Abberley

(S/E) From the village Hall car park and Start /Finish point, turn left and follow the road for 1⁄3 mile to the village centre.

(1) With the Manor Arms country inn on your left, set off down the lane for about ¼ mile, passing the old church yard on your right, and, further on, an old pear orchard. Watch for traffic as you go.

(2) At the bottom of the dip leave the lane over a stile on the left and follow the path along the field edge. Cross another stile and continue ahead, up the drive, almost to the cottage. Take the steps up the bank to the left of the cottage, go over a stile and turn right along the field edge with a small woodland on your right.

(3) Continue straight on, passing a second small woodland on your right then turn diagonally right to cross open pasture, over a rise and then ahead down to a gatein the corner to re-join the lane. Turn left and follow the lane to Netherton House where you join the Worcestershire Way.

(4) Turn right to follow the Worcestershire Way waymarks down the farm track and up the opposite slope to another lane. Watching for traffic, turn left and follow the lane for about 250m.

(5) Shortly after you have passed the entrance to Shavers End quarry, look for a signpost on your right and take the path along the side of the hill. There is a wide view to the east over the valley of Dick Brook, with the tall tower of Astley Church in the centre. The path climbs diagonally across a small field and then heads up the steep hill beside the former quarry.

(6) At the top of the hill, turn left through the conifer woodland and then right through a mix of Sweet Chestnut, ancient yew, Ash and a single Spindle Tree which overhangs the path. Eventually, after about a mile of woodland and scrub, you will reach the highest point of the hill, marked by a concrete triangulation point. From here you can see Woodbury Hill and the tall needle of Abberley Clock Tower. Begin you descent by continuing to follow the path for about 300m until you meet a Lane.

(7) Leave the Worcesteshire Way here by turning right and following the lane for about 200m, at which point, take the path which leaves the road on the left. Follow this path steeply down through a short section of woodland and then two fields. At the cottage, go over two gates, then straight on, to the bottom left hand corner of the pasture, to a lane which takes you back to the village.

(8) Follow the road back to the village Hall and the Start/finish point.(S/E)

Parking : Parking is available at the Start /Finish point at the village Hall, 10 mins. (1/3 mile) from Abberley village centre. Large groups please pre-book parking on 01299 896213.

Gates and stiles : 10 gates and 3 stiles.

Terrain : This is a challenging walk with several steep sections. Depending on the time of year the surface may be slippery and wet in places.

Waymarking : Simply follow the Abberley Circular Walk ‘clock tower’ symbol and direction arrows and you won’t get lost.

Find out more on Worcestershire County Council here.