SLIGHTLY to the west of Worcester there is an area of countryside, bounded by Bromyard Road to the south and Martley Road to the north, which, in its own quiet way, has as much to offer as anywhere in the county.

It's not spectacular, but it is relatively unspoilt. Though arable farming is on the increase, there are still plenty of ancient hedges enclosing small, irregularly-shaped fields grazed by sheep and cattle.

Between Broadheath in the east and Martley in the west there are no villages, except Broadwas, but there is a host of tiny settlements with evocative names such as Cobbler's Corner and Tinkers' Cross. Here and there, smallholders still manage to make a living.

There is no high ground, except at Doddenham and Ankerdine, yet throughout the area there are striking views of the western hills, from Abberley Hill to the Malverns, and even Shropshire's Clee Hills sometimes come into view.

Like most of Worcestershire, it's not well-wooded (the county's woodland cover is well below the national average, except in the north-west corner) yet it somehow gives the impression that it is. This is partly due to the numerous small copses that survive, partly due to the hedges and partly to an abundance of oak trees.

Mature oaks are everywhere, whether standing alone in the fields or being allowed to grow to maturity in the hedgerows. This is best demonstrated in this walk on the lovely stretch from Heath Grange to Maple's Cross.

The focal point of the walk is perhaps Broadheath Common, which is crossed twice. The village of Lower Broadheath developed from a number of medieval squatters' settlements on what was considered manorial waste land. Their existence was regulated in 1816 and what remains of the manorial waste is now Broadheath Common.

Sixty years ago the common was covered in gorse, scrub and trees and there was also a duckpond. Sadly, it was ploughed up to grow crops during the Second World War, and today it is grassland, with football pitches and a handful of trees.

Close to the common stands the cottage where Sir Edward Elgar was born in 1857. He spent the first two years of his life there before the family moved to Worcester. Managed by the Elgar Trust, the cottage is now a museum open to the public. A new visitors' centre has recently opened next to it.

Directions

Use the wide verge on the other side of the road from Laylocks and walk towards Worcester. Just before Otherton Lane join a footpath on the left at a broken stile. Follow the brook on your left through four fields to Crown East Lane.

Turn left, passing Elgar's Birthplace and the Plough Inn before turning right on Laylocks Lane to join a bridleway across Broadheath Common to Sling Lane. Turn left to Bell Lane and cross to a footpath opposite. Pass a house then walk along a field edge until you intercept another path.

Turn left towards Heath Grange Farm. Walk between farm buildings to a junction then turn right on a track which soon leads into a field. Keep straight on, walking towards Woodbury Hill, with woodland on your left.

At the far end of the wood go into a field on the left and walk to the far left corner. Walk along the left-hand edges of the next two fields - don't be put off by the sudden cessation of waymarking at the second field, and the decrepit, obstructed, overgrown stile. It may not look like it, but this is the right of way.

At the far side of the second field go through a gate and turn left across two fields to Ankerdine Road. Turn left, cross over and fork right. Ignore a footpath at Maple's Cross Farm but join the next path, just after a bungalow called Newton.

Go along a passageway then straight on across two fields, walking towards the Malverns now. Cross a stile at the end of the second field and turn left. A stile and footbridge soon lead to another field and you cross to a gate to find two paths waymarked across the ensuing field.

Take the left-hand one, walking to the next corner then through a gate on the left. Turn right over a pair of stiles and walk along the right-hand edges of the next two fields. Entering a third field, go diagonally across towards a cream-painted house.

Turn left on Ankerdine Road, then first right on a footpath. Look out for a path branching right and follow this to Bell Lane. Join a footpath opposite which cuts across the corner of Broadheath Common to Crown East Lane.

Join a bridleway opposite and follow it through Upper Lightwood Farm then across a field, walking directly towards the Malverns again. After passing through a gate keep forward along a track which leads to the A44 almost opposite Laylocks.

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.

FACTFILE

Start: opposite Laylocks Garden Centre on the A44 between Crown East and Cotheridge; GR801546.

Length: 5.25 miles/8.4km.

Maps: OS Landranger 150, OS Explorer 204.

Terrain: mainly level; field paths (pasture, with some arable), lots of boggy patches.

Stiles: 23.

Parking: some roadside parking is available near Laylocks; alternatively, you could start the walk on Ankerdine Road, where parking is possible near Maple's Cross Farm (GR790564).

Buses: Worcester-Hereford buses 419/420 provide a good daily service (slightly reduced on Sundays) via Laylocks on the A44; alternatively, buses 311/312/317/424 run to Broadheath Common but are of limited use; County Bus Line 08457 125436.

Refreshments: restaurant at Laylocks, Plough Inn on Crown East Lane, Dew Drop Inn on Bell Lane.