Five walks to do this Easter

Here are five great half day walks for you to do. They are between three and five and a half miles long, are easy to follow and finish near a tea room. After the Easter eggs and other chocolate, you owe it to yourself to have a go at burning off some calories!

Walk 1 A Kinver circuit

Highlights: - Kinver Church, exceptional views, donkeys, the half-timbered Whittington Inn, a rocky section of the Staffs and Worcs Canal, spring flowers.
Distance: 2.5 miles (very strenuous) or 3 miles (moderate).
Going: exceptionally clear paths, slight mud after rain.
St Peter's, Kinver

Views from churchyard

Donkeys

Whittington Pub

Canal and river

Tea rooms: in Kinver: Kinfayre Coffee House, Olga Dunn's tea rooms, Dunsley tea room
The walk. A 2.5mile circular walk - start at Kinver's Acre Car Park (by Post Office), up the steep path to the church, follow Church Lane, then path across to Whittington Inn, and back via Whitting Horse Lane, then right at the canal to Gibraltar. Turn left back into Kinver Though it's a short walk, it is quite strenuous to start with. If the steep path to the church is too much, walk up to Kinver Library (High Street) and make your way up to the church that way (0.5m further, but easier)
See blog,February for more pictures and details


Walk 2: An Arley circuit - the Ferryman walk
Highlights: - Arley village, wooded valleys on the River Severn, glimpses of the Severn Valley railway, Eymore Woods, Trimpley reservoir, views over to Shropshire's Clee Hills, Arley Arboretum
Distance: 4 miles
Going: mostly flat but with some steep (but short) climbs. Very well signposted. Follow the Ferryman logo.
Along the Severn
Cast iron railway bridge
Trimpley

Wide-ranging views

Tea rooms: Arley Arboretum tearooms, Arley tearooms
The walk: park at Arley (public car park) and simply follow the ferryman logos on the signposts. Very easy to follow
More details can be found: on this blog, end Feb, beginning of March


Walk 3 Stourport Circuit
Highlights: - River Severn, riverboats, Hartlebury Common, Staffs and Worcs Canal, Stourport's historic canal basin
Distance: about 5 miles
Going: fairly level, good paths. A short, steep climb to the top of Hartlebury Common (can be avoided if you keep to the low level)

Along the Severn

Stourport's traditional fairground

View from Hartlebury Common

Stourport canal basin
Tea rooms: Blossom's Tea room (by the lock), Windlass (By the basin)
The walk: from the riverside car park, along the Severn to Lincombe Lock. Then through the woods to Lincombe Caravan park, and over the Worcester Road to Hartlebury Common. Cross the common, then down Mill Lane, to join the canal, and back to Stourport Marina. About 5 miles - with options to shorten it. 
More details of walk: on this blog in March "A Stourport Circuit, parts 1, 2 and 3" 


Walk 4 Brewood Circular
Highlights: - canal walking, parts of two long distance paths (Monarch's Way and Staffordshire Way) leafy fields, Chillington Hall, historic Brewood, spring flowers
Distance: 5.5 miles
Going: Mostly flat. Muddy in places. Easy to follow.
Canalside walk
Field paths
Path to Chillington Hall

Brewood centre

Tea rooms: Powells, and the Bistro (both in Brewood)
The walk: Start in the centre of Brewood, and find the Bridge Public House. Turn left onto the canal and follow it till Bridge 7. Turn right onto the Monarch's Way, and follow it until it crosses the Staffordshire Way. Follow the Staffordshire Way back to Brewood, by the church, then make your way back through the village (lovely shops) until you find your car. Very well-signposted and easy to follow
More details of walk on this blog, March, "Brewood Circular"


Walk 5:  Powick to Worcester. The first part of the Monarch's Way.

This walk takes a little organising, because it is one way. There are regular buses from Worcester to Powick (several per hour, except Sundays when they are hourly) Click here for the timetable 
Highlights: - Powick old bridge, historic battlefield site (nothing to see now, but still...), views to the Malverns, River Severn, Worcester Cathedral, Worcester and Birmingham Canal, Diglis Basin (with Narrowboat cafe), the Commandery. Plus the King's House where King Charles hid briefly after the Battle of Worcester.
Distance: 4.5 miles
Going: Flat, easy, and very well signposted. Just follow the Monarch's Way signs

Near the start
Cathedral ahead

Diglis Basin

Historic buildings, Worcester

Tea rooms: Cafe Afloat (Diglis basin). Cathedral tea-rooms (in the Cathedral) Plus lots of refreshments in Worcester
The Walk: The first section of the Monarch's Way, which traces the route of Charles II as he fled the Battle of Worcester. This is from Powick to Worcester, and is about 4.5 miles  - flat and easy to walk, with lots to see. Just follow the Monarch's Way signs. (bus timetable at start of walk)
More details of walk: on this blog, February, "Monarch's Way, the start" "Into Worcester" "some of Worcester's old buildings" 


More details of these walks are on the blog pages devoted to the walks, but if you feel you would like any more just email me: lucygriffiths1112@gmail.com. Or via Facebook, and I will send you an extended description. I have deliberately chosen walks which are easy to follow - there's nothing worse than getting lost!!!!!

Happy walking!