Walks from Kidderminster

Dramatic and beautiful edge (Kinver Edge). Hilly, wooded, red sandstone landscape and largely along canal towpaths. Walk traverses three counties across a landscape shaped by 17th-century glass, brick, and pottery industries powered by coal from nearby collieries.

Waterway: nine tenths along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 5h–10h30

Warnings: Roundabout crossing in Kidderminster requires use of subways.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Golf-course and field paths into rolling, wooded countryside dotted with ponds.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h30

Walk details: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (PDF).

Field paths and a disused railway through a sandstone cutting, finishing on a canal towpath.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (PDF).

A mix of long urban pavements and surprisingly good off-road paths through pleasant countryside, including woodland and a path around Harborough Hill and with a central stretch of over a mile alongside the busy A456 on wide pavements. Best part is Hurcott Wood just after leaving Kidderminster, with bluebells in spring and birdsong.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: A couple of pubs in Blakedown for potential stops.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk. The long stretch alongside the busy A456 and a few other road sections without verges require care; Hurcott Lane is a narrow lane used as a rat run with no pavement.

Walk details: Slow Ways.