THE countryside to the east of Worcester may be undramatic but it is still very attractive in its own quiet way, with good views of the Malverns and Bredon Hill, and several villages where ancient timber-framed houses still dominate the scene.

One such village is Bishampton, which lies at the half-way point of this walk.

Although the walk only touches upon the edge of the village, it's worth making a short detour to admire its 17th Century, timber-framed houses. Timber was once plentiful around Bishampton, which lay on the edge of the Great Forest of Feckenham.

The Great Forest became a royal hunting forest soon after the Norman Conquest, but even then it already included areas of cultivation.

Clearance for agriculture continued over the ensuing centuries, but the biggest source of deforestation was the demand for timber to fuel the Droitwich salt-boiling. By 1629 the Great Forest was so diminished that it was officially disafforested.

Flyford Flavell developed as a settlement in the forest, as did its neighbour, Grafton Flyford, which was first recorded in 884.

Since then, Grafton Flyford has shrunk, with St John's Church and a couple of farmhouses the only survivors of the mediaeval village. Flyford Flavell has expanded, however, with substantial modern development, though a few older houses survive.

The first part of the walk is on the Wychavon Way, a 42-mile trail which links the Severn Way at Holt Fleet with the Cotswold Way at Winchcombe. It was devised in 1977 by Wychavon Council to commemorate the Silver Jubilee.

Assuming you're starting in the village centre, walk past Flyford Stores, the school and the Boot Inn then turn right on the lane to Bishampton. Pass Norchard House then turn left on the Wychavon Way.

After going through a gate into a cattle pasture walk past Severn Trent's Glebe Farm works then straight on to an open gateway at the other side of the field. Walk along the right-hand edges of the next two fields, guided by waymarkers.

After crossing a footbridge go half left across a field, over two stiles then along the edges of the ensuing fields. Join a concrete farm track by a cattle grid and go to the left, then turn right when you come to a lane leading to Abberton.

At a junction follow the lane round to the right, leaving the Wychavon Way. Pass Abberton Church and descend into a valley. After Gables Farm you have a choice between joining a footpath and staying on the lane. The path is currently obstructed both by crops and an electric fence so it's only for determined walkers.

If tackling the path, cross an orchard towards the farm then turn right. Go through an iron gate and cross a meadow to a stile. Entering a huge arable field, follow the right-hand edge at first but gradually move slightly away from it so it's about 70m to your right.

At the far side climb a stile into cattle pasture and cross to a lane near Mill Farm. If you chose the easy option and walked along the lane you should turn left at a junction to reach this point. Walk down the driveway, continue past Abberton Mill and turn left on a footpath by Whitsun Brook. Cross a footbridge and walk over fields towards Bishampton, guided by the church tower.

When you come to a choice of paths close to the church go straight on to follow an overgrown path past two sides of the churchyard then turn left towards the village. Turn first right at Church End which becomes a footpath, Gunnings Lane. This is a clear track which offers easy walking but after around half a mile you need to take an unmarked right turn into a field. Look for an open gateway, with two rusty old gates and a dead tree. This is just before a tree-fringed pool appears to the left of Gunnings Lane, so you'll soon know if you've gone too far.

Follow the right-hand field edge and at the far side just keep going almost into the next corner, looking for an overgrown footbridge so you can cross Whitsun Brook. Walk along the left-hand edge of the ensuing field until you come to a gap in the hedge. Go through the gap but continue in the same direction on the other side.

Reaching a lane, cross to a footpath opposite and continue in the same direction along the right-hand edge until another overgrown footbridge takes you into a field where you turn left. It's an easy walk from now on, with no more cereal crops blocking the paths, and plenty of waymarkers to guide you.

Just keep straight on until you come to a narrow field where two footpaths are indicated. Choose the one which goes to the right and again just keep straight on, with your route quite unmistakable.

As you approach Flyford you will encounter two cross-paths; ignore them both, keeping straight on. Meeting a lane, cross to another path opposite and descend to the road by the Flyford Arms. Turn right into the village.

DIRECTIONS

Start: Flyford Flavell (just off A422 east of Worcester); GR 980550.

Length: 5 miles/8km.

Maps: OS Landranger 150, OS Explorer 204.

Terrain: gentle; mainly pasture but there are also several large arable fields in which the footpaths have been overcropped, and there are plenty of nettles too.

Stiles: 30, some of them wobbly.

Parking: Flyford Flavell, with consideration for the villagers - or you could ask at one of the pubs.

Buses: Harding's Coaches/Dudley's Coaches Worcester-Redditch service 350, stopping at the Flyford Arms, Mondays to Saturdays; County Bus Line 08457 125436.

Refreshments: two pubs and shop at Flyford Flavell; pub and shop at Bishampton.

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.