The Reivers Way. Paddy Dillon

straight along an enclosed path and later go through a gate. Follow a grassy path flanked by gorse and thorns, keeping well to the left of High Town. Go through a gate and follow a track away from the farm, but turn left up a path on a wooded slope.

      Keep to the edge of the wood, watching for pheasants and deer, and avoid a couple of lesser paths climbing to the left. The path climbs more steeply and bends left to reach the top of a plantation. Turn right through a gate and walk alongside a wall. Pass through two large fields, converging with a pylon line to reach a gate and a road near West Farm.

      Turn right along the road to reach a junction where a grassy patch sits in the road. Keep straight ahead as signposted for Lightwater Cottages, following a grassy path between forest plots of different ages. Note the parallel lines of tumbled drystone walls, which the path follows faithfully through Dipton Wood. Enough light reaches the forest floor for it to support plenty of heather and bilberry.

      Cross over a prominent track around 190m (625ft) and keep straight ahead along another track as marked. Climb a little, then descend, and the path is worn deeply into creamy, soft sandstone. When Lightwater Cottages are reached, walk down the access road to reach the B6306.

      Turn right up the road, then left as signposted for Ordley, passing through a stone gateway and following an access road down to a stud farm at Linnel. Keep right of all the buildings and go through a gate into a field. Look across the field to spot another gate, where a track leads down a wooded slope. Cross a footbridge over Devil’s Water, then climb up stone steps to reach a track.

      Turn right to follow the track a little downhill, then uphill.Nunsbrough Wood is managed by the Woodland Trust, while a nearby wildflower meadow is designated access land. Turn left down a path to enter the meadow at a gate and stile, turning right to follow a path through it. Cross a little footbridge and walk upstream beside Devil’s Water, towards a fine house and garden at Peth Foot. Before reaching the house, turn left to cross a footbridge. The Travellers Rest lies uphill off-route, offering food, drink and accommodation.

      Turn right to continue along Devil’s Water, crossing a footbridge over a little inflowing stream. Walk through dense forest until the path drifts uphill away from the river and reaches a road. (Turning left uphill leads off-route to Dukesfield Hall Farm bed and breakfast.) Turn right down the road, but don’t cross a bridge at the bottom, instead turning left along a broad track. Crossing the bridge allows walkers to reach a bed and breakfast at Juniper.

      Again, the route traces Devil’s Water upstream through a wooded valley, passing a curious ruin that was once a smelt mill. The track later leaves the forest and heads through fields to reach a house at Redlead Mill. Walk straight past the house and through a gate to continue further upstream.

      The track ahead was used by both Wade and Roberts, but is not a right of way. It leads further upstream, then pulls away from the river and climbs to a bend on a quiet road near Viewley.

      To stay on rights of way, however, turn left after leaving Redlead Mill and follow the track away from the river, then head right along a forest path. Continue up through fields and keep left of the farm buildings at Steel Hall. Turn right to follow a track past the farm and across fields to pass a solitary byre. Enter a forest and walk straight ahead to reach the bend on the road near Viewley.