Walk 1: Broughton Hackett and Froxmere 

6.3 miles / 10.1 km (approx 2¼ - 2¾  hours)

Map Walk One

A lovely walk alongside orchards with magnificent views of Upton Snodsbury church from Broughton Hackett; with glimpses of the Malvern and Bredon Hills from the E of Bow Wood.

It passes through the interesting hamlet of Froxmere past the Grade 2 listed Froxmere Court, a Jacobethan-style building with fantastic chimneys.

This walk is particularly lovely in the Autumn when Bow Wood turns into a mass of reds, yellows and golds, although the short walk across the middle of the field near New Hall Farm can get muddy.  A cold, crisp winter day is also a good time to do this walk when the ground may be hard underfoot.

1. From the Village Hall go down College Road onto Pershore Road (B4082) turn right after Cutts Pool onto Cowsden Lane.  Turn R after the gate and go along the R of the field to a green lane (Foomer’s Way).  About 50m down the green lane, turn L and follow the footpath across three fields then R onto Lower Cowsden Lane.  Walk to the crossroads and cross Peopleton Road.
   
2. Follow Edward’s Lane to Edward’s Bridge and cross Bow Brook.  Follow the footpath along the R field edge, go R through the gate, cross the tree-lined track and into the field opposite.  Follow the Bridleway on the R of the field, L round a corner and through the second gate R.  Follow the Bridleway along the R of the field, through the gate opposite and turn R to join a track and along it for a few metres to the end.
   
3. Go through the gate and follow the Bridleway straight on with the field boundary L to a gate opposite and down to the cattle grid.  Go past the March Hare Leisure Centre and up the lane to Broughton Hackett.  Cross the A422, turn R, walk 20-30m and turn L just after The Hop Kilns.
   
4. Walk around 50m along the lane, R over a stile and continue almost to the end of the wide grassy track.  (Good views N towards the orchards outside Crowle).  Take the footpath R immediately before the field boundary across a wooden bridge, through a gate into a field (Good views E towards Upton Snodsbury).  Follow a footpath alongside power lines through two fields, hedge to the L.  Where the hedge bends sharply L continue straight on and in 50m cross a stony track, follow the edge of the next field hedge R, over a stile, slightly L to cross a bridge over Bow Brook.
   
5. Go straight ahead from the bridge, through a gate and field to the gate opposite. Immediately before the gate turn L, along the R of the field, through a small gate and R again then over stiles to the gates and the track at Court Farm. 

For a shorter walk you could turn R to head back to the Village Hall; this route continues towards Bow Wood.

6. Take the Bridleway N, passing below the spinney in the middle of the field towards double gates at the L (W) corner of the wood (lovely view W towards the Malvern Hills).  After the gates, follow the Bridleway across the field, through a gate and R onto Froxmere Road.  Follow the tarmac lane through Froxmere, to a gate at the far end.  Go round the R side of two fields with Bow Wood R to double gates.  After the gates turn R and go diagonally across the field through a gate at the L of the fence.
   
7. Go S down the L of the field through the double gates, up the rough track, past the football field and up the slope to the A422.  Cross the main road by Red Lion House and down Pershore Road (B4082) back to the Village Hall.
   

Follow this link to download a PDF of the route with sketch map:  Walk One Route

 © Hilary Williams