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Chelmarsh Walk

Spot the water birds

Map illustrated by Kendall Walford from Oldbury Wells School

Start: The parish church in Chelmarsh three miles south of Bridgnorth on the B4555 Bridgnorth-Highley road. Grade: Moderate. Distance: Four miles. Terrain: Gently undulating on field and good tracks. Quiet lanes. Refreshments: Kings Arms at Sutton and Bulls Head in Chelmarsh. Recommended map: OS Explorer 218 Wyre Forest and Kidderminster.

Chelmarsh Reservoir lies in the Severn valley and provides not only household supplies but is also a leisure facility with dinghy sailing and nature reserve offering the opportunity for some serious bird spotting.

This walk starts from the village of Chelmarsh which sits on a ridge overlooking the reservoir. The walk route offers good views over the fine stretch of water. Some of the walk follows a new cycleway and the Jack Mytton Way - a long distance Shropshire bridleway.

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The Route

1) With your back to the church lych gate go right down the lane. Within a short distance, when the lane bends sharp left, go right on a signed cycleway - ignoring bridleway through gate right - and follow enclosed surfaced path. At a fork bear right keeping to the cycleway. From here there are views of the wildlife 'scrape' which has been created at the north-west end of the reservoir.

(2) At a T-junction go left downhill on a wide tree-lined bridleway. Ignore a stile, right, and go ahead to walk along the end of the reservoir. Keep the track forward as it makes a short ascent. Pass through a gateway and bear left through a second gateway and ahead a few paces to a waymark post.

(3) Go right on a track with cottages to your right. Go forward keeping barns on your right and within a short distance pass through a gateway. Keep ahead, with hedge on your left, now with splendid views of Chelmarsh Reservoir. Pass through a gate in the field corner. Straight ahead over the field to pass through gate.

(4) Go immediately right though another gateway and go ahead downhill on the stone-surfaced path. Ignore a stile, right, into the wood (most people have!) and continue downhill crossing what sometimes can be a shallow ford. Join the road serving the sailing club and continue forward uphill to pass entrance to boarding kennels.

(5) At the crest of this first rise - opposite a Concealed Drive road sign - go right through a gateway. Go straight across the field to a gate. Pass through and go right on field boundary for about 35 yards then veer left and ahead up the field to join the right-hand hedge-line. Follow the field boundary to a gate and then continue forward and an enclosed track uphill to exit on to a lane.

(6) Go left on the road for a short distance. At the brow of the hill go right at a wide entrance and immediately go right over a stile. Go left and ahead keeping a line of concrete fence posts on your left to arrive at a stile. Cross and pass through what, at the height of summer can be a very short overgrown stretch, before bearing half right to a stile to exit into the car park of the Kings Arms.

(7) Go left on the road and then right along Covert Lane. Ignore footpath, right, and keep the lane for a quarter of a mile. Pass a Private Drive and immediately before the next house go right on a metalled roadway signed to Denn Farm. When the surfaced roadway swings sharp right continue forward on a green lane, ignoring a crossing footpath. When the track goes right carry on ahead to eventually pass Brickhouse Farm.

(8) At the road in Chelmarsh go right. At the T-junction - with the Bulls Head to the right - go left on pavement back to the church.