The Clock Basin at Stourport-upon-Severn is where this walk starts and finishes.

This walk turned out rather differently than was intended, due to an unexpected path closure following flood damage.

Fortunately, it's still a lovely walk, with fine views, plenty of opportunities for further exploration and some ideal spots to stop for a rest or a picnic. Ribbesford Woods is a Forestry Commission property with open access so you can vary the given route as much as you like.

Three-Cornered Wood is tiny by comparison but it also has open access and is well worth exploring. Though planted only in 2001 it is developing fast, while remaining pleasantly open and sunny.

Grassy paths and glades have been made in the wooded areas, a hedge has been replanted with native species, mature trees line the riverbank and an old track, not marked on OS maps, but included in a circular walk off the Worcestershire Way, runs alongside the wood.

Many of the young trees and shrubs in Three-Cornered Wood are currently covered in fruits and nuts, such as sloes, blackberries and hazelnuts. The lovely red berries of hawthorn, guelder rose and rowan are also abundant.

Three-Cornered Wood belongs to the Woodland Trust and is part of the Trust's Woods on Your Doorstep scheme, a millennium project that has created 200 new community woods in England and Wales.

FACTFILE

Start: Stourport Bridge, grid ref SO807710.

Comfrey growing by

Length: Six-and-a-quarter miles/10km.

Maps: OS Explorer 218, OS Landranger 138.

Terrain: Pasture, arable and woodland; moderately hilly, with one quite steep descent.

Footpaths: Excellent, except in the fields just to the north of Areley Wood, where the path is overgrown and poorly waymarked in places.

Stiles: 11.

Parking: Stourport Riverside (alternatively, there is space for a couple of cars by Three-Cornered Wood).

Buses: 293/294 on weekdays, 300 on Sundays/bank holidays; www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables or Traveline 0871 200 2233.

Refreshments: Stourport.

DIRECTIONS

1 Cross Stourport Bridge, descend steps to the River Severn and walk upstream for nearly a mile. Climb a short flight of steps into Three- Cornered Wood and turn either left or right: a left turn will take you directly to Ribbesford Road (B4194), while a right turn allows you to see a little more of the wood before joining the road.

2 Cross the road to a path opposite. Walk uphill along a field edge then enter a lightly wooded area at a fallen gate. Keep climbing across sandstone slopes, bearing right to reach grassland. Continue in the same direction, but not over the highest part of Stagborough Hill - keep further left instead, by a hedge. Though there is a well-defined track running uphill, the right of way is to the left of it, close to the hedge and/or fence - it crosses to the other side at one point but only for a few metres. Approaching Ribbesford Woods, cross a stile on your left but continue in the same direction as before, soon entering the woods. Please note that dogs are required to be kept under close control within the woods. Keep straight on at all junctions to the far side of the woods then turn right along Heightington Road.

3 Turn left on the Worcestershire Way, which uses a private road to Park End and the Frank Chapman Centre. Leave this road after 300m, turning left on a woodland track which soon swings right to run along the outer edge of the wood. Continue for 400m to a junction and leave the Worcestershire Way, turning left along the field edge, with a copse on your right. There is no waymark at this junction but there is one a few paces further on, at another junction, by a stile, so if you're unsure you've reached the correct junction just keep going a little further to check, then turn back. Follow the path across a large arable field to meet a farm track and turn left to Heightington Road. Turn right, walking across the valley of Gladder Brook.

4 Take a path on the left at High Oak Farm. Ignore a path branching right after a few metres and keep straight on through the farmyard and then through a gate. Walk along the top edge of a pasture, with Ribbesford Woods and Stagborough Hill across the valley to your left. Go through a gate into the next field and go diagonally downhill to the far left corner. Don't go through a prominent gate but continue right into the corner to find an easily missed stile.

5 Follow a poor path through nettles and brambles, cross a brook, climb uphill a little then turn left to meet a much better path. Turn right and look for a short flight of steps on your right after a short distance. Follow a good path across an arable field then continue across a pasture, heading towards a group of larch trees. Pass through a narrow belt of nettle-infested woodland, climb over an overgrown fence by the remains of a broken stile, cross a pasture and enter Areley Wood. The path is much better from now on and is easily followed, though brambles are encroaching in places. Turn right at a waymarked junction, then turn left when you come to a junction with no waymarking, walking parallel with a track at first before joining it and following it to Ribbesford Road.

6 Cross the road and walk along Areley Lane for 700m then take a path on the right which climbs uphill before crossing the hill just to the rear of the churchyard. Join a minor lane and follow it back to Areley Lane. Turn right past Areley Hall then left after 100m on a private access road which is also a public footpath to the riverbank. Turn right to Stourport Bridge.

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.

9:00am Monday 27th August 2007

Rowan mountain ash berries.

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