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Kemberton Walk

Old mills by the stream

Map illustrated by Kendall Walford from Oldbury Wells School

Start: The parish church in Kemberton, south west of Shifnal. Grade: Moderate. Distance: Three and three-quarter miles. Terrain: Level walking on field and woodland paths. Some paths over cultivated fields. Refreshments: Mason's Arms in Kemberton. Recommended map: OS Explorer 242 Telford and Wrekin.

This walk from Kemberton includes a section of the Wesley Brook and passes sites where once stood water mills. The most impressive is Evelith Mill where the fine mill house still stands. From here the walk goes through King Charles' Wood in which the king is said to have taken refuge after being spotted by the miller at Evelith as he took flight from the Battle of Worcester.

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The Route

(1) With your back to the church gate go left along the road through the village.

(2) Immediately after the entrance to High Farm (Poole's Yard) go left and ahead along an enclosed signed footpath, continuing forward on field boundary a short distance to a stile in the corner. Cross and ahead to another stile. Go forward over an arable field bearing slightly left aiming for the centre of the thick row of trees ahead. Go ahead in the next field passing end of the hedgerow, right, with trees left for a few paces only.

(3) Cross stile on the left. Go half right down the slope through the trees to edge of the field. Go half right and ahead on a very gentle descent cutting off the right-hand corner. Pass through gap in the hedge and continue ahead on the same line to a stile on to a lane.

(4) Go right on the road. Ignore a road, right, and continue ahead. Pass through a gateway and walk straight ahead leaving what is now a concrete road which sweeps left. Within a few paces when the wide path bends sharp left go right down a tree-lined sunken path - the site of  a former paper mill.

(5) Ignore a footbridge over the Wesley Brook and continue forward on the well-walked path with the meandering stream on your left. Eventually the footpath temporarily leaves the brook, crosses the bottom of a field and goes ahead on field edge. Cross a stile and continue ahead now with the brook down to the left. Over a stile and on through a conifer coppice to exit on to a lane at Evelith.

(6) Go left on the road for a short distance. Opposite Evelith Mill house go right and ahead on a bridleway through King Charles' Wood. At a T-junction go right over two footbridges and ahead to the site of Kemberton Mill. At the houses veer right - signed Kemberton - and ahead on the unmade driveway. Pass through a gateway and immediately go right on a hedged footpath. At the end of the enclosed route, at a gate, go left over a stile and right along the field boundary for about 40 yards to a marker post.

(7) Here go left up a footpath between open fields aiming for a metal power line. Continue forward passing a lone tree and finger post, about 40 yards after which go right on a track. Do not pass through the facing gateway but go left and ahead on field edge - hedge right. About half way along the field go right through a gap, go left and continue ahead on a green lane to a lane.

(8) Go left on the road passing a cottage. Within a short distance, immediately before the next house go right and ahead on the gravel drive continuing forward on the field boundary. Immediately after a wooden stable, right, and opposite a cottage garage go right over a stile. Go left to follow the field boundary round and up to stile continuing ahead to exit on to the road in Kemberton. (The pub is a short distance on the road straight ahead). For a return to the church go right.