Places Stories

Day three of the Geopark Way dawned bright with another fine day in prospect.

River Severn at Bewdley

Local weather expert, Paul Damari is seldom wrong with his weather forecasts and his promise of 'cheery hot sunshine' was spot-on!

However his rider of patchy cloud cover passed us by - maybe we blinked!

The walk resumed at Bewdley - first of all, the thirty-four walkers were given a brief overview of the town's flood defence mechanisms.

Redstone Rock

Walkers from outside the region were astonished at the scope and extent of the necessary, temporary structure. 

Many found it difficult to comprehend the sheer volume of water needed to transform the now gently, flowing Severn into a fearsome, terrifying instrument of awesome power.

Much of today's terrain falls into the category of red sandstone – its presence was everywhere – church buildings, canal bridges, smugglers' caves and of course underfoot.

Lofty bridge

Blackstone Rock (Bewdley) and the more aptly named Redstone Rock (near Stourport) still bear the signs and scars of human presence.

At the former, smugglers stashed excisable goods rather than land it lawfully; the latter was home to more than one hermit of yesteryear.

After a near-miss with a cycling postman on the Staffs & Worcs Canal towpath, the group ascended to the old railway line that linked Bewdley and Hartlebury.

At Wilden, where trains once passed over the lazy River Stour, walkers now stride purposefully.

Pick marks

The impressive sandstone bridge gives way to a high sandstone cutting note the original pick marks with an even loftier road bridge, spanning the now torn-up track.

Eve Miles, Community Manager of the Earth Heritage Trust (EHT), met the group at Hartlebury Common.

Eve explained the uniqueness of the area to the county, as no other heathland exists in Worcestershire.

Eve Miles

With sand and pebbles aplenty (which provide drainage and conditions perfect for gorse), all that was needed for this perfect summer's day was an ice cream – and a bucket and spade!

Lunch was taken by the river at Stourport-on-Severn.

The town owes its existence to James Brindley's canal development, and the prior refusal by the elders of Bewdley to entertain the thought of 'his stinking ditch'.

After halting at Larford Lake for the aforesaid, impromptu ice creams, the route was followed to where Dick Brook enters the Severn.

Rollos project

It is hard to believe that this tiny watercourse once sustained the narrowest of boats, to serve the needs of the village of Astley.

En route, we came upon Rollo Gillespie (also of the EHT) who is patiently restoring part of an old mill.

Soon after, the group passed close to the Glasshampton Monastery.

Spot the difference

The two field pictures were taken just two months apart!

Astley Church (more red sandstone), descended to the superbly and privately restored Priory Mill and thence to the bus waiting on the A451 at the end of a tiring, but enjoyable seven hours of walking.

The day was the UK's hottest day of the year so far with the temperature hitting 27º Centigrade (80.6º Fahrenheit)!