TO the north-west of Bromsgrove is what looks superficially like an unremarkable, farmed landscape, notable only for some unusually large patches of woodland.

But if you explore it on foot, you will find there is more to it than first meets the eye.

Some unexpectedly steep, narrow valleys cut through the landscape, their sides too steep for cultivation, or even for grazing.

The result is that these slopes are still clothed in remnants of ancient woodland. In spring the woodland floor is covered in wild flowers, particularly wood anemones, which are unusually abundant here.

As spring turns to summer, the woodland flowers are shaded out by the trees.

However, some of the broader valley bottoms are open to the sun because meadows have replaced the trees.

These meadows come into their own in late spring and early summer, with a profusion of flowers. The overall effect is gloriously yellow, with millions of buttercups and, in places, yellow rattle.

A network of specially waymarked walks has been created in this area, using existing rights of way.

These are the Chartists', Hedgelayers' and Foresters' Walks, known collectively as Royal Hunters' Walks, because this area was once part of a Royal hunting forest. The walk described here uses sections of these routes, as well as the Monarch's Way.

Along the way you will explore Pepper Wood, which belongs to the Woodland Trust.

Part of it stands on dry, acidic soil, where oak and birch dominate, above a ground cover of bilberry and bracken.

Elsewhere, the soil is richer and damper, allowing species such as ash, alder, lime and willow to flourish.

There is a good network of paths and full public access.

Just over a mile from Pepper Wood lies Dodford, the only village of its kind in Worcestershire. It was purpose-built as a Chartist settlement around 1840.

Chartism was a radical, democratic movement which demanded the vote for the working man (but not, of course, the working woman - it wasn't that radical or that democratic).

Also of interest is the former farmhouse near Bournheath where the classical scholar and poet A E Housman was born in 1859. Housman is most famous for the collection entitled A Shropshire Lad, which was partly inspired by the views of the Shropshire hills that he enjoyed as a child growing up near Bromsgrove.

JOIN a footpath to the left of the Park Gate Inn. Walk through fields to Fockbury Road, then through more fields across the road. Keep straight on at a junction.

The path eventually descends to cross a brook and arrive at a junction with a big signpost. Turn right on the Hedgelayers' Walk. Follow it to a lane and turn right, then go left just before Alfred's Well House, on a path signed to Catshill.

The path runs through woods above a brook, then along the edge of a field. Turn right at a junction, soon joining another woodland path which climbs to enter a field. Turn left to the far side then continue past a farm to a lane and turn left, passing Housman's birthplace.

Soon after this, the Catshill path goes off to the right. Keep straight on instead, along the lane into Bournheath. Turn left at a sign for Belbroughton and walk past the New Inn, then cross to a footpath on the left. The path is easily followed through fields to Yarnold Lane. Turn right, then take the second footpath on the left, just after Hillborough.

Walk through a paddock to a lane and turn left, then take the first path on the right. Walk past a farm and straight on along the edge of a field. Cross a stile in the corner, then turn left to meet a lane.

Turn right and cross to another path. Walk along the edge of a paddock, past a house and then along a field edge until you can gain access to Pepper Wood.

Take the right-hand path and stay on it, ignoring all branching paths. A series of waymarked posts provides guidance. The path eventually meets a lane by a car park. Cross the lane, following the Monarch's Way to Royal Content Farm, then continuing across fields to Warbage Lane, Dodford.

Turn left, then first right on Victoria Lane. Turn left at a crossroad, then straight on at another junction, passing to the left of the village hall to join a footpath (Chartists' Walk).

Continue straight on when the path crosses a track, descending into a valley and crossing a brook at a footbridge. Climb steeply uphill (on the Monarch's Way) to enter a field. Go diagonally left, crossing your outward path from Park Gate. The well-trodden path continues across a large field, then diagonally right across another field to the far corner.

Cross Fockbury Road to a path opposite, which climbs slightly uphill to pass a prominent oak tree. Continue a little further in the same direction until you see a waymarked post over to your right. Head towards it and then follow the waymarks to the road, which you will meet near Battlefield Farm, between the layby and Park Gate.

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.