The lovely thing about staying here is that some of the best walks in Worcestershire start right at the gates. You do not have to load the car up and drive off somewhere, you just step out, turn left down the lane, and off you go. Footpaths run right past us. It really is that easy.
And one of our favourites has two pigs on it.
Down Well Lane to meet Itch and Scratch
At the bottom of the lane there is a little lane called Well Lane, and that is where the walk properly begins. Two pigs live down there, one called Itch and one called Scratch, and we always send our guests off to go and feed them. They are captivating, honestly, they just come trotting over and it makes people grin from ear to ear. When was the last time you fed two pigs called Itch and Scratch?
Carry on past them and the little footpath goes through to a little church, and it is a really nice place to wander, quiet and old and lovely, the kind of spot you would never find unless someone pointed you at it. That is half the fun of walking from the gates, you find these little corners you would drive straight past.
On to Drew’s and the orchard loop
Keep going and you reach Drew’s, where you can buy hand picked tomatoes picked that very day, and another of the Drew brothers sells asparagus cut that day, or it will be raspberries or strawberries, whatever is local at the time. So you pick up a punnet, eat it as you walk, and it tastes like nothing you get in a shop.
From there you loop back through the Bulmers apple orchards and home to the huts, a proper circular walk with something to eat in your hand and countryside all around you. It is not a long day out and it is not a big adventure, it is a punnet of strawberries and a couple of pigs and an old church, but that is what it is all about. Simple, but that’s what it’s all about.
The Worcestershire Way is right here too
If you fancy stretching your legs a bit further, we are only five minutes from the Worcestershire Way, so a good long walk is never far off. You can wander out for a couple of hours and be back at the hut with the kettle on and a bath filling before you know it, which is one of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon here. The huts stay warm whatever the weather, so coming back in from a walk with cold cheeks and muddy boots is one of the cosiest bits of a stay, isn’t it.
A few simple tips before you set off
Bring proper boots, that is the main one, because the footpaths and the orchard loop can get soft underfoot, especially through the winter and after rain. It is worth a look at what is in season too, because the fruit at Drew’s changes right through the year, tomatoes and asparagus and berries all coming and going as the months turn, so there is always something a little bit different to pick up.
Any time of year is a good time to be out on these lanes, spring and summer for the fruit and the light evenings, autumn for the orchards, and a crisp winter walk followed by a hot bath is hard to beat. Ask us when you arrive and we will happily point you the right way, that is what we are here for. There is more to explore on our out and about page, and if you want to know why a countryside break does you so much good, we wrote a bit about that here.
All six of our huts make a fantastic base for it, whether you settle into the Ashwood for two or bring the little ones along to the Montana. Come and swap the everyday for a walk down Well Lane, and book your stay with us.
