A MONTH has gone by since we featured the first stage of the Worcestershire Way, so here's the second stage, a gorgeous walk of hills and valleys, woods and meadows from Bewdley to Abberley.

Like the first stage, it is undulating throughout but not unduly steep or strenuous and there are some lovely views to admire. Bewdley makes a delightful starting point and if you've never explored the quieter streets of this ancient town, here's your chance.

The Worcestershire Way passes dozens of lovely buildings on Lax Lane and High Street. Most of them look Georgian but many are actually medieval, their Georgian facades added at the peak of Bewdley's prosperity.

High Street is unusual in being almost entirely residential - but the reason becomes obvious when you look at its orientation.

It runs roughly north-south, exactly parallel with the Severn: clearly, this was the main through road long before the first bridge was built in 1447, when the commercial focus shifted to an east-west route.

Superb

For many people, the best part of the walk will be close to the end, a superb mile or so along the ridge of Abberley Hill, with lovely views from the trig pillar and lots of wild flowers at this point too, where part of the south-west slope is bare of trees.

There are many more wild flowers at the northern end of the hill, where grassy roadside banks are covered in species such as wild strawberry.

Though the bluebells are over now and the wild garlic past its best, plenty of other species are flourishing in the woods - look out for the blue spikes of bugle, and yellow archangel, a handsome member of the nettle family which is believed to be an indicator of ancient woodland.

Between Bewdley and Abberley there is much more to enjoy, such as Ribbesford Woods, the hilly country round Heightington and the valleys of Gladder Brook and Dick Brook.

There's plenty of wildlife too, with buzzards and pheasants the most evident species - except on warm sunny days, when butterflies are likely to be what you notice most.

Directions

Leave Bewdley on Severn Side South, soon turning right on Lax Lane (by Severn Bank House). At the top of the lane turn right to High Street, and then left just before Thomas Cooke's Almshouses.

Keep straight on at a junction, from which point on the waymarking is so comprehensive that few details need be provided here. There are plenty of branching footpaths but the Worcestershire Way is unmistakable because it's marked with its own logo of the Worcester black pear (drawn in green) in addition to the usual yellow and blue arrows. If in doubt at any junction just keep straight on.

At Ribbesford the Way passes through the churchyard then climbs quite steeply into woodland. After you leave the trees, a road is followed as far as Horsehill Farm, where you turn off to the right. Further on a left turn takes you into more woodland, after which fields and woods lead to Little Lakes Golf Course.

Turn left along the edge of the golf course, then shortly right - this turning is easily missed. Beyond the golf course, a road takes you past Deasland Farm and The Latchets Farm until you leave the road on the left. Walk along the left-hand edge of a field, cross a footbridge then aim for a point midway between a house and a barn at the far side of another field.

Again, a road is followed for a short distance until the Way leaves it on the right. Go diagonally through an orchard, descend to cross Dick Brook and climb out of the valley. Join another road for a while, then left to pass Palmer's Farm. A long, gentle descent across fields leads to a beautiful stretch of Dick Brook. All too soon, this is left behind as the Way heads for another road. It soon takes to the fields again near New House Farm, heading directly towards Abberley Hill now.

When passing through a hedge gap between fields take great care - the path has been cropped over, concealing some steps. Go diagonally across the next field to meet a road to the right of a barn.

A well-defined track leads to another road, which skirts Abberley Hill. Once past Shavers End, start looking for the point at which the Way leaves the road. Apart from one brief steep section it takes a gentle route up Abberley Hill then follows the ridge-top until a lane is reached. A left turn takes you down to the A443.

Abberley is a convenient place to end this second stage of the Worcestershire Way and all that remains is to get back to Worcester. Yarrantons' drivers will pick up passengers at any safe point but the official bus stop for Abberley is about 500m to the north, outside the village shop.

FACTFILE

Start: Bewdley; GR787754.

Finish: Abberley; GR746670.

Length: 9.5 miles/15km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204 and 218; OS Landranger 138.

Terrain: undulating, but there are only a couple of steep slopes; mainly woodland and pasture, with some arable; nettles in places and some long grass.

Stiles: 20.

Public transport: bus or train to Kidderminster (or Stourport - bus only) then bus or steam train to Bewdley; return from Abberley to Worcester on Yarrantons' 758 (on Sundays/bank holidays bus 300 serves Bewdley direct from Worcester but the 758 doesn't operate); Traveline 0870 6082608.

Refreshments: Bewdley and Abberley.

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.