The Swan Inn - Local Walks

From The Swan Inn car park lead off towards the church, leaving the war memorial on your right take the westbound public footpath at the far corner of the triangle over two stiles and through the Rectory garden. Follow the field edge south and then west turning L onto the B4080 Eckington road.

After 100 metres take the marked footpath R westwards along the ridge with fine views in all directions and overlooking the Bow Brook, with Defford arranged on the other side of the valley. Through the kissing gate R leading to the boardwalk and bridge over Bow Brook and on past the nature reserve home to sedge warblers, reed buntings, willow herbs, meadowsweet, flag iris and loosestrife. Skirting the nature reserve the footpath leads you to the A4104 Upton Road. Cross into Crown Lane and follow Harpley Road to the delightful St James Church with its unusual half timbered tower and porch. The church is simple and unspoiled. If it is locked the interior can be viewed from outside through its windows.

Leaving the Church on your left, turn north up Church Street past a war memorial to radar pioneers and the millennium green and overlooking the Defford radar and satellite farm. Continue through the fields R into Croome Road, Bluebell Lane and eastwards to the A4014.

Cross the Bow Borrk using Defford Bridge then turn immediately R following the marked footpath diagonally across the field leaving the glasshouses and poly-tunnels on your right. Turn L onto the B4080 Eckington Road 100 metres, at the bend take footpath R eastwards past several houses and, passing the village gricket ground, on through kissing gates and a small wood. R onto the Birlingham Road L at the junction, and immediately R onto the marked public footpath diagonally across the field to the style and into Church Street, and so back to The Swan Inn for welcome refreshment and congratulations!