ORLETON’S country lanes are the firm footing for a family walk this Christmas. Recalling the Three Wise Men following their star, some elementary signs may help us with the way finding. Although there may be some natural signs later on, perhaps we can take note of any satellite dishes when we are leaving the village hall? This is a tip given by the author and “natural navigator” Tristan Gooley. “If you’re lost in a city”, he says, “just look for the satellite dishes. They all point south-east.” We need to start heading north-west on our walk, so we can strike out in the opposite direction up Green Lane past the pub.

By the time we have climbed steadily past Two Turtle Doves, Three French Hens and 6 Geese a-Laying, we need to swing round to the south along, what we’ll call, “Holly” Lane. Now we can think in terms of navigating using the elements. The experienced rambler will probably already know that most of the “weather” and the majority of gales in the British Isles come from the south-west. So, we might begin to feel the wind in our face along this otherwise pleasant stretch of the walk.

When we reach the woodland at Bircher, there’s a good way to check which direction is south. A broad leaf tree such as an oak or an ash will always grow more branches towards the best sunshine, which is why it leans to the south. Have a look at the overall shape made by their branches and you will see that these shapes lean in a certain direction. If there are lower branches growing horizontally, they too will be more pronounced on that side of the tree - the south side.

And to impress your friends, apart from navigation, there’s also a way to work out how long the tree has been there. A broadleaf tree growing out in the open will have a circumference in centimetres roughly two and a half times its age. Give it a hug and if you can just about get your arm round it, then it will be in its seventies. If two people can just about get their arms around it and touch each other’s fingers, it’s more likely to be around 150 years old.

As we climb up through the trees and emerge on the edge of Bircher Common, we begin to get the full picture. Straight ahead are Hay Bluff and the Northern Escarpment of the Black Mountains. That’s exactly south-west. Anywhere now on the common, and especially higher up, if there’s a gorse bush or bracken where sheep are grazing, it can be helpful to have a good look around the bush. In an area so exposed to the elements, one side of the bush is apt to be less healthy than the other, where the sheep take their shelter from those relentless southwest gales. Sometimes the giveaway is a hollow, or at least an area with dead branches, fewer flowers and tiny strands of wool hanging down from the branches. That will be the north eastern edge of the bush.

When we’re ready to leave the common, we need to go north-east ; so we can either follow the eight foot high finger-post leading past Woodend Farm, or trust the gorse and trees to tell us our direction. After we’ve turned south-east down the lane at Pennyfarthing Cottage straight across the main road between the high banks to Orleton, we can rely on the street signs to take us back. Kitchen Hill Road, so named because the area was used as a military catering base in the Civil War, is followed by Millbrook Way back to the hall.

We missed the Maids a-Milking, but mistletoe abounds in the orchards and, in summers past, the quail has been heard singing “wet-my-lips” at Woodend. Sadly though on our visit, there was no sign of his cousin, the Partridge in a pear tree.

Orleton and Bircher

Village, 90% country lane and open common.

3¾ mile easy winter walk. 4 stiles.

Map: Ludlow, OS Explorer 203.

Transport: Bus no 490 calls at the Boot Inn, Orleton.

The Route

1. Orleton Village Hall. Leave and TR for 75m to the B4361. Go straight across, right of the Baker’s Arms, up Green Lane, for Orleton Rise. Pass Rose Cottage and Broad Green Farm to a junction where you turn L, to put the Caravan Park on your R. Gently climb narrow lane, passing Barn Hall, to junction.

2. “Holly” Lane. (Ignore No Through Road ahead). TL past Rise Hill and some holly hedging. (Views open out to Titterstone Clee Hill, the Woofferton Radio Station and Abberley Hill). Descend for about 500m, round L bend to the next T-junction. TR up the (still) surfaced lane. After 200m, pass through gate, some old workings, and go another 75m.

3. Bircher Coppice. Now look for a narrow footpath L. Climb up through the trees, swinging around to the L, and continue quite stiffly up to the stony edge of the coppice. Emerge and keep ahead on the (now) grassy track through the bracken, with a cottage and barn down to the L. The track widens to an aggregate drive (to the cottage), keeping ahead, dropping L and R, passing a small parking area and levelling to a high marker post.

4. Farm drive. Turn sharp L down the farm drive to a shorter marker post, L of Woodend Farm. Descend dingle, ford trickle of a stream and pass Lower Woodend Cottage, up and over stile. Follow the R holly hedge, over stile by next cottage, next stile and towards house other side of next pasture. Cross stile and go R down its drive, past Pennyfarthing Cottage to the lane.

5. Lane. TR (just below the Ashley Moor complex) along lane, past Asley Moor Hall and Temple House, three-quarters of a mile to the B4361. Go straight across up the narrow lane opposite, between high banks, to the T-junction.

6. Kitchen Hill Road. TL past Little Furlongs to reach Orleton Post Office. TL down Millbrook Way back to the Village Hall.