Heather Trail at Hartlebury Common

From Wilden Top car park the route follows a woody track along the top of the nature reserve. Through a tunnel of trees, you emerge at the bottom of the hill by Lower Poolands car park. From here the path twists through invigorating Beech woods before bringing you back out amongst the Heather.

Following sandy tracks, the route follows along the top of the escarpment with superb views over Stourport towards the Abberley Hills. A mystical little woodland clings to the top of the hill, with dips and ruts giving the windswept trees great shadows. From here the path continues to wind along the top of the hill and eventually back to Wilden Top car park. Along the way stop and carefully sniff the spiky gorse bushes all around you. They are typical heathland plants and their bright yellow flowers smell of delicious coconut.

Hartlebury Common is a Local Nature Reserve, and the largest lowland heathland in Worcestershire. It is a very valuable site for rare species of plants, animals and insects, as well as being an important site for local people to be able to enjoy. There are several benches along the route so you can linger a while as you see what is around.

Route information:

The walk starts / finishes at Hartlebury Common’s Wilden Top car park on the B4193 Stourport to Hartlebury road. Grid reference: 825713.

Find out more about Hartlebury Common

• 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