Worcestershire

Like many English counties Worcestershire boasts a facinating diversity of countryside and provides opportunities for enjoyable walking in many places. There are the glorious Malvern Hills, providing an impressive south western border to the county with their distinctive nine mile ridge profile. In the north west is the Wyre Forest, the largest area of continuous woodland in the county and, due to its age and diversity, an interesting location for walking. The Severn, one of England's great rivers, enters the county near Bewdley, in the north west, and flows southwards to leave near Tewkesbury in the south west. The Severn Valley is steep and wooded in the north, widening out to a broad flood plain of pasture land in the south, offering some lovely riverside walks along the Severn Way. The north west corner of the county, west of the River Severn, is a peaceful area of undulating farmland, intimate valleys and small villages ideal for relaxing walking. The River Teme, from Tenbury Wells to its junction with the Severn south of Worcester, also has a quiet rural valley ideal for leisurely walks. In the south east Bredon Hill provides bracing walks, with fine views across the Severn Valley to the Malvern Hills and delightful villages to explore. Even further east at Broadway the county offers a taste of the Cotswolds and a walk up the dramatic escarpment to Broadway Tower.

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Walking in Worcestershire by: David Hunter. Over 40 routes to suit walkers of all abilities Locations are: Kinver Edge; Clent Hills; Waseley Hills and Chadwich Manor Estate; Lickey Hills; Wyre Forest; The Stour Valley - Cookley and Wolverley; Jacobs Ladder and the Habberley Valley; Eymore Wood and the Severn; The Tardebigge Flight; Chaddesley Woods; Abbots Morton and Inkberrow; Feckenham, Wylde Moor and Burial Lane; Hanbury Park and Droitwich Canal; Doverdale and Westwood Park; Holt Fleet - The Severn; Pudfoot Hill; Ankerdine Hill; Shelsley Walsh; Worcester; Worcestershire Beacon; Midsummer Hill and Herefordshire Beacon; Kempsey Common and Pirton; Upton upon Severn; Severn Stoke and Croome Park; Bredon Hill; Ashton-under-Hill; Longley Green and Old Storridge; Shrawley; Suckley Hills; Abberley Hills; Vale of Evesham.
	Pub Walks in Worcestershire by: Richard Shurey. If you enjoy both walking and visiting country pubs, this book should appeal. All the inns are in Worcestershire and surrounded by excellent walking country. Each walk begins and ends at a particular pub. They vary in length from 3 to 7 miles and the route is described in detail with its own accompanying sketch map. There are walks along country lanes and through delightful river valleys, with easy going ascents around Bredon and the lovely Malvern Hills for magnificient panoramic views. The routes include a stroll beside the Birmingham and Worcester Canal and along stretches of the Worcestershire Way and the Wychavon Way.
	Village walks in Worcestershire by: David Hinchliffe. The twenty routes in this book introduce the walker to some of the most picturesque villages in the county. Black and white timbered cottages rub shoulders with those built of warm, honey-coloured Cotswold stone, as at Wickhamford, Elmley Castle and Childswickham. The walks vary in length from 2.5 to 7 miles and there is information about what can be seen en route. The Birmingham and Worcester Canal features in two walks, one based on the village of Hopwood and the other on Tardebigge. At Astley, the walk passes near to Astley Hall, once the home of Stanley Baldwin; while at Severn Stoke the route goes through the beautiful landscape created by 'Capability' Brown at Croome Court, now the property of the National Trust.
	Waterside Walks in Worcestershire by: Richard Shurey.The 20 circular walks in this book are all between 2.5 and 5.5 miles in length and can be easily undertaken by everyone. Each walk is carefully described and other information such as how to get to the start, where to park, and where to go for refreshments is given. For greater clarity, the route descriptions are divided into numbered paragraphs, which correspond with the numbers on the accompanying sketch maps. There is also information about places of interest to visit nearby such as the Severn Valley Railway; Cadbury World, a mecca for chocoholics; Upper Broadheath where Sir Edward Elgar, the composer, was born and Ragley Hall, famous for its heronry.
	Best Tea Shop Walks in Worcestershire by: Irene Boston. 25 walks, suitable for all the family. Locations are: Beckford and Bredon Hill; Bewdley and Dowles Brook; Bewdley and Ribbesford Woods; Broadway Tower; Chaddesley Corbett woodland; Evesham Abbey and riverside; Great Malvern; Hanbury and Piper's Hill; Holt Heath and Ombersley; Kyre Park and Hanley Child; Lickey Hills and Bittell Reservoir; Madresfield and the Old Hills; Malvern railway and Pinnacle Hill; Mamble and Bayton; Overbury, Bredon Hill and Kemmerton; Pershore and Tyddesley Wood; Spetchley Park; St Ann's Well and Worcestershire Beacon; Tenbury Wells; Upper Arley and Trimpley Reservoir; Upton upon Severn and the Hams; Upton upon Severn and Earls Croome; Waseley and Beacon Hill; Worcester City; Wyre Forest.
	100 Walks in Hereford and Worcester compiled by: Van Greaves. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book. The wide choice of routes are spread fairly equally across both counties. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Discovery Walks in Worcestershire by: Brian Conduit. 30 circular walks evenly spaced across the varied terrain of the county. Each route visits a heritage site, market town or village, so you'll learn all about the area's rich historical heritage too. Routes include: A walk along Icknield Street, the famous Roman road. Strolls in woodlands once owned by a brush making company, or in Wyre Forest, once a royal hunting ground. Visits to stately homes, including 18th century Hanbury Hall and the magnificent Elizabethan Harvington Hall. Riverside and canal walks, including a visit to Tardebigge Locks, the longest flight of canal locks in the country. Ancient churches, abbeys and Iron Age hillforts; Elgar's birthplace (and his grave) and the pre-Raphaelite heritage of Broadway.
	50 Walks in Worcestershire & Herefordshire by: Nick Reynolds. 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles, each with fascinating background reading. There are clear, easy-to-follow route descriptions, including detailed sketch maps, for every walk. The walk locations include: Broadway; Cleeve Hill; Tardebigge; Badsey; Hanbury Hall; Clent Hills; Bredon Hill; Huddington Court; Droitwich Spa; Worcester; Kingsford; Upton upon Severn; Ombersley; Stourport on Severn; Great Witley; Abberley; Powick Bridge; Wyre Forest; Martley; Ravenshill; Suckley Hills; The Malverns; Mamble; Ashperton; Frome Valley; Woolhope; Tenbury Wells; Hereford; Coppet Hill; Ross-on-Wye; Aymestry; Downton on the Rock; Kilpeck; Orcop Hill; Abbey Dore; Hergest Ridge; Harley's Mountain; Lime Brook Valley; Weobley; Black Hill; Clifford; Golden Valley; Merbach Hill; Olchon Valley.
	Pub Walks in the Malvern Hills by: Roy Woodcock. 20 circular routes from 1 to 7 miles. The walks include Ivy Scar Rocks, the largest natural rocky outcrop on the hills; the church where Sir Edward Elgar and his wife are buried; the Red Earl's Dyke, thought to have been created in the 13th century by the Earl of Gloucester; St Ann's Well where the famous spring flows into the Dolphin spout and bowl; and magnificent views of the Welsh hills and the Cotswolds from Worcestershire Beacon. Locations are: Collett's Green; Callow End; Newland; Malvern; West Malvern; Stifford's Bridge; Mathon; Great Malvern; Barnard's Green; Malvern Wells; Wyche; Upper Colwall; Hanley Swan; Hanley Castle; Newbridge Green; Wynds Point; Chance's Pitch; Wellington Heath; Castlemorton; Birtsmorton.
	Walks around the Malverns by: Roy Woodcock. Twenty walks which cover the entire range of hills and the neighbouring commons, together with some of the delightful countryside nearby. For the energetic there are walks up to and along the main ridge where stunning new views emerge every few minutes. but in addition th those routes using steep paths there are many fairly gentle walks that explore the wooded slopes around the lower parts of the hills, and east to the fine riverside area of Upton upon Severn. The distances range from 2 miles to 8 miles, plus a 'leg stretcher' of between 10 and 16 miles (depending upon starting point) that takes in the full length of the ridge and ascends all the Malvern peaks.
	Walks from Ashton under Hill by: Joe Aspey. Ashton Under Hill, at the eastern foot of Bredon Hill, is one of a necklace of attractive villages surrounding the Hill, like jewels in the English countryside. The 10 circular walks in this guide start from Ashton Under Hill and, with one exception, explore the slopes and 961ft summit of Bredon Hill, from which there are magnificent views over the Severn Vale. The walks, from 2 to 10 miles, visit several other of the Bredon Hill villages including Elmley Castle, Grafton, Conderton, Overbury and Dumbleton. There is also a visit to Ashton Wood and the ruined tower known as Parsons Folly, built on the edge of the ramparts which formed the Iron Age hill fort known as Kemerton Camp.
	Country Walks in Warwickshire & Worcestershire by: Des Wright. This collection of 21 walks explores some of the attractive countryside in these two West Midlands counties. The walking is not difficult, mostly on the flat and with no strenuous climbs. The walks are all circular and can be reached easily by car and, with one exception, by public transport. Distance range between 2 and 9.5 miles, with one rather more strenuous walk of 14 miles. Locations include: Clent and Walton Hills; Temple Balsall and Balsall Common; Alvechurch; Beoley; Temeside; Piper's Hill; Preston Bagot and Lowensford; Claverdon; Dormston; Wootton Wawen; Southam; Stock Green, Huddington and Himbleton; Feckenham; Alcester; Weethley; Harvington and the Lench villages; Pershore and Bredon Hill.
	More Country Walks in Warwickshire & Worcestershire by: Des Wright. All the walks are circular and are readily accessible by car and by public transport. The walking is mostly easy, mainly on the flat, with just a few modest climbs. Distances vary from 4.5 to 11.5 miles, but most include a shorter option with distances ranging between 1.5 and 8 miles. The descriptive texts are accompanied by sketch maps, and relevant historical and natural history detail. Locations include: Meriden, Knowle and Barston, Belbroughton, Barnt Green, Hockley Heath, Alvechurch and Rowney Green, Bromsgrove, Beoley and Hob Hill, Gorcott Hill and Ullenhall, Budbrooke, Henley-in-Arden, Abberley and Great Witley, Ombersley, Wootten Wawen, Inkberrow, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cleeve Prior and the Litteltons.

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