THIS is a gorgeous walk in an area which is at its glorious best in the spring when there is a succession of blossom from March to May.

It's too late now for blackthorn, plum, pear and cherry, but there's still time to catch the apple blossom and the hawthorn. Choose a clear day, if possible, because there are beautiful views to enjoy too.

The riverside path from Whitbourne to Tedney leads through meadows bordered by woodland dominated by tall trees such as ash and wild cherry, but with a plentiful ground flora too, including masses of lady's smock. When the path finally enters the woods it cuts a swathe through a dense and pungent carpet of ramsons, or wild garlic. Go now, to see it in flower.

There are lots of birds to watch for too. Buzzards soar overhead, yellowhammers forage along the hedgerows, herons stalk the banks of the Teme and a variety of finches, warblers and other small birds may, with a bit of luck and patience, be observed in woodland and along field margins.

In these days of orchards being grubbed up and pasture being turned to arable, it's encouraging to see that new orchards have recently been planted at Tedney. Even better, they are being grazed by Hereford cattle, surely one of the most attractive of all bovine breeds.

DIRECTIONS

Walk towards Whitbourne (past the bus shelter and phone box). After 200m you can join a path on the left which descends through fields to the village. Turn right along the street, then left by Whitbourne Court and St John's Church.

The road becomes a track which leads eventually to meadows bordering the Teme. Walk through the meadows until you can join a riverside path at a stile. The path soon plunges into woodland and eventually climbs steeply uphill to a field.

Go straight across to a lane and turn right. Before too long you'll pass a farm and about 100m further on you'll see two footpaths close together on the left. Take the first path, into a newly planted orchard.

Walk uphill, go through a gate at the top of the orchard and continue along a woodland track. This leads to a gate - but don't go through it. Turn right by a fence and then through (or over) another gate into a field.

Follow the field edge towards Ayngstree Farmhouse then go along the edge of the garden. Ignore a branching path and join the driveway. After 500m you'll cross a cattle grid to enter park-like pastureland with scattered trees.

After another 200m you will have reached the top of the hill and will be approaching the first of the trees. Turn to face west and go diagonally left to the bottom left corner of the pasture, hidden in a valley.

Cross a brook at a footbridge and turn left to cross a stile. Avoid falling into the ditch on the other side of it and climb up a bank into a field. Go diagonally left to the corner and cross an awkward stile into a ploughed field. Go diagonally left to meet a lane by Oxhall Farm.

There should be two footpaths directly opposite, but there is only an impenetrable hedge. So turn left along the lane until you can join a bridleway next to Stone House.

Descend through fields to a lane and turn left. Turn right at the next road junction, and soon right again, towards Woodhall Farm. The road leads past the farm and turns right, becoming a bridleway.

After passing Primrose Cottage the bridleway starts to descend and after a further 150m you should branch left into a field (blue arrow). Go down to the bottom, through the right-hand gate and then just keep descending to the valley floor where a gate opens into meadows beside Sapey Brook.

Turn left (don't cross the footbridge) and walk downstream. Cross the brook at the next bridge (by a ford) but continue in the same direction. After 500m, cross the brook again and start to bear left towards the far end of the field.

Go through a gap in a fence and then to the far left corner of the next field (the right of way actually goes to the top right corner, but is obstructed). Go through a gate and turn right along the edge of an orchard. Pass through a gate in the top right corner then turn left on a green lane which eventually ends in a field.

Proceed to a fence and turn right. Follow it to a gate then walk through an orchard, with Rosemore Farm on your right, until gates give access to the farmyard. Walk left to a lane and then turn right. Turn left at the edge of Meadow Green to return to your starting point.

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

FACTFILE

Start: Meadow Green, Whitbourne; grid ref SO720567.

Length: 6 miles/10km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 149.

Terrain: Pasture, orchard and woodland, with some arable; mud and nettles in places; undulating, with two steep but very brief climbs.

Footpaths: No major problems, but only because obstructed footpaths are avoided by road-walking. In the Worcestershire section of the walk there are two dodgy stiles which may prove difficult for some walkers, and a gate has to be climbed too (unless you can untie it). Waymarking is non-existent just where it is most needed. Across the border in Herefordshire, waymarking is missing around Poswick.

Stiles: 10 (five of these are on the first footpath of the walk and may be avoided by using the lane).

Parking: By village hall at Meadow Green.

Buses: 419/420 Worcester-Hereford services, daily; 01432 260211

Refreshments: Pub and shop at Meadow Green.