Broadheath (From Worcester News)

Broadheath

11:54am Monday 4th April 2011 in Local walks By Julie Royle

THERE is an opportunity to visit the National Trust’s timber-framed dovecote at Wichenford Court, Wichenford, near Worcester, on this walk.

Afterwards, you can enjoy exploring Spindle Wood, which is open to walkers through a countryside stewardship agreement.

You will discover that it is a great place for wetland flowers and birds because there are two large pools among the trees.

There are also more pools at Cob House Fishery, which offers wildlife walks, a play area, some farm animals and a café.

Please keep your dog on a lead at Spindle Wood, Cob House and Greenstreet Farm, where there are young calves.

FACTFILE

Start: Church Lane, Lower Broadheath; grid ref SO810572.

Length: Nine miles/14.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Pasture, arable and woodland, mostly flat.

Footpaths: The previously poor paths around Wichenford are now excellent. They’re generally fine elsewhere too, but a few longstanding problems do remain at Partridge Farm, Kenswick, and Shoulton. Waymarking is patchy, several paths have not been reinstated after ploughing and you will probably have to climb over three gates, access to one of which is impeded by fencing. Two stiles are overgrown by spiky hedging.

Stiles: 19, plus three gates.

Parking: Memorial Hall, Church Lane.

Buses: LMS 308/309/310, Monday- Saturday; worcestershire.gov.uk/ bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Pub and shop at Lower Broadheath, café at Cob House Fishery.

DIRECTIONS

1 Take a footpath which runs past the churchyard. Follow it to Malvern Close and turn right to Martley Road. Turn left, then shortly cross to a footpath which is also a farm access track. Pass through Partridge Farm then continue in the same direction, picking the best route you can through nettles until you can step through a hedge gap to the next field. Turn right and follow a clear path through several fields. Go diagonally left across the final field towards a farm.

2 Turn left then take a path on the right. Turn left when you meet a track, cross a brook then go into the next field on the right. The path is easily followed now until the final field where you must cross a brook at a bridge and then proceed to a difficult gate. Turn left beside Martley Road, pass Kenswick Mill then take an unsigned track on the left. Waymarking is mostly absent but the track is well-defined. At one point you’ll see a notice on a gatepost which underlines why some of us often feel unwelcome in the Worcestershire countryside: “Alarm mines keep out” is the slightly odd message, emphasised with a skull and crossbones.

3 Skirt to the right of the first buildings at Woodhall Farm then turn left. Pass the farmhouse, continue across a field then turn right. Pass a moat then go through a gate on the left and diagonally across a large field to the far right corner. Go through a gate to Cob House Fishery, walk past a pool then cross a footbridge on the right and go straight on to Martley Road (or left for the café). Turn right beside the road then cross to a path on the left. Go diagonally to the far right corner of a field. A series of waymarks guides you past Kedges Farm and across two fields to a junction. Go left and keep to the left edge of a large field until you come to an access track to Venn Lane.

4 Turn left, then right at Poplar Road. Take the first path on the right, go along the left field edge, cross a stile in the corner and turn right to a path junction at the other side of the field. Go through a gate and follow a trodden path straight across a large field. Keep straight on at the next junction, ignoring a path branching left. Cross a footbridge then walk across a large arable field and continue along the edge of the next field until about 200m from Wichenford church. Turn right to a gate and cross the next field to Venn Lane. Turn left then walk across a grassy triangle and turn left on a footpath. After crossing a brook turn right beside the brook. Turn right at the next junction, then left at another, along a tarmac track.

5 Turn right on a bridleway, follow it to Greenstreet Farm, pass through the yard and walk along Green Street. Take a path on the left after 400m. It’s easily followed for the next 800m, almost to Shoulton.

As you approach a farm, a waymark directs you to the right, just before a duck pond. Cross a stile and walk across two fields to a pair of seriously overgrown stiles. Go straight across two more fields then go diagonally right to Spindle Wood.

Choose any route through the wood to rejoin Green Street – it’s worth doing a complete circuit of the wood, but if you want the most direct route just turn left.

6 Once back in Green Street, turn left. Keep straight on at a junction then take a path on the right just after Beechmount House.

Follow it down through two fields, cross Laughern Brook, pass to the right of a knoll then cross two more fields to Peachley Lane. Turn right then take a path on the left which is easily followed to Hallow Lane. Go into the field opposite and go diagonally across to the far right corner. Turn right in the next field, then walk along the left edge of the next, ignoring another path branching left at a gate. Pass allotments, walk almost to Martley Road, then turn right on another path. Keep straight on at a junction to reach Hallow Lane. Cross over, turn left then turn right in Jacomb Road. Walk past Jacomb Close, Jacomb Drive and Rectory Close then take a footpath when the road bends right. Rejoin Peachley Lane, turn left and soon left again on Church Lane.

Worcester News recommends the use of OS Explorer Maps, your ideal passport to navigating the countryside. This walk is based on OS Explorer 150.