THE Rivers Severn and Teme play a big part in this lovely walk on the edge of town. It doesn't feel like an edge-of-town walk: once Diglis is left behind the downstream view is simply gorgeous, the Severn's well-wooded banks providing a lush green backdrop for the narrowboats and cruisers navigating this surprisingly rural stretch.

Powick Hams are lovely too, bordered by wooded Ham Hill and bisected by rows of magnificent willow trees. Herds of sheep and ponies graze the meadows and the birdlife is abundant, ranging from herons to buzzards.

Perhaps the best stretch of all is from Bransford Bridge to Upper Wick, with incredibly lush vegetation and beautiful glimpses of secluded parts of the Teme Valley. Although you're never more than a couple of miles from the outer suburbs during this walk it is rural until the very end.

There is one point on the approach to Upper Wick when you can see the Cathedral tower and the Glover's Needle but the rest of the city remains completely hidden. It's only as you approach St John's that the urban environment starts to dominate.

There are a number of historic sites along the way, such as the fields in which much of the Battle of Worcester was fought in 1651, next to the confluence of the Severn and Teme. A little further on is Powick Bridge, the site of the first skirmish of the war in 1642.

Boughton Park in St John's is associated with the beginnings of the County Cricket Club, which was formed in 1865. The club played at Boughton until they moved to New Road in 1896.

The great W G Grace played his first Midlands match at the Boughton ground and in 1878 there was much local excitement when Boughton welcomed the first ever Australian team to play in England.

FACTFILE

Start: Worcester Bridge.

Length: 8.5 miles/13.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Mostly riverside meadows, with long grass and some nettles and thistles.

Stiles: 15.

Refreshments: Fox Inn, by Bransford Bridge.

Start: Worcester Bridge.

Length: 8.5 miles/13.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Mostly riverside meadows, with long grass and some nettles and thistles.

Stiles: 15.

Refreshments: Fox Inn, by Bransford Bridge.

DIRECTIONS

HEAD south on the west bank of the River Severn, passing Chapter Meadows (it's possible to walk through the meadows, rejoining the riverbank further south) and Diglis Weir. A path signed to Weir Lane offers a short cut to Powick if you wish; otherwise just follow the Severn to its confluence with the Teme.

Turn right towards Powick Bridge. The River Teme is on your left at first but when it loops away don't follow it (that is, don't try and cross an overgrown stile). Just continue across the field and before long the Teme will be back on your left again. Follow it to Powick Mills.

Turn left along the old road. As you approach the roundabout look for a footpath on the right. Follow the river for a while until you can branch left to go through an underpass into Powick Hams

Go diagonally across a meadow, initially aiming for the furtherest corner. Look for a line of willow trees which is ahead of you and to the right, marking the line of a dry streambed. As you reach a point where a white-painted house comes into view you should change direction slightly so that you're walking beside the line of willows.

Very soon a stile gives access to another large meadow. Walk across it to a stile about halfway along the far side and then enter a huge meadow. Go straight across - an oak tree standing alone close to the far side is a useful guide. A little way beyond it you'll find a stile into the next field. (NB: the right of way is as described, but a well-trodden path actually follows the field edge, by the Teme).

Go straight on along the ensuing field edge until you come to a junction where yellow arrows indicate a path branching left by a stream and another apparently running straight across a potato field. You want the second one, but if you turn left for a short distance you'll join a wide grassy path by the edge of the potatoes.

Meet Fox Lane near Bransford Court and turn right, then right again at the main road near the Fox Inn. Cross Bransford Bridge, walk through a layby and then start looking for a footpath on the right. It leads straight across a meadow. In the next meadow the path should again cut straight across but you won't be able to fight your way through. Fortunately, there's a path by the river which you can use instead.

Keep to the riverbank until you're almost at a railway bridge, then turn left. Ignore an underpass and keep going until you come to a stile. Cross the railway with care then continue along a well-defined path through woodland and then fields.

The path leads past a farm to Upper Wick Lane. Go across the lane and left at a junction, walking past Upper Wick Farm and Upper Wick Cottage. Ignore a footpath branching right to Powick and when the lane bends right go straight on along a path which eventually takes you over the bypass on a footbridge.

Keep straight on to reach Boughton Park Golf Course. Again, keep straight on, walking to the far side of the course where a path then leads to a road. Cross over and keep going in the same direction, along Nursery Walk then Boughton Street then Narrow Walk. At Bransford Road turn right then soon left on Star Lane (next to a Cantonese restaurant). Turn right at a junction to emerge on Bromyard Road. Walk through St John's and Cripplegate Park to the Severn.

DISCLAIMER

This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.

This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.