Combegreen Common (From Worcester News)

Combegreen Common

2:58pm Monday 21st March 2011 in Walks

THERE are magnificent trees to admire on this walk, including veteran oaks, beeches, poplars and cherries.

You can also enjoy Duke of York Meadow Nature Reserve, but only by looking over the gate (unless you obtain an entry permit from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust).

More than 120 plant species have been recorded in this haymeadow but it is most famous for its wild daffodils, although there are very few there this year.

However, you’ll see some along a green lane leading to the Duke of York and there are a few in the churchyard at Berrow.

FACT FILE

Start: Coombegreen Common at Birts Street, on B4208 south of Welland; grid ref SO780366.

Length: 10 miles/16km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Pasture, arable, orchard, woodland and commons; mostly flat.

Footpaths: There is only one obstacle, a barrier constructed from two pallets and a gate (point 5), but there are long stretches without any waymarking.

Stiles: 27, and one barrier.

Parking: Coombegreen Common, opposite Birts Street/Birtsmorton turn.

Public transport: Bus 44/362/363 or train to Malvern Link then Diamond 377 Malvern Link to Cheltenham via Coombegreen Common, Saturdays only; worcestershire.gov.uk/ bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Farmers Arms at Birts Street, Duke of York at Rye Street.

NOTE: Some of this walk is on access land, where dogs must be on a lead from March 1 to July 31.

DIRECTIONS

1 Walk south across the common and climb a tiny hill. Turn right at the top and walk towards the Malvern Hills. Choose any route but it makes sense to keep to the higher ground. When the common comes to an end, cross the A438 to a footpath and walk through pasture to a lane. Take a footpath opposite, through parkland and woodland.

2 You’ll see a cherry orchard on your left. As you approach the far end of it take a path crossing the orchard to a lane. Turn right then take a path on the left. Go diagonally across a large field, aiming roughly for an oak tree in the far hedge. Go through a gap to the right of the tree and turn left along the edge of another field.

After 100m start to move away from the edge, going diagonally towards a stile under a wide-spreading oak tree. Turn left in the next field and walk to an easily missed stile in the far hedge, to the right of a gate.

Continue across another field to a group of pollarded black poplars, join the B4208 and turn left.

3 Take an unsigned footpath on the right just after the far end of a long narrow pool. Follow the lefthand hedge through a meadow, cross two stiles in the corner and turn left, following the path to the Duke of York by the A438. Turn right past Duke of York Meadow then cross the next stile on the right. Follow a track across fields, keeping straight on at a junction.

Pass to the left of Whiting-ash Farm and turn left along a lane. After a short distance go through a gap into a field on the right. Follow a track to the left until you reach an ivycovered building. Turn right across the field, cross a decrepit footbridge at a hedge corner and go straight on to Church Lane. Turn left, following the lane through Berrow and ignoring all turnings.

4 Cross the A438 to a pair of footpaths opposite and take the right-hand one. Go diagonally right, past the end of a row of trees, then through a gap in another row of trees and in the same direction across the next field to the far right corner. Cross a broken stile (beware barbed wire) and walk along the left edge of the next field until you can turn left over a bridge. Bear right across a huge field for about 200m then turn right towards Birtsmorton Court. With no waymarking, it’s unclear what route the right of way takes through this cluster of buildings but there is a good track to the left of a conifer hedge. Beyond the track proceed through a field and a car park to a lane.

5 Turn right then take a path on the left after a few paces. Go straight across a field then diagonally left in the next field towards a wood. Cross a lane and take a path opposite, along a field edge by the wood. Move away from the edge when you come to a corner, bearing very slightly left to a gate at the far side. Go diagonally right in the next field for about 50m then turn right to a stile at the other side.

Follow waymarks to the far right corner of a large pasture, passing quite close to farm buildings. Go through a gap in the corner and then to the far left corner of the next field. Climb over a barrier (there is a stile but it is completely blocked) and turn left along a field edge.

6 Go through a gate in the corner and turn right along a green lane which is part of a long, roughly crescent-shaped area of access land which you follow for over a mile. It is mostly just a wide track but it widens out in places to form meadows. If you keep always to the left you can’t go wrong. Ignore all branching footpaths, keeping to the track at all times. Eventually, you’ll come to a T-junction with a waymarked post. Turn left on a bridleway and follow it to a lane near Castlemorton. Turn left, then take a path on the right after 100m.

Follow the waymarked path diagonally across fields then through a wood and across more fields to meet a lane near the Farmers Arms. Turn right to Coombegreen Common.

Worcester News recommends the use of OS Explorer Maps, your ideal passport to navigating the countryside. This walk is based on OS Explorer 190.