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Home> Walks> England> Worcestershire> Great Witley circuit

Great Witley circuit

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Walk directions

Through an opening, nearly opposite The Hundred House, strike sharply right, aiming for the hedge end beside the last house and a marker post. Turn left on this lane. Walk for 0.5 mile (800m) along here, soon passing firstly Walsgrove Farm and secondly (most of the year) thousands of strutting geese. Do not turn right up a lane but go half right, taking the path that becomes a beautiful wooded avenue, to the top of Woodbury Hill. Reach the second information board.

Take the path ahead just a few paces to turn right at a partially hidden marker post. In 50yds (46m), turn right. Continue forward to walk along the inside edge of a wood. Skirt to the left of the buildings at Birch Berrow, over two stiles, resuming on a gravel, fenced-in path. Take two stiles. Go steeply down, taking a metal kissing gate into thick pines. In pasture again, descend further, reaching The Woodlands’ driveway and a T-junction. Turn right along the tarmac road for 75yds (69m) to a marker post just past 1 Hillside Cottages.
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Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Woodland paths, field paths, tracks, several stiles
  Landscape  - Wooded hills and farmed valleys
  Dog friendliness  - Will be driven wild by geese! Running in woods but lead needed over grazing land
  Parking  - On-road parking in Great Witley
  Toilets en route  - None on route
Walks in Worcestershire
About the walk
What sort of walker are you – ‘any weather’ or ‘fair weather’? Or are you a ‘low pollen count walker’, suffering from hay fever? Grasses are the most common cause, but just about any pollen can produce allergenic reactions. Between 10 per cent and 35 per cent of people suffer from ‘pollinosis’...
Read more
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Walking in Safety

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About the area
Worcestershire is a county of rolling hills, save for the flat Vale of Evesham in the east and the prominent spine of the Malverns in the west. Nearly all of the land is worked in some way; arable farming predominates – oilseed rape, cereals and potatoes – but there are concentrated areas of specific land uses, such as market gardening and plum growing.
Explore Worcestershire
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Hotel
The Elms
★★★★
awardawardaward
"Luxurious and welcoming manor house with comfy rooms and stunning grounds...."
  • Family rooms: 8
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
Inn
The Manor Arms
★★★★★
awardaward
"Attention to detail in all areas of this 17th-century inn..."
  • Rooms 9
  • Wifi
  • Open parking
Inn
The Crown Inn Martley
★★★★
awardaward
"A stylish modern inn with great atmosphere and its own coffee bar...."
  • Rooms 6
Nearby places to stay
The Elms
On the face of it, a quite traditional manor house set in landscaped grounds and surrounded by open countryside. However, guests will discover boutique and unexpected design and appoint...
★★★★    Rating
The Manor Arms
This charming inn enjoys a prominent position in the heart of the pretty village of Abberley and offers guests a range of high quality, stylish bedrooms; many have views of the rolling ...
★★★★★    Rating
The Crown Inn Martley
The Crown, sitting in a charming Worcestershire village had a major refurb in 2024 but despite its contemporary style it hasn't lost its crucial "village pub" vibe. There is a cafe to t...
★★★★    Rating
Manor Holding Cottage
Manor Holding was built of reclaimed oak in the late 17th century for the steward of the adjacent manor. The cottage is warm in winter and cool in summer, and has its own sheltered gard...
★★★    Rating
Manor Holding Cottage
Manor Holding Cottage is a Grade II Listed Jacobean half-timbered farmhouse with a stone kitchen wing. The cottage is located in the middle of the ancient Wyre Forest on the Abberley an...
★★★    Rating
Manor Holding Byre
This beautifully updated half-timbered Jacobean cottage farmhouse with private garden and a glorious barn conversion offers a rural idyll in the historic Forest of Wyre on the border of...
Quality Assessed
Manor Holding Byre
This beautifully updated half-timbered Jacobean cottage farmhouse with private garden and a glorious barn conversion offers a rural idyll in the historic Forest of Wyre on the border of...
Quality Assessed
Restaurant Sow
Set on the tranquil Netherwood estate, Restaurant Sow offers a memorable dining experience with its ethos of sustainability and seasonality right to the front. Supplied by its own organ...
★★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
The Manor Arms
The Manor Arms
   AA Rosette Award
Badgers
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms, Ombersley
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
The Manor Arms
The Manor Arms
   AA Rosette Award
Badgers
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms, Ombersley
   AA Rosette Award
The Venture In Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
Brockencote Hall Country House Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
The Refectory at Stanbrook Abbey Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
L'amuse-Bouche Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Route details
2hrs 30min
Difficulty:
Medium

Gradient:
Challenging


Distance:
4.75 miles (7.7kms)

Ascent:
1150ft (350m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
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Great Witley circuit

Recommended by
Walk details
2hrs 30min
Difficulty:
Medium
Gradient:
Challenging
Distance:
4.75 miles (7.7kms)
Ascent:
1150ft (350m)
Walk directions

Through an opening, nearly opposite The Hundred House, strike sharply right, aiming for the hedge end beside the last house and a marker post. Turn left on this lane. Walk for 0.5 mile (800m) along here, soon passing firstly Walsgrove Farm and secondly (most of the year) thousands of strutting geese. Do not turn right up a lane but go half right, taking the path that becomes a beautiful wooded avenue, to the top of Woodbury Hill. Reach the second information board.
1 of 6

Take the path ahead just a few paces to turn right at a partially hidden marker post. In 50yds (46m), turn right. Continue forward to walk along the inside edge of a wood. Skirt to the left of the buildings at Birch Berrow, over two stiles, resuming on a gravel, fenced-in path. Take two stiles. Go steeply down, taking a metal kissing gate into thick pines. In pasture again, descend further, reaching The Woodlands’ driveway and a T-junction. Turn right along the tarmac road for 75yds (69m) to a marker post just past 1 Hillside Cottages.
2 of 6

Turn right again, back uphill. Continue north for nearly 1 mile (1.6km), with several stiles and gates, walking mostly in trees but later enjoying fine views westwards. Then, on top of Walsgrove Hill, you’ll see the elaborate and magnificent clock tower (1883) of Abberley Hall. (Move right to see the geese again!) Now go steeply down this meadow, to take a stile into a lane. Turn right to the B4203.
3 of 6

Cross carefully. Turn left, along the verge. Take the driveway to Abberley Hall School. Leave the driveway as it swings right, keeping this direction close to the clock tower and all the way, on a track, to the A443. Take the road opposite, ‘Wynniattes Way’, up to the brow of the hill.
4 of 6

Turn right. In about 400yds (366m), reach an obvious trig point. Walk along the ridge path a further 650yds (594m) to a Worcestershire Way sign at a path junction, just beyond which are four trees growing in a line across the path.
5 of 6

Take the path down to the right, initially quite steeply then contouring as it veers right, later descending again. Eventually, at junction with a waymarker, turn left to emerge from the woods over a kissing gate. Walk down two large fields (admire the clock tower, now to your right), meeting the road beside The Hundred House.
6 of 6
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Woodland paths, field paths, tracks, several stiles
  Landscape - Wooded hills and farmed valleys
  Dog friendliness - Will be driven wild by geese! Running in woods but lead needed over grazing land
  Parking - On-road parking in Great Witley
  Toilets en route - None on route
Walks in Worcestershire
About the walk
What sort of walker are you – ‘any weather’ or ‘fair weather’? Or are you a ‘low pollen count walker’, suffering from hay fever? Grasses are the most common cause, but just about any pollen can produce allergenic reactions. Between 10 per cent and 35 per cent of people suffer from ‘pollinosis’...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a county of rolling hills, save for the flat Vale of Evesham in the east and the prominent spine of the Malverns in the west. Nearly all of the land is worked in some way; arable farming predominates – oilseed rape, cereals and potatoes – but there are concentrated areas of specific land uses, such as market gardening and plum growing.
Explore Worcestershire

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Hotel
The Elms
★★★★
awardawardaward
"Luxurious and welcoming manor house with comfy rooms and stunning grounds...."
  • Family rooms: 8
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
Inn
The Manor Arms
★★★★★
awardaward
"Attention to detail in all areas of this 17th-century inn..."
  • Rooms 9
  • Wifi
  • Open parking
Inn
The Crown Inn Martley
★★★★
awardaward
"A stylish modern inn with great atmosphere and its own coffee bar...."
  • Rooms 6
Nearby places to stay
The Elms
On the face of it, a quite traditional manor house set in landscaped grounds and surrounded by open countryside. However, guests will discover boutique and unexpected design and appoint...
★★★★    Rating
The Manor Arms
This charming inn enjoys a prominent position in the heart of the pretty village of Abberley and offers guests a range of high quality, stylish bedrooms; many have views of the rolling ...
★★★★★    Rating
The Crown Inn Martley
The Crown, sitting in a charming Worcestershire village had a major refurb in 2024 but despite its contemporary style it hasn't lost its crucial "village pub" vibe. There is a cafe to t...
★★★★    Rating
Manor Holding Cottage
Manor Holding was built of reclaimed oak in the late 17th century for the steward of the adjacent manor. The cottage is warm in winter and cool in summer, and has its own sheltered gard...
★★★    Rating
Manor Holding Cottage
Manor Holding Cottage is a Grade II Listed Jacobean half-timbered farmhouse with a stone kitchen wing. The cottage is located in the middle of the ancient Wyre Forest on the Abberley an...
★★★    Rating
Manor Holding Byre
This beautifully updated half-timbered Jacobean cottage farmhouse with private garden and a glorious barn conversion offers a rural idyll in the historic Forest of Wyre on the border of...
Quality Assessed
Manor Holding Byre
This beautifully updated half-timbered Jacobean cottage farmhouse with private garden and a glorious barn conversion offers a rural idyll in the historic Forest of Wyre on the border of...
Quality Assessed
Restaurant Sow
Set on the tranquil Netherwood estate, Restaurant Sow offers a memorable dining experience with its ethos of sustainability and seasonality right to the front. Supplied by its own organ...
★★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
The Manor Arms
The Manor Arms
   AA Rosette Award
Badgers
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms, Ombersley
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
The Manor Arms
The Manor Arms
   AA Rosette Award
Badgers
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms, Ombersley
   AA Rosette Award
The Venture In Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
Brockencote Hall Country House Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
The Refectory at Stanbrook Abbey Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
L'amuse-Bouche Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby