Malvern Hills and Teme Valley from the path between Bransford Bridge and Lower Howsen.

THE river Teme occupies a wide, flat valley at Bransford, but on the north side of the valley there is a short, fairly steep slope which gives only the most minimal height gain, and yet provides unexpectedly good views, dominated by the Malvern Hills. From this point, it's an easy walk, via Howsen and Lightwood, to Broadheath Common, an area of access land where you can wander at will.

Nearby Little Common, another area of access land, is much smaller but more interesting, its tussocky grassland having been colonised by oak, birch and willow trees. It provides food and shelter for wildlife, and on a sunny but cold November morning we watched in surprise as two red admiral butterflies flitted across the common through long grasses thick with hoar frost. Broadheath Common must have been similar to Little Common at one time but it was ploughed up for food production during the Second World War. Since food cultivation ceased it has been maintained as open grassland, with just a handful of trees.

St Leonard's Church at Cotheridge is worth a visit, to admire its unusual timber tower and white-painted walls. The church is Norman but the tower may be earlier.

FACT FILE

Start: Bransford Bridge, on the A4103, grid ref SO804532.

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

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Pastoral and arable farmland; no real hills.

Footpaths: No great problems, but much of the waymarking is patchy, misleading or missing altogether (in some cases it appears to have been deliberately removed). There are some difficult gates, including one which is illegally padlocked. The path from Howsen to the A44 is poor at one point, where it is overgrown by nettles and brambles, and you will have to stoop very low to get under at least three fallen or low-growing trees. The situation in point five is confusing - the path described is the correct right of way (as shown on OS maps), but the waymarking seems to indicate a field-edge track instead, and some walkers do use this.

Stiles: Ten, and you'll have to climb over at least one gate, probably more.

Parking: There is a lay-by close to Bransford Bridge, beside the A4103.

Buses: First 417 Ledbury service to Bransford Bridge, Mon-Sat; Bromyard Omnibus Co 308 Martley service to Broadheath Common, Mon-Sat (mornings only); First/Bromyard Omnibus Co 420 Hereford service along A44, daily, stopping at Church Lane, Cotheridge or at Laylocks; www.herefordbus.info (recommended) or www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bus timetables or Traveline 0871 200 2233.

Refreshments: There is usually a snack van parked in the lay-by. The Fox Inn (across the bridge) should be open by now, after the summer floods. Laylocks Garden Centre has a coffee shop.

DIRECTIONS

1 Go through a gate where two paths are signposted, just to the north of Bransford Bridge. Take the right-hand path - the first bit of it is blocked by nettles, which may be avoided by following the river for a few metres and then turning right. Cross a field then go diagonally to the far left corner of the next. Climb to the top of a ridge and turn left along a bridleway which follows the ridge then descends to pass through a small valley to Howsen.

2 Take the first path on the right, which is accessed by going through green gates just before the first building on the right. After that it's waymarked and easily followed to Bromyard Road (A44), meeting it by Laylocks Garden Centre. Cross to a bridleway and follow it to Broadheath Common. Walk across the common to the far left corner and join a path leaving Bell Lane on the left, almost opposite Sling Lane. It soon leads into a large ploughed field. Go along the left-hand edge to the next corner, where there's a gap in the hedge.

3 Turn left across another field to Heath Grange Farm. Walk through the farmyard to BDWM (offices) then turn right to find three waymarks on a fence on your left. Take a path on the left, soon going through a gate to walk along a track which passes Little Common. Proceed to a lane and turn left. Go through a gate on the right after 100m, joining the Three Choirs Way. Head for the far right corner of a sheep pasture, climb a ramshackle stile into the next field and continue along the left edge, then along the edge of another field. Cross two stiles and a footbridge then go through a metal gate on your left. Turn right and walk straight across three fields.

4 Ignore a stile on the right, as you approach the far side of the third field, and turn left in the corner. Go through a gate in the next corner and keep straight on to meet Bromyard Road. Turn right on the grass verge, then left at a sign for Cotheridge Church. Walk right to the bottom of Church Lane.

5 Go through one of a pair of gates into a field. Go straight across and climb a stile at the far side. Go obliquely left across another field to a stile at the right-hand end of a hedge at the far side, about 100m from the left-hand field boundary. Continue in the same direction across another field, parallel with a track, then straight across a large sheep pasture to a gate. Continue along the left-hand edge of an arable field, cross a footbridge at the far side and turn right. Climb over a gate in the field corner and bear gradually right to meet the River Teme. Follow it to Bransford 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.

8:55am Monday 31st December 2007

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