THIS is a delightful walk with plenty of variety, though water is a dominant theme.

The River Severn is obvious enough to anyone crossing the bridge at Holt Fleet, but only those exploring on foot will discover the lovely pool, fringed by reedbeds and woodland, hidden away in Ombersley Park.

In the nearby riverside meadows there are patches of marshland, and then there are two more pools near the Wharf Inn, and another at Mutton Hall Park.

All this water is good for birds and you should see a wide range of species, including mute swan, mallard, grey heron, Canada goose, cormorant, kingfisher and, just possibly, snipe.

Woodland is another important feature of the walk.

Only tiny patches remain, but they are particularly attractive. Between the Ombersley Park pool and the River Severn there survives a small wood of unusually large hazel trees, along with a variety of other species, including wild cherry.

The ground cover includes masses of hart's tongue fern, which remains green long after the trees have shed their leaves.

North of Mutton Hall Park, the riverside footpath runs below cliffs covered in trees and ferns. As the slopes are too steep for cultivation, it's likely that this is a remnant of ancient woodland.

The presence of some magnificent small-leaved limes seems to confirm this, because this species is regarded as an indicator of ancient woodland.

It was common before the Ice Ages, but is nationally scarce today, though locally common in parts of Worcestershire.

The walk also offers an architectural feast.

Ombersley is well known for its wonderful collection of buildings, many of them timber-framed. But few people are familiar with Uphampton, which also has some charming houses.

Before you reach Uphampton you will pass Clacks Farm, which used to feature in BBC 2's long-running series Gardener's World back in the 1980s.

Adjacent to it is Chestnut Farm, where recent reconstruction work has been sensitively done in the traditional way, with wooden pegs securing the joints in the timber frame.

Walk south along the main street until you can join the Wychavon Way on the right. It leaves the road just after Sinton Cottage and just before a bus stop (the 303 from Worcester stops here, but not the 300).

Walk across Ombersley Park towards woodland then continue along the edge of the wood on a well-trodden path.

Don't worry when you see a waymark indicating a route through impenetrable nettles - just keep as close to the woodland edge as the overgrowth allows.

You'll soon see reedbeds on your left, and then a pool. As you approach a sandstone cliff, turn left to stay by the pool.

Turn left again when the path meets a track, then turn right. Stay on the track, ignoring branching paths.

Pass through a wood and then proceed across meadows to the River Severn. Turn right towards Holt Fleet. Pass the Wharf Inn and continue under the bridge, leaving the Wychavon Way for the Severn Way.

Ignore a branching path at Mutton Hall Park and stay on the Severn Way until the cliffs move away to the right and you see another path at a white-painted gate. Join this path, taking care not to trip over fallen trees and the remains of a stile.

Walk through a field, keeping close to the base of the cliffs.

Pass through a gateway at the far side and turn right on a track for a few paces, looking for a gate on the left. Join another path here, but beware a ditch, only partly covered by a plank footbridge, just before the gate.

Continue by the base of the cliffs then skirt a garden to meet a track. Follow it up to a road and turn right past the shared driveway to Chestnut Farm and Clacks Farm. Turn right again at a road junction by Hollies.

Take a footpath on the left at Carpenters Farm, walking past houses and through a gate into a field. Follow the left-hand edge and then continue along the edge of a second field until you come to a fence corner.

Bear right here, climbing slightly to a stile in the top right corner of the field.

Proceed a few paces along the edge of another field and then go through a hedge gap and turn left on a track.

When you come to a hedge corner keep straight on - look closely and you'll see a lightly-trodden path. Just keep straight on now until you come to another hedge corner then continue between two beech hedges. When these come to an end, walk past a tennis court, join a driveway and walk to a lane.

Turn right, keep straight on at a junction (signed Holt Fleet and Boreley) then left at another (signed Ombersley). Walk through a sandstone cutting then turn right. Keep straight on at a junction by The Hollies.

The lane becomes a bridleway leading to Ombersley. Alternatively, you can fork left after 200m on a footpath. Further well-trodden paths branch off this - all the various options for these last few hundred metres are shown on the map.

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: Ombersley, grid ref SO845635.

Length: Seven miles/11.2km

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Mostly flat. Pasture, woodland and quiet lanes.

Footpaths: They could do with some maintenance, but there are no difficulties. Potential hazards, such as half-concealed ditches, are mentioned in the route description.

Stiles: 13.

Parking: Ombersley.

Buses: Worcester-Kidderminster services; 303 on weekdays, 300 on Sundays.

If unfamiliar with the route, check with the driver as to where to catch your return bus, because it's not necessarily where you would expect. Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Refreshments: Ombersley and Holt Fleet.