Weston Hill, Broadwas

10:10am Monday 4th August 2008

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THERE are great views of the Malvern Hills from Weston Hill at Broadwas, even though at only 60 metres in height it’s the merest bump in the landscape.

Just to the north of it is Broad Green, which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its varied meadow flora.

Most British meadows are past their best by August but even so you should see several species still in flower at Broad Green, including agrimony, red clover, self-heal, lady’s bedstraw, knapweed, bird’s-foot trefoil and various types of vetch, with meadowsweet in damper parts of the meadow.

Bird’s-foot trefoil is the main food-plant of the six-spot burnet moth, a pretty and unusually approachable day-flying species which has iridescent greenishblack wings with red markings.

There is a colony of burnet moths at Broad Green, on the wing in July and possibly early August.

Over the last few years the keeping of South American alpacas and llamas has become popular in the UK and on this walk you can enjoy the sight of a herd of alpacas between Newtown and Holling Coppice.

If they look a little odd it’s only because they’ve recently been shorn – like sheep, they look better in their winter coats – but they’re still very cute.

If you have a dog with you please keep it on a lead in this area.

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.

DIRECTIONS

1 Walk beside the main road towards Worcester, then turn left up Weston Hill, and left again at the top of the hill. Walk past Broad Green and continue along the lane until it bends right. Join a path on the left at an overgrown stile. Go diagonally to the far right corner of a pasture, cross a footbridge then walk along the right-hand edge of the next field until you come to a metal gate. Go through, and then diagonally left across two fields to meet a road near Peg House Farm.

2 Cross to a path almost opposite, just a little to the left. According to Ordnance Survey, this should run straight through Peghouse Wood. However, you will have to make a right turn after a short distance. The first part of the path runs through rank vegetation and is very seriously overgrown. As it shows signs of slight improvement you should look for a very faint path on the right leading into the wood, where a waymark confirms you’re in the right place. Turn left, walk through the wood and go through a dilapidated gate into a field. Walk along the left-hand edge and across a seriously overgrown footbridge in the corner. Go straight on through even denser overgrowth then climb over a gate into a field. Keep straight on, past a house and straight on along the edge of a large field. Turn left in the next field, cross an overgrown stile in the corner, and proceed to Wants Green.

3 Cross to a lane opposite, going towards Doddenham and Knightwick. Take the first path on the right, at Stanley’s Field. Walk across two fields then along a green lane to a road at Newtown. Turn left then cross the next stile on the right, which gives access to two paths. Take the left-hand one, which goes straight across a field.

It’s waymarked and easily followed through another field (grazed by a herd of alpacas), past a garden, along a woodland edge and then a field edge. Proceed along a track and past a pool, then take a path on the left. Walk through two fields to a lane and turn left.

4 Go straight on at a crossroad, again towards Doddenham and Knightwick. Take a path on the left after you’ve passed Haynes Green Farm. Cross a field to a stile then cut across the corner of a plantation to a seriously overgrown stile to a lane. The path continues opposite, along the left-hand field edge to the bottom corner and into another field. Cross this field, as waymarked, bearing slightly right.

As you reach the top of a slight rise you’ll see a gate ahead – aim for this and then continue across another field in much the same direction.

5 Cross a stile under some oak trees then keep straight on to cross a difficult stile to another field. Continue as waymarked, in much the same direction as before.

Descend to a junction in a dip then go straight on uphill, to the right of a hedge. Cross a stile in the top corner and keep straight on at all junctions until you are almost at Stone Farm. Turn right to find a gate near a wooden barn then descend to the road on the edge of Broadwas. Cross over and turn left into the village.

FACT FILE

Length: 6 miles/9.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Mostly sheep pasture, with some arable and woodland; quiet lanes; a couple of gentle slopes.

Footpaths: Most are adequate, and a few are very good. However, a 250m-stretch of the path between Peg House Farm and Candleford Nurseries is appalling. You can avoid it by using the road instead, but doing that only encourages neglect and obstruction so please use the path if you can (wear nettle-proof, brambleresistant clothing) and then report it to the county council (countryside@worcestershire.gov.uk).

Incidentally, if you plan to extend or vary this walk at any point, bear in mind that several other paths in the area remain extremely poor.

Stiles: 21, one of which will prove difficult for less agile walkers; you will also have to climb over a gate.

Parking: Broadwas.

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

Refreshments: The Royal Oak, Broadwas.

Worcester News recommends the use of OS Explorer Maps, your ideal passport to navigating the countryside. This walk is based on OS Explorer 204.