Head into churchyard and exit via a kissing gate into a field. Instantly, you’ll see views of the impressive Rous Lench Court ahead. Pass up the side of an old moat on your left and follow the line up beyond a very tall Wellingtonia to a stile. Cross a track to a further stile and climb towards pines and a stile (turn around for your first glimpse of The Malverns). Cross a field using the same line to a copse beyond.

Beneath a lime tree, cross a stile, skirt the edge of a fenced plantation to a stile. Maintain the right hand field margin to a metal gate. Pass between trees to a further gate and farm building. Take the bridleway half-right for 546yds (500m) to a road. Turn left and in 328yds (300m) left again beside decorative double electric gates (and just before a bridge) to walk beside a driveway then sunken path for 0.5 miles (800m). Arriving at a gravel track in woodland, turn right. Follow the track, becoming a lane, for 0.75 miles (1.2km), before joining a road to ‘Atch Lench’. Atch Lench has attractive half-timbered black and white houses that are worth a look on a short detour along the main street.

As the road turns a sharp corner, take a footpath between gardens, left of Corner Cottage. In 11yds (10m), take the right of two paths, by a gate, to keep the hedge on your left. At a metal gate, keep the hollow hedgerow ash on left and maintain left-hand field margin to a hedge gap and large oak, then swap sides. Over a stile, cross a field to a footbridge and keep a hedge on the right. Ignore footpath on right in 219yds (200m) and move straight on, around the field edge to a gate then fingerpost in the top left-hand corner of field, beside a horse arena. At a minor road, turn right for 219yds (200m) and at staggered crossroads, left. Take care on the road for 656yds (600m).

At a sharp bend, take a bridleway on right beside an orchard. At the top left field corner, cross a gap and follow left-hand field edge, arriving in Sheriff’s Lench. At a road turn right, through the village and right again in 109yds (100m). In 328yds (300m), around a sharp bend in the road, take a footpath by a hidden fingerpost and gulley drain. Walk the right-hand field edge until fencing runs out, then across centre of field, maintain same line, towards a clump of small ash trees in the hedge. Pass through hedge into the next field and aim for the black, timber-clad house. Leave the field by a gate to the road.

Walk left along the road. 55yds (50m) past the sign for Lenches Lakes, turn right to a waymarked bridleway. In a further 295yds (270m), ignoring first public footpath sign, take fingerposted bridleway, becoming a lane, for 0.6 miles (1km). At a crossroads, turn left into Main Street to the church. Through the churchyard to a gate, you’ll find a comfortable bench by the village hall car park with views of the Malverns and Shropshire Hills.

Leave the car park by a gate marked Wychavon Way. Through a further gate, take right-hand field edge to a gate and wooden steps. Descend straight down towards woodland. Cross a stile then footbridge and ascend along righthand field margin. Into woodland, maintain the same line. At a fork, bear left for Wychavon Way, then a second, straight on, beside stock fencing crossing several tracks to clear the wood. Exiting the wood at a metal gate, walk the edge of the ridge and admire the views of the entire length of the Malvern Hills. Take the left-handed of two gates (in the corner). Walk the right-hand field edge and turn right at the lane to return to Rous Lench and the church.