Cross the road from the layby and walk through Woodbury Park to the A4133. Cross over to walk along Cherry Orchard then left on Severn Heights. Go through a gate to join a field-edge, cliff-top footpath with splendid views across the Severn Valley.

The path eventually descends through woodland to reach a house. Bear right here to walk along the edge of the garden until a gate gives access to the B4196. Turn right for about 200m.

After crossing Shrawley Brook cross the road to find two footpaths. Take the second one, turning right across a slope to a stile which gives access to the next field. Go diagonally left to meet the left-hand hedge then follow it to the next corner where you'll find a waymarked post.

Keep on in much the same direction, descending into a small valley. Another waymarker directs you slightly left to a footbridge, beyond which you climb up the bank to find a waymarked post indicating a choice of footpaths.

Take the right-hand one, walking to the far right corner of the field. Climb over a sort of stile and go forward along the edge of the ensuing field then through a wobbly gate to a lane.

Cross to Shrawley Church.

Walk through the churchyard then left by the church tower.

Leave the churchyard at a stone Gateway and turn right into a paddock.

Turn left to a stile then head across the highest part of the next field, walking towards Abberley Hill.

After crossing another stile head downhill to the right and through a gate into a fenced paddock adjacent to a couple of timber-framed houses.

Cross the paddock to join a lane.

Turn left past Woodpecker Cottage then immediately left again on a lane "unsuitable for motor vehicles".

When you reach a road turn left then first right on a bridleway. Keep straight on, ignoring branching paths.

The bridleway eventually swings right to run through Holt Mill Coppice above the valley of Shrawley Brook.

At Holt Mill turn left, crossing the brook and following the bridleway to the main road.

Turn left for about 150m then cross to a footpath.

Walk straight across three fields to a road.

Turn right, then soon left on the access track to Rowe Farm.

Pass to the left of the farmhouse then turn left as indicated by a waymarker.

Enter a field and turn right. When you come to a path junction by a footbridge go diagonally left towards a stile giving access to a lane. But don't cross the stile: turn round and make your way back across the field on another path.

You should bear to the right and aim to keep about 50m from Grimley Brook, which forms the right-hand field boundary.

After passing a pond bear right to a footbridge then just keep straight on along field edges, quite soon passing Bentley Farm, with its recently planted woods and orchards. When the fence on your right turns a sharp corner don't follow it but keep straight on across the field to the A443. Turn right into Holt Heath.

To the west of the Severn around Shrawley and Holt Heath the land rises from the river valley to form a gently undulating landscape of rounded green hills dissected by numerous tributaries, the most important of which are Dick Brook, Shrawley Brook and Grimley Brook.

Shrawley Brook, in particular, is a major feature of the landscape, and its wooded valley is rich in wildlife.

This walk provides only a glimpse of it but you can easily explore further if you wish - when you reach the idyllically situated Holt Mill just follow the waymarked route upstream.

The path follows the brook as far as Little Witley, which is about a mile away. Return the same way to Holt Mill.

Grimley Brook also features in the walk, where it runs through meadows between Rowe Farm and Bentley Farm.

This is one of the few places in the county where you still have a reasonable chance of spotting a brown hare, a once common animal which is now in sharp decline.

A few still live in this area, and south through Monkwood, Moseley and Shoulton.

You might also see deer if you're very lucky. They are undoubtedly elusive but last week's snowfall revealed their presence in the area, with lots of tracks in the woodland on the cliffs above the Severn at Holt Heath.

Shrawley is a beautiful parish but a very scattered one. You get a good overall view of it, with Shrawley Wood forming the backdrop, from the path which runs north-west from the churchyard. St Mary's Church itself has a commanding position, and is an attractive red sandstone building which still shows evidence of its Norman origins.

It was begun around 1120 but has been much altered and extended since. The tower, for instance, was probably built in the 17th Century.

DISCLAIMER

This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.