directions

WALK along the track opposite the Plough Inn. After about 400m join a footpath on the left which skirts fields to arrive at a road junction. Go forward along Sugars Lane until you can turn left on another footpath. At Church Lane turn right, heading back towards the A4117 until you can join a footpath on the right. Walk along the edge of a wood to the far side then turn left.

When the path leaves the wood it turns right across two fields to a lane. Turn left, then right on to a bridleway. Ignore another bridleway branching left and keep forward past Wyre Farm. When the bridleway eventually meets a lane turn left, then immediately right on a footpath to another lane.

Betts Reserve is opposite and worth a visit. A public footpath descending to Lem Brook can be combined with a permissive path to make a short but lovely circular walk in the reserve. The public footpath should also provide access to our next objective, Furnace Mill, but it appears to be blocked near the mill so there is currently no choice but to return to the lane instead.

Having done so, turn left, soon crossing Lem Brook then passing Furnace Mill. There is a footpath through the mill garden but probably a better option is to keep going along the lane until you can turn left at a sign for Furnace Mill Stud and Fishery. At Furnace Mill Farm go through a gate on the right then turn left.

The path soon enters Bell Coppice, where you go forward to the left of a large excavation, after which the route becomes clear. Soon after crossing a dismantled railway you'll come to a signposted junction where the path forks left. Keep straight on at subsequent junctions, eventually joining a track to the A4117.

Turn left for a few paces then cross to a footpath. Go straight ahead, uphill by field edges. Cross two stiles at the top and go to the far left corner of the next field, then straight across another to enter woodland. The path descends into a valley where you join a lane opposite a house called Tanners Bow. Turn right, then soon left. When the lane bends left go straight on along a footpath signposted to Church Hill.

Ignore branching paths and continue to Teddon Farm where you turn right past barns into a field. Follow the right-hand hedge to the corner then turn left, crossing a brook and going through a gate into another field. Turn right and walk the length of the field then continue through another until a stile on the left gives access to Carton Farm. Follow the farm access track to a road and join a bridleway opposite which contours round Church Hill.

When you reach Clows Top Road turn left, then left again at the next road junction. Go straight on at Bayton Common crossroads. When the lane comes to an end keep straight on along a bridleway which leads to the A456.

Turn left, and soon after passing a water tower join a footpath on the left. Follow the left-hand field edge to a stile. In the ensuing field again keep to the edge until a stile gives access to the neighbouring field. Head for the far right corner then turn right on a lane. Descend to a sharp bend and join a footpath on the left.

Go forward to a track and turn left, then fork left into woodland as you approach a house. Emerging from the trees keep roughly straight on and you'll soon see a well-trodden path leading to a stile. Go forward to meet the A4117 at Forest Stores and the Plough Inn.

FACTFILE

Start: Plough Inn, on A4117 at Far Forest; GR730744.

Length: 7 miles/11.2km.

Maps: OS Landranger 138, OS Explorer 218.

Terrain: undulating throughout; mainly woodland and pasture, with boggy patches.

Stiles: 17, and 3 fences.

Parking: ask at the Plough or Forest Stores, or find roadside parking nearby.

Buses: Midland Red (Pete's Travel on Sundays) 192/292 on Kidderminster-Hereford route, stopping at the Plough; daily connections from Worcester via Kidderminster or Hereford; on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons Whittle's 296 operates direct from Worcester to the Plough but you will need to return via Kidderminster; County Bus Line 0845 7125436.

Refreshments: pub and shop at start; pub on A4117 near end of Bell Coppice bridleway.

WYRE Forest stretches from Bewdley almost to Cleobury Mortimer but not all of this area is covered in trees.

What began as squatters' settlements have eaten into the forest in many places, especially at Far Forest, Lem Hill and Buckridge, where a large chunk of the landscape is now pastoral, though surrounded by forest on three sides.

This is the area explored in this beautiful walk, which does include areas of forest too: notably, the extensive oakwoods of Bell Coppice, as well as some of the tiny woods which survive as leafy islands among the meadows and orchards.

One of these woods is the Betts Reserve, which belongs to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. A good range of bird species inhabits the reserve, including the dipper, an increasingly rare bird in lowland England, which may be seen along Lem Brook.

The relatively high ground (up to 220m) around Bayton Common is the best place in the county for views over the whole of Wyre Forest and it's surprising to see just how big the forest still is.

Even more impressive are the views of the Clee Hills from Church Hill, while from Clows Top Road you can look south to the Malverns across the hills and woods of west Worcestershire.

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.