A Walk to The Heart of England Forest
Before starting this walk you must first register with Dorsington Farms (01789 491 391) to use their Permissive Footpath.
Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended.
The walk starts at the village hall. Follow the main road towards The Gate Inn. TAKE GREAT CARE to cross this road to get to the gate adjacent to The Gate Inn car park opposite, that leads to the footpath to the Church. Follow this path through two fields and into the churchyard. Keep to the left-hand edge and exit at the kissing gate. Follow the road around to the right until you arrive at the T-junction at the cemetery. Opposite you will see a stile in the right-hand corner near to the cemetery fence. Over this stile and another stile into the main field * where you will follow the hedge on your left-hand side until you arrive at the stile onto the Mickleton Road. TAKE GREAT CARE when crossing this road, over the next stile into the next field *. Head towards the railway bridge in the far left corner of this field. Over another stile and out onto Stratford Road. Turn right and TAKE GREAT CARE when walking (facing the oncoming traffic) under two railway bridges.
Immediately after the second bridge turn right onto the bridleway. Pass by the cattle grid ** and follow the tarmac surface to a large field gate by the house. Through this gate, along the track, and up the gentle gradient to the top of the hill. The top field is expected to be planted as woodland, with wide rides to protect the views of Pebworth and Meon Hill. When you arrive at the signpost at the top of the hill, turn around to admire the view – a lovely spot for a picnic (but remember to take your litter home with you!). You will see Honeybourne church below, and sweeping views including (from the left) Cutsdean Hill (305 m high), Oxenton Hill (223m), Dumbleton Hill (168m), Forest of Dean (up to 290m) with the Black Mountains (up to 886 m) behind, Bredon Hill (299 m) and the Malvern Hills (up to 425 m high).
If you follow the footpath sign along the top of the hill with the hedge on your left, you will pass through two large fields before arriving at the Pebworth Road near the top of Baylis’ Hill. TAKE GREAT CARE to cross this road and pass through the steel field-gate into the next field. You are now entering The Heart of England Forest with permissive use only for this walk. Follow the stone track through this field towards the left-hand corner where you will see the footpath sign. Turn right and walk with the hedge on your left – noting the view of Meon Hill to your right – until you arrive at a steel gate. Do not pass through this gate. Turn left into the next field and follow the track downhill through the plantation of young trees, passing through the marsh grass until you rejoin the stone path near the large steel padlocked gates. Facing the gate, turn left and walk in the direction of the pylon on top of the hill, and follow the path to the right of the pylon. Continue to follow this path as it meanders uphill towards the next pylons, and then pass through the steel gate between the pylon and telegraph pole. Please shut the gate behind you as you leave the forest. Please remember that you have been on private land – this is not a public right of way – with the kind permission of the Dorsington Estate.
Turn right and follow the path downhill with the wire fencing on your right. Keep the hedging on your left as you continue downhill through the open field. Over the stile and across the field in an eleven o’clock direction to the next stile, and into the next field ***. Walk straight ahead to the stile at Buckle Street.
TAKE GREAT CARE to cross the road, turn left and walk facing the traffic over the railway bridge. Follow the road back to the Village Hall passing the Ranch Caravan Park and All Things Wild.
We hope you have enjoyed your walk today, and that we have whetted your appetite for a variety of future walks during 2022 using the Public Rights of Way (PROWs) in the Parish of Honeybourne. A great way to gently improve your fitness and wellbeing, whilst appreciating the beautiful countryside in which we live.
Email [email protected] for copies of any walks, to express concerns, or seek advice on how to best enjoy Honeybourne’s PROWs.
* expect sheep
** expect cattle
*** expect horses
April 2022