THIS walk in lovely pastoral country links two interesting villages, Inkberrow and Feckenham.

The Old Bull is Inkberrow's best known sight, a picturesque 16th Century building which is said to be the model for the pub in The Archers.

Inkberrow also has a superb millennium green which comprises the site of a mediaeval farmstead with ridge and furrow pasture, a moat and fishponds.

The site, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is managed and farmed by traditional methods (mainly by volunteers) to enhance its wildlife value and to preserve the remaining historical features.

Feckenham is packed with lovely houses, from mediaeval to Georgian. Manor Farm on Moors Lane is particularly notable, and was built in 1500.

Feckenham was originally the administrative centre for the Great Forest of Feckenham, and later an industrial centre, specialising in needle-making. An unusual house with half-moon windows is a former needle mill.

On the southern edge of Feckenham is a wonderful nature reserve which belongs to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and is open to the public.

This is Feckenham Wylde Moor, just a tiny remnant of the extensive marshland which filled the valley of Brandon Brook until it was drained for agriculture.

Much of the reserve is covered in fen-peat, which is unusual in Worcestershire and supports a wide range of species.

The walk is also notable for some excellent views: from Morton Bank you can see from the Clee Hills to the Forest of Dean.

The view of the Malverns is most impressive, with the whole jagged length of the ridge displayed to good advantage.

DIRECTIONS

Walk down the lane which leaves the main road by the green. Pass the Old Bull and the church, visit the millennium green then return to the lane and follow it round to the left.

Keep straight on at a junction, continuing as far as a farm. Join a footpath opposite which crosses fields to the A422.

The path then continues on the other side, crossing two further fields to a lane.

Again it continues opposite, now in the form of a bridleway.

The route is clear until you enter a field with a collection of scrap metal at the far end, with cars on the right and agricultural machinery on the left. Aim for a gap between them, then join a track which descends left, to the foot of Morton Bank.

Turn right towards Manor Farm but after 200m turn left on a bridleway.

Cross a field to a gate then turn right along the edges of two more fields. Towards the end of the second field the bridleway turns right at a gateway. Don't follow it: instead, continue to another gateway and then obliquely left to a stile.

Continue towards the far right corner of the next field. Before you reach it, cross a ditch (near a fallen tree) to another field and go diagonally right to a gate. Cross Brandon Brook and turn left on a clear path which soon swings to the right through marshland.

Keep forward with a hedge on your right, continuing in the same direction in the next field until you reach two stiles on the right.

You have a choice here: if you want to keep your feet reasonably dry, ignore the stiles and keep straight on until you reach a major junction where you turn right on a bridleway.

For a more memorable but usually much wetter experience (depending on recent rainfall) cross the two stiles instead.

Beyond them is a footbridge into the nature reserve. The right of way is to the right but is likely to be too marshy for most walkers.

Go straight on instead, over very wet ground which soon improves.

You'll quickly reach a stile where a waymarker indicates that you're on a permissive path (this means it's not a right of way).

Keep roughly straight on through reedbeds, eventually swinging right on a bridleway coming from the left (this is the bridleway mentioned above on the alternative route).

The bridleway leads through the reserve to Moors Lane. Turn left to the B4090 then left to Feckenham. Turn right on High Street and left at The Square. Continue down Mill Lane which becomes a bridleway. Pass The Old Mill House, cross Bow Brook and go left to meet the B4090 again.

Cross to a bridleway sign opposite and walk along a track until it bends right to Grove Farm. Go straight on into a field and follow the right-hand edge, through a galvanised gate in the corner then along the edge of the next field.

Turn left in the corner just after passing a windsock. Follow the bridleway to a junction by a bridge over Bow Brook. Cross the bridge and keep straight on, signed to Morton Underhill.

When you reach Morton Underhill turn right along a lane until you come to a pair of footpaths on the left. Take the second, going diagonally to the far right corner of a field. Continue along the edge of the next field to a lane.

The path continues opposite, quite soon meeting a lane on the edge of Inkberrow. Turn right as far as Stonehouse Farm then turn left on a footpath to the village. Keep straight on until you come to a road then turn left to the centre.

FACTFILE

Start: Inkberrow, on A422 east of Worcester; GR014573.

Length: 8 miles/13km.

Maps: OS Explorers 205 and 220, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: gentle, mainly pasture; very wet and marshy in places.

Stiles: 15.

Parking: Inkberrow.

Buses: Dudley's/Harding's 350 Worcester-Redditch via Inkberrow, Mondays to Saturdays; Traveline 0870 6082608.

Refreshments: pubs and shops at Inkberrow and Feckenham.

NB: You will encounter cattle on this walk, so check if foot-and-mouth restrictions still apply to dogs on 01905 766879 or at www.worcestershire.gov.uk

PLEASE NOTE: 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.