THIS walk through meadows on the edge of town begins beside the River Teme, probably the loveliest of Worcestershire's rivers.

The meadows beside the Teme here are known as Powick Hams and have been grazed for centuries. Sheep and ponies roam the Hams but elsewhere, around Powick, keep your eyes open for Highland cattle, magnificent shaggy beasts not often seen so far south. At the moment they have several tiny calves.

Old Powick Bridge is famous for having been involved in both the first skirmish and the final battle of the Civil War.

On September 23, 1642, a Parliamentarian force reached Powick in pursuit of a baggage train taking supplies to Charles I at Shrewsbury.

The Parliamentarians were surprised on the bridge by Royalist cavalry led by Prince Rupert, the king's nephew.

Trapped on the bridge and in what is now called Old Road, many were trampled or drowned.

The survivors retreated to join the main Parliamentarian army at Pershore, and Rupert failed to follow up the advantage. Instead, he joined Charles at Shrewsbury, allowing the Parliamentarians to occupy Worcester.

They stayed long enough to desecrate the Cathedral before heading east to meet the south-bound Royalists at the indecisive Battle of Edgehill.

Charles I was executed in 1649, but in August 1651 Charles II marched south from Scotland with 16,000 men, hoping to recruit locally before proceeding to London.

Worcester welcomed him (probably reluctantly), but Cromwell was already at Evesham.

On 3 September, the Battle of Worcester finally put an end to the Civil War and Powick Bridge was again the scene of slaughter.

Once the bridge was taken the Parliamentarians were able to advance on the city, which fell to Cromwell after fierce fighting.

In 2001, a memorial to the thousands of Scottish soldiers who died at Worcester was unveiled next to Powick Bridge.

DIRECTIONS

Cross Old Powick Bridge and head towards Powick on the old road. At the end of the road take a footpath on the right and follow the River Teme until a waymarker directs you to a tunnel under the bypass.

Enter Powick Hams and head towards a prominent white house at the foot of Ham Hill.

There are two stiles in the hedge at the base of the hill - cross the second one, hidden in a hedge corner close to the house.

Walk past the house to join a track, Ham Lane. This soon brings you to a three-ways junction by a small building: take the middle option, a tree-lined track (still Ham Lane). It climbs slightly through woodland then levels out and passes a farm at Dawshill before meeting a lane.

Turn right, soon passing Collett's Green Farm and arriving at a road junction. Join a footpath opposite, by the right-hand edge of a field. Go through a gate in the corner then turn left past a house into another field. Just keep straight on now, ignoring all branching paths.

Before long you will find yourself walking along the edge of a huge prairie-like field.

When you reach the far side of it you'll see two posts covered in yellow arrows - go to the one on the left and turn your back on it, looking back across the field. Don't look towards the path, but the other way, towards a wood.

You should be able to see a waymarker, about halfway along the wood's boundary - head for this point.

Walk through the wood then continue along its edge to the corner. The right of way now proceeds straight on across ploughed ground for about 100m before turning right to a footbridge in the hedge.

However, the farmer invariably leaves a wide headland by the woodland edge and most walkers go this way, turning left in the corner. If this is what you do, bear in mind you should cross the second bridge you come to, not the first one.

Once over the bridge, turn right, go through a makeshift gate and turn left past a farm to join its access track. Follow it to the A449, near the Halfway House Inn. Cross to a footpath which is also the access to Ridgeway Farm.

After 300m a sign sends you left by a field edge. Go left again at a junction, across a narrow field towards Carey's Brook, then turn right. In the next field keep close to the right-hand edge for 200m then go through a gate. Keep left along the next two field edges. Cross a stile in the corner of the second field.

Walk up a narrow field and through a gate top left. A field-edge track then leads to a junction near a pond where you turn left to reach Broadfields Farm. Follow the farm road to the A449 and cross to Old Malvern Road.

Take the first footpath on the right, walking across a field to the far side then following a fenced path before crossing the top of a garden to enter another field. Turn left and walk to a lane at King's End. Turn right and proceed to a junction. Join a footpath opposite, crossing a field to another junction. Turn left here, then descend Ham Hill to return to Powick Hams. Retrace your steps to Old Powick Bridge and Old Road.

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 author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.

FACTFILE

Start: Old Powick Bridge, on Old Road between Lower Wick and Powick; grid ref SO835524.

Length: 6 miles/9.6km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Undemanding; mainly pasture, but some ploughed fields too.

Paths: Good, except for some patchy waymarking and wobbly stiles.

Stiles: 20.

Parking: Some space is available on Old Road.

Buses: Great Malvern service 44/144, daily; Lower Wick service 24, Mon-Sat (get off at Lower Wick Island); Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Refreshments: Bastonford, Powick and Collett's Green.