Worcester News - Hallow Walk

Worcester News - Hallow Walk

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/leisure/walks/8156455.Hallow/

10th May 2010 By Julie Royle

THIS enjoyable walk provides the opportunity to explore Spindle Wood (at point five on the map) to which there is permissive access, currently guaranteed until 2014, under a stewardship agreement.

Although planted quite recently, the wood is maturing well and there are some lovely wetland areas with a pair of resident swans.

If you take a dog with you on this walk, please keep it on a lead when in Spindle Wood.

FACT FILE

Start: Hallow church, grid ref SO828578.

Length: Eight miles/13km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Pasture, arable and woodland, with some slight slopes.

Footpaths: Most are now excellent, following major improvements over the last few years, but some problems remain. Most walkers will easily deal with them, but please report any difficulties to the county council’s countryside service.

Stiles: 22, and you will have to climb over a gate and possibly a fence.

Parking: Roadside, near Hallow church.

Buses: 294/295/300/758 to Hallow, 308/310 to Broadheath; worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Hallow and Broadheath.

DIRECTIONS

1 Walk north towards Hallow then take the first path on the left. Descend past fields to cross Laughern Brook next to a sewage works. Go uphill to Lovington Farm, turn right and then shortly take a footpath on the left. Follow this fenced path around a field, cross a brook then proceed across two fields to meet a track near Eastbury Manor. Turn right, and keep straight on along a bridleway when the track bends left. Follow the bridleway through fields, across Lovington Lane and then through another field.

2 Approaching Martley Road, leave the bridleway for a footpath which crosses two fields to a hedge corner. Turn left, go through a gate in the next corner and turn left along a field edge, then continue past allotments and a boules court. Walk almost to Martley Road again but turn right just before reaching it, at a waymarked junction. Keep straight on when the path crosses a residential street, proceed to Hallow Lane and turn left to meet Martley Road.

3 Cross Martley Road to a footpath opposite. Bear left at first on a well-worn path, then keep just to the left of brambles, a ditch and hawthorn trees. Go through a gate and keep straight on at a junction. Continue in the same direction through fields until you come to a junction at a plank footbridge. Cross the footbridge and walk across several fields, passing well to the left of Partridge Farm. In the final field, go diagonally left towards farm buildings at the far side. Turn left on Frenchlands Lane.

4 Cross a footbridge then climb over or squeeze past the end of a fence to join a path. Pass left of a pool, go through a gate, turn left and shortly go through a gate on the right. Walk across fields to Martley Road, taking great care as you unhook the electric fences which guard each gate. In the final field keep left of a brook until you can cross it at a bridge. Proceed to a gate to gain access to Martley Road.

5 Turn left to a cottage then cross the road to a footpath. Cross a field to a hedge gap then proceed across the next field to the far right corner. Cross Laughern Brook and follow the right-hand field edge to Green Street. Cross to a path opposite then turn right after 100m, into Spindle Wood. Walk through the wood, cross a stile at the far side and walk across a field, keeping left of a pool. Cross a footbridge in the left-hand hedge, cross a narrow paddock then turn right through a gate. Walk to a lane at Shoulton.

6 Turn right, then fork left. Turn right at the next junction, then take a footpath on the left. Walk along the edge of a garden then through two fields and across Laughern Brook. Skirt to the right of a knoll, cross a stile and turn left, crossing two fields to Peachley Lane. Turn left and then take the access track to Ashfield Farm. Go into the farmyard, passing left of the house. When the track ends in a field keep straight on by the right-hand hedge until you can turn right, going through a gate and across a paddock to another gate. Keep on across a much larger paddock, climbing slightly to a hedge corner well above Laughern Brook. Keep to the left-hand edge to find a stile in the corner, then keep to the right-hand edge in the next field. When the hedgerow comes to an end you will need to walk across the field to Hallow Lane.

7 Cross the lane, turn left, cross Laughern Brook and take a path on the right which climbs Holly Bank. Turn left at the top, then turn right past a recreation ground to the main road. Turn left when you come to a street and straight on along a path at the end of the street. Cross Hallow Lane and Shoulton Lane to join a footpath which runs beside a brook. Pass a field grazed by donkeys, miniature ponies and a llama before turning right to the main road. Cross to Greenhill Lane.

8 Walk to Greenhill Farm and turn right on a bridleway leading to Bridles End House. Turn right and then, at the next junction, just before a stile, turn left. Go straight on at the next two junctions. When you come to another junction, by green railings, turn left on path 557, then turn right at a hedge corner and walk to Church Lane.

Turn right then take a footpath on the left which heads towards the churchyard and then skirts round to the left of it to reach Hallow Road.

Your Worcester News recommends the use of OS Explorer Maps, your ideal passport to navigating the countryside. This walk is based on OS Explorer 204.