There is some truly delightful countryside in the area between Clifton and Whitbourne, around Sapey Brook and its numerous tributaries, which have cut steep-sided, wooded dingles through the hilly landscape.

These narrow valleys are too steep for cultivation or grazing and they provide relatively mild, sheltered conditions for ferns, mosses and ivy, so that they remain green throughout the year.

Once spring arrives they also host a succession of wild flowers, from the earliest primroses, violets and dog's mercury through to bluebells, wild garlic and red campion.

From the higher land above the valleys there are excellent views, especially from a lane which is used in this walk on the return leg to Clifton, after climbing from the valley of Sapey Brook, past Woodhall Farm.

The lane runs along a ridge-top and, like most ridge-top routes, it probably originated in prehistoric times. If you look to the west as you walk along here you can trace almost all your outward route from Clifton, past Lower Sapey, Winley Farm, Line House Farm and Tedstone Court.

Remember to look south-east too, for good views of the Malvern Hills, which also appear very impressive when viewed from the daffodil-filled churchyard at Tedstone Delamere.

This is a lovely spot and well worth the short detour from the lane at Tedstone.

St Bartholomew's Church at Lower Sapey is lovely too. It stands in a secluded, peaceful location above one of the many tributaries of Sapey Brook, at the end of a winding lane which is little more than a track.

Next to the church there stands a 17th century, timber-framed farmhouse, beautiful but in need of some repair. St Bartholomew's is a simple Norman church built of locally quarried stone and it survives largely unspoilt, having fortunately escaped the attentions of over-zealous Victorian restorers'.

The only drawback to this was that it fell into dereliction, but emergency repairs were carried out from 1980 onwards by volunteers, and in 1994 it came into the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, which has restored it with thoroughness and sensitivity. Today the church is looked after by the Friends of Old St Bartholomew's and is always open to visitors.

A booklet by Christopher Dalton, available in the church, contains interesting information about Lower Sapey, which first entered documented history in 781, when King Offa of Mercia made a grant of land there. It seems to have been a larger settlement at one time than it is today, for remains have been found near the church of a deserted mediaeval village.

Though this has mostly been ploughed out, a few earthworks have been identified as former roads and houses. It wasn't unusual for villages to decline in the Middle Ages, for reasons which included plague, poverty and even starvation.

FACTFILEStart: Clifton upon Teme, grid ref SO714615.

Length: 6 miles/10km.

Maps: OS Explorers 202, 203 and 204 (most of the route is on 204 so the other two aren't essential), OS Landranger 149.

Terrain: Pasture, woodland, orchard and arable; mildly hilly; not only is it very muddy but you will also need to ford a shallow stream at one point.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent, though waymarking is absent in places.

Stiles: Nine.

Parking: Clifton.

Buses: Bromyard Omnibus Company 310 Mon-Sat; Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables Refreshments: Clifton.

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 Take Hope Lane (just west of the green) and then take the second footpath on the left, after 400m. Go diagonally across two fields, descending to meet a brook. Follow it to a lane, ignoring a bridleway which bears right, and finally descending left through woodland to meet the lane. Turn left, ignore all branching footpaths and proceed to St Bartholomew's Church at Lower Sapey. 2 Turn left on a bridleway just beyond the church. Follow the right-hand edge of a field and go straight on at a junction with a track, passing through a gate and descending into a valley. Ford a brook and climb up the bank into a field. Walk up the right-hand edge to join a track to Winley Farm. The bridleway turns right here, but keep straight on instead, joining a footpath. Walk past the farm and through a cherry orchard to the far right corner. Go through a gate and diagonally through another orchard to enter woodland. Descend into a dingle, cross a footbridge and climb up to a junction. Turn right through woodland and then straight on past Line House Farm and along the farm access track. 3 Turn left on a lane by Tedstone Court. After 120m a path leads to St James' Church. After visiting the church return to the lane and continue in the same direction as before for a further 500m until you can take a footpath on the left. Descend through an orchard and to the left of a farmhouse (Pixhill) before entering a plantation. Descend to a junction, turn right, then descend left. 4 Turn right in the valley bottom and cross Sapey Brook at a footbridge. Go left to a gate which gives access to a track. Turn right and climb uphill, going straight on at an unsigned junction. The track leads to a field. Keep to the left-hand edge, soon joining another track. Pass a couple of farms and continue along the track, eventually meeting a lane by a small brick building. Turn left. 5 Take the first path on the right, at Oxhall. Go diagonally across two fields, cross a brook and continue in the same direction to meet a track. Turn left to Woodmanton Farm. Pass to the right of the farm then turn left through the farmyard to join a path heading north-west across fields to Clifton.