IF you enjoy the vivid colours of autumn it's always a good idea to head for the Malverns. There are no extensive woodlands in the conventional sense, but the sheer abundance of trees is, nevertheless, hard to equal.

Great Malvern itself is believed to have more trees than any other British town of comparable size, and most of them are mature, magnificent specimens planted in the Victorian era.

The hills are well-wooded too. While the scrub and young woodland which is encroaching on the grassy tops is not so welcome - and steps are being taken to address the problem - the well-established woods which fringe the lower slopes truly are exceptionally beautiful.

For many local residents, the numerous paths which thread through these woods constitute some of their favourite walks.

Malvern Common is also blessed with many wonderful trees, with the Hills providing a worthy backdrop. Even the surrounding farmland has its fair share of trees, and is particularly notable for the many vintage oaks which survive in the hedgerows. Blackmore Wood and adjoining Langdale Wood comprise a fair-sized block of mature, attractive woodland, and a young wood has quite recently been planted at nearby Blackmore Park.

If you appreciate trees, you should love this excellent walk.

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: Great Malvern Station, grid ref SO783456.

Length: 9 miles/14.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150. Harvey Superwalker Malvern Hills covers much of the route, but not the area around Blackmore Park.

Terrain: Mildly hilly at times, but mostly undemanding. Woodland and cattle pasture, so potentially very muddy in places.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent.

Stiles: 13.

Public transport: Very frequent trains and buses to Great Malvern Station, Monday to Saturday; services are fewer on Sundays but still adequate; Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk

Parking: Great Malvern and many points along the way, such as Malvern Common or the Wyche.

Refreshments: Lady Foley's Tearoom at the station, pubs and shops nearby, pub at the Wyche, fair choice in Great Malvern town centre. At weekends only, cream teas are available at the Cottage in the Wood.

1 Leaving the station by the main exit, turn left on Imperial Road, left again on Clarence Road, under the railway and straight on past Manby Road and the Cavalry Arms. Turn right at a T-junction (Court Road) then soon right again on Woodshears Road. Pass under the railway and join a footpath on the left.

2 Cross Thirlstane Road to Malvern Common, and keep to the left edge of the common all the way to Peachfield Road. Turn left, cross the railway and proceed to a junction with Longridge Road. A large triangle of common land is enclosed between the two roads: walk across it, bearing left to follow the line of an intermittent brook, marked by trees, pools and marshy patches. When you meet Poolbrook Road, cross to a bridleway opposite and go diagonally right across more common land. Join a road and continue past a couple of bungalows and a house to find a footpath.

3 Cross to the far left corner of a field and then continue across another.

Go through a gate in the corner and along the right-hand edge of a cattle pasture (don't go through a second gate), then proceed along a fenced path to a track. Cross to a stile and walk past a young wood then into a field. Continue along the right-hand edge to a junction. Cross a very substandard stile (there are alternative ways through the hedge) and go diagonally left across another field, looking for a stile under a willow tree about 150m short of the far left corner.

4 Enter Blackmore Wood and proceed along a good path. Keep straight on at all junctions, eventually passing Common Farm to meet a road (B4209). Cross over and turn right, then left on a footpath. Look for frequent waymarks which guide you along the right-hand edge of a field, over a stile, left on a track, first right towards a farm, then left at a fence corner. Cross a track and walk to the left of a line of trees, then straight on along a track.

Meeting another track at a T-junction, go straight across to find a stile half-hidden below a cherry tree. Proceed across a field to the far side.

5 Turn right on a bridleway. Keep straight on when the bridleway crosses Blackmore Park Road. Soon after passing Shuttlefast Farm, the bridleway (now Shuttlefast Lane) turns sharp right, and then eventually left, before meeting Hanley Road.

Turn left, then take the first path on the right, which is also a gravelled access track. Walk past Coton Cottage Farm to a junction. Turn left and then keep straight on at all junctions, eventually walking uphill to Wells Road (A449).

6 Cross the road, climb six steps and go through a gate. Turn sharp right, following a path up to Holywell Road. Turn left, passing Essington House and the Cottage in the Wood. After crossing a cattle grid, join a footpath on the right and head north towards Great Malvern. There are several junctions, and numerous paths to choose from. Unless you want to descend to the A449, always take ascending paths.

If you don't want to climb to the top of the ridge, always head northwards. That way, you should end up walking below the ridge on a direct path to the Wyche. Turn left to Beacon Road then continue northwards, again choosing your preferred route. The path signed to St Ann's Well is a good option if you want to avoid climbing uphill. Once in Great Malvern, Church Street and Avenue Road lead to the station.