THIS delightful walk in the quiet countryside north of Martley includes a short stretch of the prominent ridge of which Pudford Hill and Rodge Hill form the highest part.

The lovely Teme Valley lies below the ridge to the west and there are superb views south to the Malverns and north to the Clee Hills.

The walk also includes part of the attractive valley formed by Laughern Brook, which rises below Woodbury Hill and flows into the River Teme at Powick.

The hills are formed from Wenlock Silurian limestone, which means lime-rich soil and good conditions for wild flowers, though tree-planting in recent years has shaded out much of the flora on Pudford Hill, as well as obstructing the views.

Penny Hill, to the east of Pudford Hill, retains a rich flora in places.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has a nature reserve here, in which 180 flower species have been recorded.

n 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

n Start: Hillside, a hamlet just to the north of Martley on the Stourport road (B4197); grid ref SO753608.

n Length: 41/2 miles/7.2km.

n Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

n Terrain: Pasture, arable and woodland; mildly hilly in places.

n Footpaths: Some are excellent, but others are seriously overgrown with nettles - don't even think about wearing shorts for this one.

n Stiles: 28, many of them overgrown.

n Parking: There is a layby at the south end of Hillside.

n Buses: The driver of DRM's excellent new Worcester-Tenbury Sunday service 759 will drop you at the layby, Sundays only. On weekdays make the short walk from Martley, served by buses 308/309/310/311/313/314. Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

n Refreshments: There is a well-stocked shop in Martley (the Crown Inn is closed until October).

n Take a footpath leading from the layby into woodland. Ignore a path branching right and proceed to a field. Follow the right-hand edge, cross a stile in the corner then follow waymarkers round the edge of the next field to a stile in the left corner.

Turn left along Pudford Lane, then first right on another lane by the entrance to Cherrydene. The lane ends at a landfill site on Penny Hill. Branch left here on a stony path, ignore a stile on the left and continue a few paces further to find a narrow path through the trees on the right.

Stay on this path until a stile gives access to a field. Turn right along the field edge, ignore a branching path on the right and continue forward to meet a track. Turn left, and after 100m cross a stile into a field and go to the top left corner. Cross a stile, duck under barbed wire (or climb an overgrown stile) and bear right uphill through woodland to a stile at the top of Pudford Hill.

Turn right to a junction, then left, then right on the Worcestershire Way, following it north along the top of Rodge Hill. At the next junction turn right on a bridleway. As you draw level with a barn at Rodge Hill Farm, go through a gate on the right and walk straight across fields on another bridleway.

Turn left after passing through a gate with two faded waymarkers, following a fence to the bottom corner of a field. Cross a stile into the next field and go straight on by the left-hand edge, through a gate in the corner and then turn right. Go to the far side of a field then descend to the road.

Join a bridleway almost opposite, soon reaching a junction where a fingerpost indicates a path branching right. Frequent waymarkers guide you across fields to meet a lane at a junction.

Go straight across, towards Ockeridge and Wichenford. Almost immediately, there are two paths on the right: take the second one. Turn left across a field, through a fence gap then diagonally down to the next field corner. Cross a stile, almost hidden by nettles, just beyond a hen-house.

Walk along the left edge of a field until another nettle-infested stile gives access to nettle-infested woodland. Proceed into the wood and bear right at a junction with a narrow path coming from the left. The path soon becomes clearer, passing piles of logs and a massive pollarded ash. The nettles are left behind and you cross Laughern Brook at a footbridge.

Enter a field and walk to a hedge corner just ahead, overhung by an oak tree. Turn right across the field, passing a group of eight oaks. Continue to a hedge corner, at the bottom of a garden, then turn right by the hedge.

Cross two stiles, then turn left and cross two more stiles to a meadow. Go diagonally across then through a paddock to join a track. Turn right, then take the next path on the right, at a stile after Highcroft. The path descends to cross Laughern Brook then rises out of the valley to meet a track. Turn right and walk to Alden's Farm.

Turn left past the house and garden then continue across sheep pasture - don't follow the tyre tracks to a gate but keep to the left of this to find a stile in the hedge. In the next field go straight on towards Pudford Hill, passing to the left of a small cluster of houses then bearing left into the next corner to find a stile to Horn Lane.

Turn left to the B4197. If you're catching the 759, wait for it here rather than opposite the layby. If you came by car, turn left to the layby. Alternatively, cross to Pudford Lane and after 200m turn left on the path you used at the start of the walk and retrace your steps to the layby.