Severn stroll: Bewdley to Arley - and return by steam train

Everyone should try this walk at least once!
I parked at Bewdley, (Lax Lane car park)

..and walked along the River Severn. If you don't know Bewdley, allow time to explore its architecture, free museum, and cafes.

Bridges across the Severn are quite rare as it gets wider: the next bridge is 4.5 miles away at Arley, which is where I was heading.

 A rowing session for new oarswomen

The path is easy to follow for the whole length

Ahead, the supports for the former Bewdley to Tenbury railway bridge.

The route passes some splendidly isolated cottages

... and some cosy-looking chalets; all different.

I admired this bark and wished I knew more about trees!

This bridge carries water supplies from the Elan Valley to Birmingham.

The path goes through Seckley Woods. If you prefer river views, you may like to do this walk in the winter (though the trains don't always run then!)

The green grass is the dam for Trimpley Reervoir

Coming onto view, Victoria Bridge

It carries the Severn Valley Railway

A close up: it was built in Coalbrookdale in 1881, by John Fowles, Engineer and Brassey and Co Contractors

A steam train passed nearby.

Arley village, from the footbridge. Lovely cafe, plus another in the nearby Arboretum. But I went to the village shop where they were selling limited edition Worcestershire Plum ice cream. Worth doing the walk for!

I ate it while admiring the view.

I could have returned to Bewdley on the other side of the river, but instead, I re-crossed the footbridge ...

...to Arley Station, with its handy timetable. (Different on different days, so it pays to check beforehand)

The ticket office

The fares: £5 to return to Bewdley. Bargain for such a fantastic experience!

On the platform

View from the train

Trimpley reservoir

You can hang out of the windows on old trains.

Bewdley Station

From the station footbridge.

Another train comes steaming though

A clear view of the fire which stokes the boiler.

It is possible to walk back from Arley, on the other side of the river, making it a walk of around 8.5 miles. But why would you when you can ride on a fabulous old train? Check the timetable by clicking here

Today's walk: Park in Bewdley and follow the riverside path to Arley. The best side is to have the river on your right. The path is clear and it is a good 4 miles - don't believe the fingerpost which says it's 3.5 miles. The walk is clearly signposted and easy to follow. Some of the path may be muddy after rain. And it took me longer than I thought it would. Visit Arley village then walk back over the footbridge to Arley Station. Train ride back to Bewdley, and return to your car.
NB Check the timetables carefully as they change depending on day/season. Allow 2.5/3 hours for the walk: this should give you time for an ice cream/visit to the cafe.
NB 21st-26th September is the Flying Scotsman event. No tickets available on those days. On days when no events are planned, you can just turn up and pay at the station.

A walk with a view - and three masts. Cleeve Hill, Gloucs

Walks with great views for minimal effort always appeal to me. And this walk is one of them!

Starting off at the public car park by Cleeve Hill Golf Club,..

I followed the Cotswold Way for a short distance southwards (ie towards Cheltenham).

Leaving the Golf Club behind,

...the view was soon extensive

After a few hundred metres, I took the left hand fork (you can just see the Cotswold Way curving round the hill in the distance)

My route was the Winchcombe Way and it's fairly well marked  (after the fork though, that bit you have to work out for yourself). That's it on the right, heading straight towards three radio masts on the horizon)

Two miles in, my lunch stop with a great view

The path continued...

...and I turned off it towards the radio masts, looking grim in all the cloud.

From there, I rejoined the Cotswold Way, but this time heading northwards, back to the start. The sunshine was so dazzling I coud barely see Cheltenham through the trees

The way descends a bit, but the waymarks are fairly clear.

Cheltenham and its surrounding hills - the sun  disappeared again at this point!

I hadn't realised how hilly it was round here - I should pay more attention to contour lines really!

Cheltenham Race Course in fleeting sunshine

The ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort ahead

It's large, and well-preserved.

The Malverns framed through the earthworks 

Continuing on the path, more panoramic views

There were lots of seats all the way along this ridge. I was sorry I didn't have time to try them out!

Rain threatened in the distance (towards Wales)

This trig point is also the highest part of the Cotswold Way.

There are a few scars where stone has been quarried. The person on the skyline gives an indication of scale

And back to the car park, which is in another quarry.

This was a really nice walk, with good views almost throughout, easy way-finding and not too much climbing. I recommend it. If you ever have to go to Cheltenham, leave yourself an afternoon to do this

Today's walk: Park at the car park by the Golf Club (not in the Club itself, but though the gates just afterwards). Follow the Cotswold way until the path forks after a few hundred metres. Then follow a clear stony track for around two miles. You're going the right way ifyou're heading towards the 3 radio masts. Near the masts, turn off towards them and through the small car park, down the road. Then turn left onto a path (signed Cotswold Way, but the post is rather hidden). This descends through woodland for a while and the climbs back onto the ridge. The actual Cotswold Way is difficult to make out in places as there are so many paths, but just choose any path along the ridge and you'll get back to the start.