Severn Way

210 miles / 337 km   

In our modern world, where the pace of life gets ever faster, it's very satisfying to be able to experience places at a walking pace. We miss so much as we dash past in our cars. On foot you can breathe in the fresh air along the waymarked route, as it traces the course of Britain's longest river, through wild mountain landscapes with waterfalls, forests, market towns rich in half timbered houses, wooded valleys, fruit orchards, water meadows, mudflats and dozens of interesting places in between

The Severn Way Walkers’ Guide gives helpful advice and phone numbers, planning information, colourful photos and an easy to follow route map and text. Whether you are doing the whole route in one go or in sections or are just looking for a day out, it offers lots of ideas to start you on your way.  You can also visit the Severn Way website at www.severnway.com

The River Severn drains the rain that falls on a dozen counties, including Worcestershire. It used to be the easiest route to transport goods across the country. Coal and iron from Ironbridge, wood and charcoal from the Wyre Forest, salt from Droitwich, and wine from Bristol were just a few of the goods that came up and down the river.  

The wildlife is as varied as the countryside around it. You may see deer in the forests and remote uplands, Waders on the Severn Estuary, elsewhere Buzzards, bats, Kingfishers, otters, damselflies, woodpeckers, dragonflies, owls, hares, fish, herons - stay alert and anything may turn up. No riverside walk is complete without seeing a few of the classic river birds - Kingfisher, Dipper, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Heron and Redshank are all possibilities in different stretches of the river, with swans, ducks, Moorhen and Coot being a sure bet. Riverside and water loving flowers like Marsh Marigold, Ragged Robin, Cuckoo Flower and Watermint can all be found. The variety of wild flowers matches the variety of habitats - woodland, riverside, moors, meadows and saltmarshes to name a few.

The route rises on the wild Plynlimon plateau in mid Wales, before plunging through the forest. As the valley widens the route passes through the medieval town of Newtown, the centre of the Welsh flannel industry. Montgomeryshire canal passes in the shadow of some of the oldest hills in Britain. The rocks of Breidden Hill and The Wrekin are about 800 million years old. Crossing over the border into England, explore the narrow medieval streets, courtyards and alleyways of Shrewsbury. Just downstream the riverside pastures conceal the site of viroconium, one of the foremost Roman sites in the country.

In its middle reaches the Severn carves its way through limestone and sandstone to form a long, sinuous gorge. Sheltering beneath its cliffs is the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Cool broadleaf woodlands, rich in wildlife, cling to the gorge downstream of Ironbridge. Bridgnorth and Bewdley are next on the route, attractive towns and former inland ports, which now offer good services for the walker.

Heading towards Worcester the landscape is less severe, with fruit orchards and pretty villages with half-timbered houses becoming prominent. The massive cathedral towering beside the river marks a change in character of the Severn Valley. South of the city the river plain widens, with the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds on either side.

The ancient abbey town of Tewkesbury follows, with rich pastures and croplands to Gloucester, probably the oldest settlement along the Severn, renown today for its Victorian docks and ornate Cotswold stone cathedral. This is the highest level to which the tide flows. South of this, the Severn Estuary has the world's second largest tides. As the estuary widens mudflats appear at low water, attracting thousands of birds to the world famous Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Reserve. Looked over by the medieval Berkley Castle, the Severn passes below the two modern day road bridges to merge with the Bristol Channel and the sea.

Route Information:

210 miles, 337 km from Plynlimon in Mid Wales to the Bristol Channel, following the route of the River Severn.

Buy the Severn Way Walkers’ Guide

• Countryside Service
• Explore the Countryside
• Off-site Waymarked Circular Walks
• On-site Waymarked Circular Walks
• Waymarked Walking Trails
• Other Published Walks and Rides
• Countryside Sites
• Access Land
• Public Rights of Way
• Countryside Code
• OS Maps
• Visit Planning Information