Details of the Walk

A 7 or a 10 mile walk with extensive views of Bredon Hill along the way.

The walk starts at Viaduct Meadow Car Park, Abbey Road, Evesham, and is indicated by the disc ‘Evesham Vale Circular Walk 4’.

1. From the river end of the car park go up the steps and cross the bridge to Pershore Road. Take the pedestrian crossing, turn right to walk along the pavement and, after crossing the River Isbourne, turn left on the footpath signed Hinton and Elmley Castle. This takes you to Mill Road. Turn right and then left on a grassy path. At the end of the gardens, turn right to walk between hedges and fences and then continue ahead on the pavement until you reach a T-junction. Turn left up the grassy bank and follow the bridleway on a metalled track, passing a Christmas tree plantation.

2. Turn right at the signed bridleway that runs alongside a hedge. Pass a gap in the hedge to continue on the bridleway and then follow it round to the left, ignoring the footpath to the right. Eventually, cross a footbridge over Merry Brook, continue ahead towards a house and buildings and then onto a drive to reach Haselor Lane. Turn left here and walk with care on the right hand side of the road facing any oncoming traffic. Pass two cottages and in 200 yards, turn right over a ditch crossing and through a pedestrian gate. Go ahead and then take the metal field gate on your right. Turn left up the orchard to another gate ahead of you. Turn left then immediately right, following the fence. Go through the pedestrian gate ahead and drop down through the wood, emerging into open fields with a splendid view of Bredon Hill and the Malverns in the distance.

Cross diagonally left, looking for a gap in the hedge with a footbridge and pedestrian gate. Continue in the same direction to where the hedge ahead of you bends to the right. Go through the pedestrian gate in the hedge and over the stile. Continue ahead to a pedestrian gate and turn right.

You are now on the Salt Way, an ancient Roman route that ran from Droitwich to the Fosse Way.

3. The main route turns left at a footpath.

If you wish to shorten your walk by three miles, go straight ahead along the bridleway until you reach a metal gate at Point 5 and continue to follow the instructions from there.

The main route footpath meets a track where you turn right. Go through the metal gate and turn left to follow the road through the farm. You are now in Netherton. Continue up the road to a footpath on the right just beyond two cottages. Go over the stile and to your left, you will notice an information board about Netherton and its 12th century medieval chapel. Return to the stile and now go across the field keeping the weeping willow and a pond on your left and with a glimpse of the chapel on your right. Now go through a gap in the hedge and turn right through a metal gate. Head towards the trees in the middle of the field and then make for the far corner. Emerge onto a road and cross to a footbridge and path that leads over a stile and onto a track. Turn right and continue ahead to go through a metal gate and up a track with a large millpond on your left and the former mill on your right. Follow the track and then go up onto the recreation ground. Keep towards the right of the field, making for the bend in the hedge ahead of you and the main gate beyond. The route goes right but first head left into the village with its interesting church and historic Queen Elizabeth Inn.

In 1575 Elizabeth I visited Elmley Castle, staying at the Manor House owned by the Savage Family.

4. Go back down Main Street to the ancient 14th century roadside cross and information board. With the cross behind you, go down the lane and through a wooden pedestrian gate on the left. Follow the left hand hedge to go through a kissing gate and then a pedestrian gate. Keep ahead and follow the left boundary until you see a footbridge. You do not take this footbridge, but turn right here to cross the field. Cross the footbridge and keep ahead aiming towards the left of the farm buildings. Go through the metal gate and turn left down the wide track. Follow it round to the right and then to the left.

5. At the next right hand bend go through the metal gate facing you. This a continuation of the Salt Way. At the open field, keep following the right hand boundary to a metal field gate. The track beyond rises gently, and before a left hand bend, notice the board on your right with information about a WWII Decoy Bombing Site. Continue to a farm track and cross over to a footpath ahead. Follow it to the main track where you go right between farm buildings. At the end of the track go diagonally left to a hedge and follow it down to the bottom of the field. Cross the stile and turn left in front of a barn. Follow the hedge up the field to go through a gap on the left and turn right round the edge of the field to reach a metal gate. Turn right to a stile at the top of the slope. Looking back you can see the whole of the Malvern range and on a clear day, to the Shropshire Hills. Beyond the steps turn left, following the hedge and when you reach the power lines, go diagonally right to a stile. Drop down to the road. Cross this with great care. Turn right on the roadside path and then left to go over a stile to walk between horse paddocks. Continue in the same direction, crossing three more stiles. Pass between fenced orchards to a T-junction and turn right.

6. Cross the lane and continue in the same direction. Turn right beyond the hedge and in 50 yards turn left towards the large barns, crossing a footbridge. Follow the track up to the left of the barns and where the track bends to the left, turn right and then immediately left. Eventually, go through a kissing gate, continue in the same direction to reach a lane and turn right. If the rivers are high, continue down School Road to reach Pershore Road, where you turn left to return to the car park. Otherwise, take a footpath on the left, go through the kissing gate and follow the series of steps down to a kissing gate at the bottom.Go under the bridge down to Hampton Ferry. The ferry is seasonal and if it is operating, you have the option to cross on the ferry and turn right along the riverside back to the car park.

If you are not crossing, turn right to walk alongside the river and when you see the open recreation field walk ahead on the grass with the trees on your left. Turn right where the River Isbourne flows into the Avon to reach the road. Turn left to return to the car park.

About Evesham Vale Circular Walks

This is one of six circular walks to choose from based in the Vale of Evesham.

The walks are managed and maintained by Evesham Rambling Club as part of a project to attract walkers to the area.
Each walk is supported by a leaflet and is waymarked throughout. A QR code on the waymarker discs allows you to access details whilst on the walks.

1. Evesham Country Park
2. Evesham, Badsey, Wickhamford, Aldington
3. The Littletons, Offenham, Cleeve Prior
4. Evesham, Netherton, Elmley Castle
5. Evesham, Charlton, Cropthorne
6. Wickhamford, Murcot, Childswickham