A YEAR'S worth of walks around the beautiful landscapes of the Three Counties is the subject of a Malvern author's new book.

A Year of Walks in the Three Choirs Counties is the latest publication from Malvern author Roy Woodcock, who has published ten other walking guides over the past decade.

Mr Woodcock was a teacher for 40 years and his other works have included Walks In Severn Country and Walks Around The Malverns.

He has also ventured further afield to areas such as the Chilterns and the Lake District. He also contributes to the magazine Country Walking.

His latest volume contains 12 walks, one for each month of the year, covering areas as diverse as the Wye Valley, the Lickey Hills and the Cotswold Water Park.

Each of the walks, which range from 13 to 20 kilometres in length, is broken down into two or three subsections for less ambitious ramblers.

"The 12 locations are widely distributed among the Three Counties, looking for outstanding natural history and countryside, as well as architectural interest too," says Mr Woodcock in his introduction.

"Some famous and well-known locations are visited, but also a selection of lesser-known areas."

One walk on the Malvern Hills starts at the Wyche and takes in Holy Well before descending to the Three Counties Showground.

Another, allocated to March when the daffodils start coming out, covers the Dymock and Kempley areas.

The rolling Herefordshire countryside provides the setting for a ramble which takes in Bishop's Frome, Castle Frome and Evesbatch.

A Year of Walks in the Three Choirs Counties is published by Meridian Books, priced at £6.95 and should be available from local bookshops.