Harvington Hall is the sort of country house that appeals even to those who think they don't like country houses.

Enjoy remnants of the woodland and heathland which once covered so much of north-west Worcestershire as you follow a lovely path around Mount Segg.

This sandstone hill is mostly wooded, with species such as oak, holly, birch and elder, and is protected as a private nature reserve.

Walkers are requested to stick to the path and to keep dogs on leads.

An area of lightly wooded heathland lies to the east of Mount Segg and is a classic of its type, with sandy soils supporting silver birch, oak, gorse and bracken.

Only one right of way runs across the heath but it's obvious from the profusion of other paths that have developed that many people can't resist the temptation to explore it.

A different sort of attraction is found at Harvington, where picturesque Harvington Hall is the sort of country house that appeals even to those who think they don't like country houses.

Even small children can enjoy this one, with its ingeniously constructed priest holes hidden in chimneys, behind bookcases and fake beams and below staircases and false floors.

The hall, originally timber-framed, dates from 1260, but was rebuilt in brick in the 1580s by Humphrey Pakington, who made it a centre of refuge for fellow Roman Catholics fleeing persecution.

Chaddesley Corbett.

If you'd like to visit the hall you can check opening hours on 01562 777846.

DIRECTIONS

1 Walk up the village street and fork left at Briar Hill. At Green Acres take a footpath on the left, then turn right at a junction to join the Monarch's Way, which is waymarked and easily followed across fields to a lane. Turn left to pass Harvington Hall and then make two right turns to join a footpath which leads to Stourbridge Road (A450) at Harvington.

2 Cross the road, turn right then take a footpath which leaves the road just before a pub. Walk along the right-hand edge of a field until the fence comes to an end then go diagonally left to meet a waymarked track. Turn right and proceed to a junction. Go through a metal gate, turn right for a few paces then go left. The path soon descends through woodland and then continues across a field to a gate giving on to a track. Turn right.

3 Soon after you pass Dunclent House a stile gives access to the woodland clothing Mount Segg. The path remains obvious and eventually meets a bridleway on which you turn right. The woodland on your right soon gives way to a pine plantation and at this point the bridleway forks left, becoming a narrow path running through heathland. The waymark is concealed by brambles so search for it if you need to confirm your location. Ignore branching paths and climb slightly to meet a wide sandy track. Turn left.

4 After a short distance take a narrow path on the right, just before a bend in the wide one. A few metres further on a waymark confirms that you're still on the bridleway, and a gate gives access to a field. Go straight on along the right-hand edge and through a gap into the next field. You'll notice that a well-trodden path runs to the left, going to the next corner - obviously most walkers go this way. However, the actual right of way goes diagonally to a tree-fringed pool and then diagonally to the corner. Whichever you choose, go through a gap in the corner to the next field then immediately left through another gap into the field on the left.

5 Go diagonally towards Stourbridge Road. With no waymarking, and the path over-cropped, it's hard to be sure of the exact route, but as you approach the road you should be about 150m to the left of a farm. You'll see what looks like a short wooden post at the far side and should aim for that - as you get closer it becomes apparent that it's the top of a fingerpost, which is beside the road, below the level of the path. Meeting the road, turn left along the verge for 200m then cross to a path opposite, which is easily followed to a junction with another path at a fence corner.

6 Turn left, and at the next stile you'll see from the waymark that you're back on the Monarch's Way. Follow this to Woodrow Lane and turn right. After a little way cross to a footpath which leads through three fields, going diagonally right in the third, to meet a lane. Turn right then very soon take another path on the right, which leads to a large field. The Ordnance Survey shows the path running roughly diagonally across the field but it appears to have been re-routed so that you're now meant to walk along the right-hand edge until you meet a cross-field track near a pylon. Turn left to a lane and turn right. Keep straight on at a crossroad to return to Chaddesley Corbett.

FACT FILE

Start: Chaddesley Corbett, grid ref SO892737.

Length: 7 miles/12km.

Maps: OS Explorer 219, OS Landranger 139.

Terrain: Farmland, woodland and heathland, mainly flat.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent, except that waymarking is absent in places. This is particularly unhelpful given that at least one path (and possibly two) has been re-routed. Also, one path has been over-cropped - this is not currently a problem (though still illegal) but will become so as the crop grows.

Stiles: 10.

Parking: Chaddesley Corbett.

Buses: X3/334 Areley Kings-Stourport-Kidderminster-Bromsgrove-Redditch buses serve Chaddesley Corbett and Harvington daily (going through the villages on weekdays, but along the A448 only on Sundays/bank holidays); good connections from Worcester include 144/294/295/300/303/350; www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables or Worcestershire Hub 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Chaddesley Corbett, Harvington.

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.

8:46am Monday 10th March 2008

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