GLANCE at OS Explorer map 203 and you will see, at a tiny place called Leysters, not far from Tenbury Wells, the intriguing words "Poet's Stone".

So who is the poet who is remembered at this remote spot?

Surprisingly, perhaps, it is William Wordsworth, a man more usually associated with his native Cumbria, where he lived for most of his life.

But Wordsworth was no stay-at-home; he was an enthusiastic traveller, who walked and rode many thousands of miles throughout Britain and mainland Europe.

One place Wordsworth loved was Herefordshire, where his brother-in-law Tom Hutchinson lived for a time.

William and his wife Mary often visited Tom and explored much of the county.

In 1845 they were at Leysters and rested for a while on a roadside stone.

The vicar of Leysters was so chuffed by these celebrated visitors that he had the initials WW and MW carved on the stone, where they are still clearly visible.

The stone is in a lovely setting above Sunny Bank Dingle.

In fact, the whole area is delightful, including nearby Middleton-on-the-Hill, a curious name for a village in a valley. It has only a handful of buildings, including a 12th Century church, two Georgian houses and a timber-framed cottage.

Other points of interest include a mediaeval motte next to the church at Leysters, the ancient Pulpit Oak near Pulpits Farm and exotic peafowl at Ghorst Farm.

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

Start: Teme Street, Tenbury, grid ref SO595684.

Length: 13 miles/21km.

Maps: OS Explorer 203, OS Landranger 138.

Terrain: Undemanding mixed farmland.

Footpaths: Almost all the Worcestershire paths are unusually well-maintained, ranking among the best in the county. In Herefordshire, obstructions at Easton necessitate extra road-walking.

Stiles: 39.

Parking: Palmer's Meadow.

Buses: Yarrantons/DRM 758 weekdays, DRM 759 Sundays/bank holidays; Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Refreshments: Tenbury.

n Take a footpath by the Regal Cinema, turn left past St Mary's Church then join a path by Chantry Close. Walk past a cemetery and orchards then through a residential development to find a footpath sign by a bridge. Walk through an orchard, then turn left to a road. Turn right, then immediately right again.

Walk past gardens, through fields and orchards, then down a slope. Cross a footbridge and follow the path to a lane at Bednal Bridge.

Turn right, walk to Cadmore Lodge and turn right again. After 100m, join a path on the left. Go to the bottom right corner of a field, then continue through trees, scrub and bracken.

Cross a footbridge, turn right past Berrington Mill then left on a bridleway at Lancroft Labradors.

The bridleway passes uncomfortably close to a house before meeting a lane. To avoid this, cross the fence/hedge on your right at a gate (no waymark), joining a footpath running parallel with the bridleway on the other side of the fence.

At the lane, cross to a path opposite, along the left-hand edge of a poplar plantation. Climb a stile, then keep left by a field edge to a footbridge. The path is then easily followed across fields to Field Lane.

Turn left and join the second path on the right, opposite the second entrance to Pulpits Farm. Follow the right-hand hedge to a gap then continue by the left-hand hedge in the next field.

When the hedge ends, continue forward to the Pulpit Oak, then along the right-hand edge of the next field, through a gap and diagonally left. Descend a steep bank then turn right through woodland to a stile.

Descend another steep little bank, cross a footbridge and turn right along Upton Mill's driveway.

Turn left at a lane, go straight on at a junction and then turn right at the next, on a "no through road" to Middleton Wood.

When you come to an unsigned junction go straight on along a track then take the first footpath on the left. When the path ends, walk between converted farm buildings (Nurton Court).

After the last property, join a path on the right, going diagonally left down a field to the boundary. Turn right, cross a stile/footbridge in the corner and go to the far left corner of another field to a lane at Middleton.

Turn left, then right at a T-junction and left at the next junction. Pass through Easton, turn right at a junction, then straight on at another three road junctions.

Approaching Leysters Lodge Farm, you'll see a path signed on the right: there's one on the left too, without a sign - look for Herefordshire Council's yellow sticky tape round a telegraph pole to confirm you're in the right place, then walk through two fields to St Andrew's Church.

Go through the churchyard then diagonally left to join an unfenced, gated road. The Poet's Stone is a little further on.

Stay on the road until you have passed Wilden Cottages and crossed Cadmore Brook. Join a footpath on the left and follow the brook to a road.

Cross to a bridleway and follow it to a junction. Turn right and walk to a lane at St Michael's.

Turn left for 300m then join a footpath on the right and follow it to Oldwood Common.

Keep straight on by the left edge of the common. Soon after joining a track coming from Spring Cottage, turn left at a junction and proceed into the grounds of Manor Farm. Fork right, cross a stile and go straight on over fields to meet a bridleway.

Turn left for a few paces then join a path on the right. Follow the right-hand hedge, cross a brook and go through a hedge gap. Walk the length of two fields then go diagonally left across a third.

Turn left, then right, following the road into Tenbury.