Battle at Powick Bridge

1 Begin by heading upstream beside the River Teme. Barely a mile (1.6km) to the east, it meets the Severn - site of the Battle of Worcester. After just 200yds (183m) leave the river to go under the bypass. In the far corner of this meadow move right, beside huge trees perhaps standing in water as the meadow is prone to flooding. Go through a gate and waymarked stile ahead, not to the right, and another set away to the left. Cross two very large meadows. In the third field go to the top corner by walking right, round two edges. A stile gives into the once busy Lord's Wood. Hazels were coppiced and oaks were left to stand, many now festooned with ivy. Our route follows a discernible woodlanders' lane.

2 After 300yds (274m) stiles zig-zag out of Lord's Wood. Soon pass a solitary house, then turn left on the public road (views of Worcester Cathedral). Fork right 30yds (27m) beyond the signs 'Powick' and '30'. A few paces past the Three Nuns pub take the unsigned track. At the first bend take a stile, half right. Walk along a left-hand field edge. Passing a house, aim for the far right field corner. Along this right-hand field edge, after 140yds (128m) ignore a low waymarker post; after another 240yds (219m) reach a broad field entrance on the right, but turn left, aiming for a stile half-way down the block of woodland. Out of the trees, go forward 60yds (55m), striking three-quarters right to a footbridge behind a telegraph pole. Skirt right of Elms (farm), picking up its driveway to the A449.

3 Turn right briefly, then cross this fast road carefully, to go perhaps 350yds (320m) along Ridgeway Farm's driveway to a fingerpost. Walk 220yds (201m) up the left-hand field edge, then pass into meadow. Briefly, go close to Carey's Brook, later moving to the right-hand field edge. Go over a corner stile, initially slightly uphill, for two fields. A stile beside a rusted gate gives on to a very wide, green lane. Through another gate in 75yds (69m) - not the pylon field - walk along the right-hand field edge. At a pond turn left. After Broadfields Farm follow its driveway for 400yds (366m) to a cattle grid. Over this, move immediately down to the right. Walk round the young deciduous plantation, then one arable field to the B4424.

4 Turn right on the pavement for 60yds (55m). Cross to a gate and overgrown stile. Turn left, parallel to the road into Powick. After about 300yds (274m) turn down any convenient track, then turn left at the field boundary. Enter St Peter's churchyard by a metal kissing gate. From the outside the stonework of different building phases is very noticeable, a mixture of 12th-, 15th- and 18th-century building.

5 The route goes straight past the church door, beside more graves, to another kissing gate. Go ahead on a level path (not down to the right); this becomes a service road to the A449. You want 'Public footpath, Bransford' up to the left, but cross using traffic-lights to the right. Pass Severn Trent Water's Powick Hams installation, then take a waymarked path through young woodland on the small escarpment for about ¼ mile (400m). Wooden steps lead down to the flood plain. Strike diagonally right, to the underpass and the car park, but you've not quite finished yet!
Stroll along the old and disappearing road to Powick Bridge (the 'new' one dates from 1837). A little further, on the left, is the former hydro-electric power station.