There's not much space here for background information, as this is a relatively complex route with patchy waymarking.

Briefly then, it's a lovely walk with fine views, in what is now mostly farmland but used to be mostly woodland, in the days when Wyre Forest was much larger than it is now.

Notable features along the way include the earthworks of a deserted medieval village at Rock, with a former moated site being particularly striking. Rock Church is interesting too - don't miss the Norman carvings on the corbel table (below the roof) or the memorial tree to Richard Hubbell.

Also notable is an abundance of holly trees, especially in Woodward's Coppice, where they are smothered with berries. The hedges are full of holly too, but flail-cutting has stripped away the berries, along with their wildlife value and aesthetic appeal.

DIRECTIONS

Just before you reach the visitor centre (if approaching from Bewdley) a lane leaves the A456 on the left, signed to Lye Head and Cross Bank. If you arrive by bus, the driver will drop you here. If you arrive by car and park at the visitor centre, take a bridleway running along the edge of the forest then go through a gap in the hedge to join the road near the junction.

Walk down the lane then turn right towards Cross Bank. Take a footpath on the left after 200m, at a fallen signpost. The path, which soon swings right, is easily followed. When the hedge on your left comes to an end, continue in the same direction beside a line of trees.

Turn left at Bine Lane and keep straight on at a crossroads at Bliss Gate. Turn right at a T-junction, then turn left after the pub, on Boraston Road.

Take the first footpath on the left, going diagonally down a field to the far bottom corner. Cross a footbridge and proceed diagonally across another field to a fence corner. Turn a little to the right and head diagonally uphill.

When you reach the top of the hill you'll meet tyre tracks crossing the field. Turn right, following the tracks to a hedge corner then keeping straight on to the left of the hedge. Cross a stile and proceed through two more fields, taking care at a dodgy gate. Continue past a farm to a lane.

Turn left for 200m then take a path on the left, crossing three fields to another lane. Turn right into Rock, then left opposite Rock Cross Inn. Just before you reach a farm, join a path on the right (no waymarking) at a metal gate.

Go diagonally across three fields, heading initially towards Rock Church. In the third field adjust your heading slightly so that you pass just to the right of a former moat, with prominent tree-covered earthworks. There are lesser earthworks to your right.

Turn left at the lane, then take a footpath by a phone box. Walk past gardens then down a field, keeping straight on at a hedge corner. Turn left in the next field for a few metres, then right, past two pools to a bridge.

Beyond the bridge, pass to the right of another pool. A waymarker directs you right: while there is a path to the right, there's also another (avoiding any road walking) going to the top right corner of the field - but you'll have to climb over a gate.

Cross to a driveway opposite (Barratts Court) and follow it for 200m until you see two paths on the left. Take the left-hand one, a well-trodden route crossing two fields to a bridge, then turning left along a field edge.

Walk to the bottom corner of the field then join a track coming from a ruined cottage. Continue along the track until you can join a footpath waymarked on the left. Follow it along a field edge and ignore the first branching path (at a rotting footbridge) but take the second one (at an overgrown stile and footbridge - watch for concealed steps).

Walk across a field, looking towards the trees at the far side to find the line of the path, which meets Pound Lane near the big oak tree on the right. Turn left along the lane then cross the A456 and take a lane opposite.

Turn right at a crossroads, walk back to the A456, turn left for 70m and cross to a footpath. Proceed to a junction then turn left, following a waymarked path through Woodward's Coppice. In the far corner, turn left past a redundant stile and walk towards Callow Hill.

Ignore the first path on the right but take the second, which leads to a lane. Turn left to the A456 and left again for a little way before crossing to a bridleway. Pass a Methodist church and ignore a branching footpath.

The bridleway leads into Wyre Forest, soon coming to a waymarked junction. Turn left, and then turn right at the next junction. When you meet a cycleway turn right again, then second left, at a sign for the visitor centre. Turn right at another cycleway to go directly to the visitor centre.

FACTFILE

Start: Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, Callow Hill, grid ref SO750740.

Length: 7 miles/11km.

Maps: OS Explorer 218, OS Landranger 138.

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

Footpaths: Some have been improved recently but others remain poor. There are no substantial problems - just follow the directions carefully where there is no waymarking, and beware ill-maintained stiles and gates.

Stiles: 22, and two gates.

Parking: At visitor centre.

Public transport: Bus or train to Kidderminster then 292, daily; Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Refreshments: Caf at visitor centre, pubs at Rock and Bliss Gate.