 100m of the road you should branch left from the track to walk through fields, bypassing farm buildings. Cross a wide grass verge, taking care to avoid a partially concealed ditch, and cross the road to enter a field. Turn left to the far side, then go diagonally across another field on a well-made path which leads to St Leonard's Church at Cotheridge.

3 Turn left along Church Lane, back to the A44, and turn right. Pass a couple of houses then cross to a path which runs along field edges, first to the right of a hedge, and then to the left of it. Turn left at a cross-path, returning to the field in which Blackfield Cottage stands. Turn right, passing the cottage again. Keep straight on when you come to the junction with the Broad Green path (point 2) and walk along field edges towards a road.

4 Don't join the road, but turn left on a track instead, and then fork left into a field where a sign orders us to keep to the edge because the field has been sprayed. Do keep to the edge if you prefer, on a conservation walk' (see on-site notice). But, whatever the sign may imply, a public right of way runs directly across the field, roughly parallel with overhead power-lines. Cross a wobbly stile at the far side to another field. Continue in the same direction to the far right corner then pass through a gate to the right of a farm building. Follow a track past the farm and on to Broad Green. Walk past the green then turn left at a road junction.

5 Take the first footpath on the right. Keep left through a field, climb over a fence and proceed down another field to cross a footbridge. Go up a bank and turn left, following a brook through three fields. Keep straight on across two more fields, climbing up a slope to a stile to the left of a pylon and then proceeding to a lane. Turn left and walk down to the A44 at Broadwas. Turn left, then soon left again to Weston Hill.

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.

9:53am Monday 5th February 2007

There might even be a curlew to spot on this walk.

St Leonard's Church has some very interesting elephant-patterned tiles.

Print   Email this