Stourport Circular Walk

Located between the Rivers Severn and Stour, Stourport on Severn is an inland port. A system of locks joins the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to the River Severn at Stourport’s basins. Stourport thrived during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries when it linked the Bristol Channel to the industrial Midlands further east.

Stourport’s importance declined as the railways arrived. Today tourism provides the town’s wealth, its seaside atmosphere, colourful canal basins and pleasant setting attracting many visitors.

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal was built to link the Trent and Mersey Canal, near Stafford, with the River Severn, at the hamlet of Lower Mitton. This canal passed through the heart of the Industrial Midlands. In a time when railways and motorways had not been developed, canals were vital lines of communication.

From 1772, once the canal was opened to traffic, Lower Mitton developed as Stourport. The suffix ‘on Severn’ was not added to the name until 1934. The name ‘Mitton’ is still found on a small number of roads today.

Lock number one is perhaps the most significant feature of the canal. This is where the canal ends. The end of artificial, inland navigation and the start of natural navigation out to the open sea.

Wyre Forest Golf Centre has been developed on the site of Birchen Coppice Farm. Until 1993, the farm managed the land for agriculture. The name ‘Birchen Coppice’ provides a clue to the farm’s past. ‘Birchen’ refers to a bundle of birch twigs. Birchen Coppice Farm most probably sold bundles of birch twigs to supplement their agricultural income.

In 1994, Wyre Forest District Council declared Burlish Top as a local nature reserve. It is a rare lowland heath and oak woodland habitat and is being managed for its wildlife. During the Second World War, this area accommodated the US Army’s 297^th General Hospital, equipped with 1442 beds. A second 16 ward hospital unit was situated to the south-west between what is now the nature reserve and Burlish Crossing.

The disused railway bridge, which you pass beneath, is another piece in the jigsaw to understanding Stourport’s industrial history.

The track, which has since been dismantled, followed the River Severn to Hartlebury. This was the original Severn Valley Railway. The line came from Shrewsbury, beyond Bridgnorth and extended south from Bewdley to Hartlebury, not to Kidderminster.

South from Bewdley, the Severn Valley Railway was essentially a freight line. In 1949, coal delivery to Stourport’s power station changed from the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to the Severn Valley Railway. It was this railway too, which carried battle casualties to the 297^th General Hospital.

The last train service over the bridge was at the beginning of 1970. The power station at Stourport was demolished during the 1980’s.

The Stourport Circular Walk has been developed by Wyre Forest District Council with support from Worcestershire County Council’s Countryside Service.

Route Information:

Start and finish at Stourport on Severn Riverside car park (pay and display) or alternatively from Blackstone Picnic Site (Grid Reference: 796744). 6.5m / 10.5km, approx 4 hours.

Additional Facilities and Information:

• Free car parking at Blackstone Picnic Site and Burlish Top Nature Reserve
• Information boards at Burlish Top Nature Reserve
• Good public transport links

OS Maps:

OS Explorer 218, OS Landranger 138.

Download Stourport Circular Walk leaflet  (1.30 MB)

• Countryside Service
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• On-site Waymarked Circular Walks
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