THIS week’s walk was devised by members of Wychavon Walking Group, including Droitwich residents Jan and Mike Skan, who often lead group walks for Wychavon Over-Fifties.

Most of these walks are about eight miles long but they also lead short walks of two to three miles as part of a nationwide scheme called Walking For Health – you may have noticed the waymarks inscribed with the Walking For Health message in parts of Worcester.

As a result of their involvement in these projects, they concluded that a waymarked walk round Droitwich would be good for the local community, especially for people lacking confidence in their fitness or map-reading skills.

The great thing about the route they have devised is that while it’s mostly rural or semi-rural, it’s also right on the doorstep of most Droitwich residents.

It’s eight miles long but the availability of local bus services means nobody has to commit to the complete walk.

The attractive route includes three canals and the hamlets of Salwarpe and Hadzor.

There is woodland at Pulley Lane and reedbeds at Coney Meadow, while branching paths link to Droitwich Community Woods, Tagwell Open Space and other green places in and around town.

Near Hanbury Wharf there are good views of the new marina taking shape there.

Jan and Mike hope that the county council will agree to waymark the route, which they are naming Droitwich Spa Diamond Jubilee Walk.

In the meantime, they plan to lead a guided walk along the route on Tuesday, June 5, leaving Droitwich Leisure Centre at 9.30am.

Everyone is welcome (but no dogs, please) and there’s no need to book – just turn up, having remembered to put a packed lunch together.

For further information, e-mail skannies@btinternet.com or spawalkers@hotmail.co.uk or call Mike on 01905 775485.

FACT FILE

Start: Vines Park, Droitwich, grid ref SO902635. Alternative starting points include Droitwich Leisure Centre at Briar Mill (SO888630) or Droitwich Canals Gateway Park (SO915631) on Hanbury Road.

Length: Eight miles/13km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Canal towpaths, arable, pasture, woodland, golf course; mainly level.

Footpaths: Excellent, apart from patchy waymarking on the golf course (you may find this has improved).

Stiles: Five.

Parking: Town centre car parks.

Alternatively, Droitwich Leisure Centre (at rear of building) or Gateway Park.

Public transport: First 144 or train, daily; worcestershire.gov.uk or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Good choice in Droitwich, Copcut Elm at Copcut, Eagle and Sun at Hanbury Wharf.

DIRECTIONS

1 Walk west through Vines Park between Droitwich Barge Canal and the river Salwarpe. Cross a road by the Railway Inn and follow the canal towpath for two miles. Soon after passing Coney Meadow, fork right on a rising path to St Michael’s Church at Salwarpe. Go through the churchyard then turn left.

2 Turn right by the war memorial then take a field-edge path past the Old School House. Once past this house, head towards a blackand- white house at the far right field corner. Go through a gate and turn left, then cross a stile and cut across a corner of the garden, leaving it almost immediately.

Walk along the right-hand edge of a field to a lane. Turn left, then turn right across a railway bridge and walk along Copcut Lane.

3 Meeting the A38 by the Copcut Elm, opposite Pulley Lane, the suggested route is across the road and then left. After 150m, steps provide access to woodland.

Alternatively, it’s suggested that if you don’t feel safe crossing the road there that you continue to the traffic island before crossing and then turn right to access the wood.

I would add a third option – cross directly to Pulley Lane and walk along it for 40m to find access to the wood. Whichever you choose, you should turn right on entering the wood. At the end of the wood, continue along a tree-lined strip known as Pulley Lane Open Space.

This eventually widens out and the path forks. There is more woodland to explore here and it doesn’t matter which way you go, but fork right if you want the most direct route. Join Pulley Lane opposite Oakley Farm and turn left.

4 After 250m, take a path on the left. Walk up a field edge to Newland Road. Turn left, then take a path on the right after a few paces. It runs beside a brook then enters a field. Continue in the same direction, ignoring a cross-path at a kissing gate. Go to the left in the field corner then pass through the next kissing gate and straight on at all junctions to meet Tagwell Road. Turn left then go second right on Middle Lane, under the M5 and past the entrance to Gaudet Luce Golf Club.

5 Turn left on Hadzor Lane. After 40m you’ll find access to the golf course. Go diagonally, as indicated by a fingerpost, to a waymarked yellow post just to the right of a wooded patch. Continue in much the same direction, beside a brook, to a junction by a bridge. Turn right, still following the brook. Turn right at the next junction, between hedges, then go left at another junction, over a bridge. Follow the path along the edge of the golf course until you can leave it at a gate. Walk to Hadzor Lane and turn right.

6 Take a footpath on the left and follow it to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Cross Hammond’s Bridge (32), descend to the towpath and pass under the bridge. Walk to the Eagle and Sun, pass under bridge 35 then climb steps to Hanbury Road. Cross the bridge and join the towpath of Droitwich Junction Canal. The towpath changes sides at Gateway Park and is joined by the Wychavon Way, which is easily followed to Vines Park.