Habberley Valley Circular Walk

With no stiles and clear waymarking throughout, access and finding your way is no problem. The nature reserve is buzzing and blooming with wildlife activity, from raptors soaring overhead to delicate butterflies flitting around pretty purple Heather. Woodpeckers are often seen and heard, trees are ever changing, and Bluebells and other flowers brighten up the woodlands in spring. Whatever time of year you visit, there is bird song and colour all around.

It's a bit of a slog walking up through the woods as you leave the nature reserve, but it really is well worth the effort for what is to follow. Farmland animals are sometimes grazing the pastures, held in by ancient hedgerows and vast old oak trees. The panoramic views as you go over the brow of the hill are spectacular, even on a dull day. On a clear day you can see over 15 miles to the outline of the Birmingham plateau and the urbanised limestone ridge of Dudley and the Black Country.

Bubbling water from Honey Brook can be heard before you see this tributary of the River Stour. The path winds its way alongside this picturesque little stream for a short while. Following an ancient farm track, the route then skirts close to a group of rock houses carved into a sandstone cliff. You can still clearly make out the doors and windows, even though they haven't been lived in since 1949.

The clear bridleway then leads you back between the golf course and fields to Low Habberley and the nature reserve, with a few steps down a short steep path.

This land was once covered by a shallow sea depositing much of the red sandstone that forms the underlying geology and soils. As the glaciers in the north melted, the valley was carved out and formed the rivers we are exploring today. In medieval times the area was part of the large expanse of the Royal Forests with enclosed farmland and unenclosed common pasture you can still see remnants of today.

Route Information:

Start at Habberley Valley Local Nature Reserve on B4190, Wolverley to Bewdley road.  2 ½ miles / 4km, approx 1 ½ - 2 hours.  Grid reference: 802778.

Additional Facilities and Information:

• Free car park
• Summer Visitor Centre
• Information boards
• No stiles and 6 gates.
• A couple of sections can become muddy after rain.
• There are linking paths from Habberley and Franche
• GPS ref: DY115RH

OS Maps:

OS Explorer 218 OS Landranger 138.
Download Habberley Valley Circular Walk leaflet