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Severn Valley Walk

A country park and river walk

Map illustrated by Kendall Walford from Oldbury Wells School

 

Start: Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley signed from A442 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster road. Grade: Moderate. Distance: Five miles. Terrain: Gently undulating on field and riverside paths. Quiet Lanes. Refreshments: Pubs and shops in Alveley. Country park visitor centre tea shop open Saturday, Sunday, bank holidays and school holidays. Recommended map: OS Explorer 218 Wyre Forest and Kidderminster.

Today the Severn Valley Country Park spanning both sides of the river to the south of Bridgnorth is a scenic haven with an abundance of wildlife offering peace and tranquillity. But for more than 400 years the area was the scene of intense quarrying and coal mining activities. After the closure of the pit at Alveley in 1969 ownership of the land passed to Bridgnorth District Council who, with the county council, reclaimed the site and turned it into a country park.

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The Route

(1) From the visitor centre walk back along the entry road. Pass the easy access trail and when the road bends sharp right go left through a gateway and head up the field. Pass through another gateway and take the left-hand fork in the path up to the top corner. Go through a gateway and ahead on an enclosed path which bends sharp right. In a corner pass through the facing kissing gate - ignoring the continuing path left - and go ahead to exit on to a road in Alveley.

(2) Go right on the pavement as far as the Methodist church. Here go left on a signed footpath which follows a driveway immediately to the left of the church. Immediately before entrance gates to a house go right on a narrow enclosed footpath to emerge into a field. Go ahead on the field left-hand boundary. In the corner ignore stile and gate and go right to continue on the field edge. Climb a stile and proceed forward on field boundary.

(3) Over another stile - ignore footpath left - and go ahead over the field bearing slightly left to a facing stile just right of the far corner. Go ahead on an enclosed path continuing forward with homes to the left to cross a stile. The route now goes ahead on a concrete drive to a road. Cross the road and through a gateway to go forward on the field left-hand boundary. Keep ahead in the next field, over a stile and forward.

(4) In the field corner do not cross the stile but go right and up the field boundary - with hedge on your left to exit on to a lane. Go left on the road, passing Shropshire Farm. At the first junction bear right and ahead a short distance to the next intersection. Here turn right and keep this lane, which makes a gentle descent and offers good views, for half a mile, ignoring the first footpath left - a waymarked gateway.

(5) Just before a white farmhouse go left on a signed footpath through a gateway. Go ahead on field right-hand boundary, passing through a gateway. Walk through another gateway and continue forward keeping to the right-hand hedge with a motox track to your left.

(6) In the field corner - with the remains of a stone building to the left - the right of way goes right through a gap. The route then veers left and ahead for a few steps, then left and right - treading carefully to avoid hidden stone - to emerge at the top of a steepish slope. Head down the slope keeping as close as possible to the right-hand hedge. Towards the bottom keep to the boundary fence and pass through trees to the river bank. Go right to follow the riverside path for about a mile and a quarter.

(7) Eventually cross a stile and a stone footbridge to enter the country park. Continue on the riverside path - ignoring paths off. Pass a small pond on the right at the end of which go right over a footbridge. Go left on a wide surfaced path. At a junction go right up through the park to the visitor centre.