Meadow Cranesbill

Ankerdine Hill may be little more than a bump in the landscape but it is remarkable for the steepness of its slopes.

Nonetheless, it's an easy climb to the top, partly because there isn't much of it, and partly because the paths take a well-graded zig-zag route.

The walk described here uses the Worcestershire Way but you may prefer to use other paths instead.

There is full public access to that part of the hill known as Ankerdine Common, though, in practice, access is limited mainly to footpaths as the common is wooded.

There is, however, a small clearing at a viewpoint (though trees now block much of the view in summer), with a bench and picnic table.

If you take the Worcestershire Way to the top you'll come to the viewpoint after turning left along the ridge.

If you use one of the other paths you'll find it by turning right at the top. There are plenty of flowers to enjoy during the walk, with wild roses particularly widespread.

You should also see species such as meadow cranesbill, while red campion seems to flower every month of the year.

The lovely white flowers of river water crowfoot often cover the Teme below the footbridge.

It's getting a bit late in the year now for orchids, but there may still be a few common spotted orchids in bloom on Ankerdine Hill.

Another place to look for them is the field below Tinkers Coppice (see point six).

There used to be thousands here but they have been swamped by uncontrolled bracken.

However, some survivors are still hanging on.

FACTFILE

Start: The A44 at Knightwick, opposite the Suckley turn 300m west of Knightsford Bridge; grid ref SO731558.

Length: Six-and-a-half miles/10.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Woods and pasture, with some steep slopes. Poor footpaths necessitate some road-walking but there is very little traffic.

Footpaths: They range from appalling to excellent. The difficult ones can be avoided, though only with more road-walking.

Stiles: 15.

Parking: On the old road behind the bus shelter.

Buses: Worcester-Hereford 420, daily; www.herefordbus.info or Traveline 0871 200 2233.

Refreshments: The Talbot at Knightwick.

DIRECTIONS:

1 Join the north-bound Worcestershire Way, as indicated by a fingerpost behind the bus shelter. Cross the Teme footbridge, pass the Talbot and follow the road uphill until you can gain access to Ankerdine Common next to The Cottage. Follow the Worcestershire Way to the top of the hill then turn left and walk almost to the road before going into a field by The Laurels. Go diagonally left downhill to find access into a wood, descend through the wood and then enter a meadow. Go uphill to the far right corner then left along the edge to Easinghope Lane.

2 Leave the Worcestershire Way and turn right. Turn left at a fork, after which the lane descends into a lovely dingle and then climbs again to a house called Hazeley. Cross an overgrown stile (nettles and hawthorn) just after the house and head across a meadow towards another house. Go through a gate before you reach the house and continue in the same direction along the edge of an orchard to find a gate to a lane.

3 Cross to a path opposite and walk across a field of flax on a good path. After passing a copse you'll come to a junction: the path to the left looks like a good bet but unfortunately that's an illusion which lasts only as far as the field edge. So take the path going to the right instead. It runs past the copse and then straight on across the field. When you pass under power-lines, just before a hedge corner, you have two choices: a) If you can't cope with nettles keep straight on to meet a lane, turn left, go straight on at a junction and then take the second path on the left.

b) If you want to assert your rights, and you can deal with nettles, turn left instead. Gradually bear right so that after 200m you're walking beside the hedge. Follow it to the field corner and turn right, fighting your way through thousands of nettles to find a shamefully overgrown gate to the lane. Turn left for a few metres then join another footpath (the second path on the left' as described above).

4 Cross two paddocks, then continue along a well-defined path to a lane at Newtown. Turn left, then take the second path on the left, at a wooden fingerpost and stile. Walk across a paddock to the point where the hedge on the left meets a fence. Cross a stile and turn left through the next field to the corner. Turn right in another field to meet a lane. Turn right.

5 Take the first footpath on the left, which is also the driveway to Dingle Cottage. As you approach the cottage, look for an overgrown stile on the right and cross into a field. Turn left, following the field edge to a bridge into the adjacent field. Go diagonally to the far right corner, join a lane and turn right. Turn left at the next junction, and right at another junction. Take the next footpath on the right and follow it to the main road.

6 Cross the road, turn left, then take a path on the right. Descend through Tinkers Coppice to a bracken-covered field. Keep descending, cross a stile at the bottom of the field and continue down to Horsham Farm. Turn left on a track and follow it to Ankerdine Farm, where it swings left to emerge on the road by the Talbot. Cross the Teme to Knightwick.

10:08am Tuesday 17th July 2007

Print   Email this