Stourport - an easy river walk

It was a sunny day, and my phone said there was 0% chance of rain. So I was a little surprised when this rainbow greeted me as I parked in Stourport

Undaunted, I crossed the bridge and set off on my walk

Stormclouds over the fair 

The flags were fluttering gaily in the breeze

But there's more to Stourport than the fair.  It's the junction of the Staffs and Worcs Canal with the River Severn

If you peer very closely at this picture you will see a kingfisher on the side of the lock. There were several photographers with long lenses there too. The kingfishers are a big attraction! (sorry my camera is just small)

 It's quite turbulent where the two waterways meet

I stopped to buy some lunch at the Windlass Cafe by the side of the canal basin

Sadly, I've given up cake till Easter, so I will need to return then. Brie and cranberry baguette was lovely though

The Tontine Hotel. A Tontine is an agreement where two people own something between them but on the death of one, the other takes the whole lot. You can see that it would be a brilliant motive for murder - but it is now illegal!

The River Severn has its own long distance path - the Severn Way. 224 miles from its source at Pumlumon/Plinlimon to Bristol
There's also the Geopark Way - 109 miles from Bridgnorth to Gloucester

The riverside would be a good place for runners as well as walkers (this mud is not deep)

Across the river to the Redstone Caves - once home to a hermitage, apparently

There's also a busy monster size boatyard (I'm used to narrow boats!)...

... a home to all sorts of rivercraft

The view from the bridge. Riverboats sparkling in the sun.

There was lots to see, so I'll continue this tomorrow.

Today's Walk: parking in the carpark by the Leisure Centre, cross the bridge and just walk along the Severn. I walked as far the Hampstall pub (on the other side of the river though) and returned by the same route. 5.5 miles in total. The route is suitable for runners as far as Lincombe Lock, but after that it is muddy and there are fallen trees to climb over, so it would make progress slow.