Upper Arley Circular Walk

Track 1

Welcome to the Upper Arley Circular audio trail.

This is one of a series of audio trails delivered by Worcestershire County Council Countryside Service. You will hear some short instructional tracks giving the directions of the walk, along with some longer tracks interpreting what you can see along the way. You can either listen while you walk or stop to listen at the start of each new track.

This Audio Trail is devised to be used on its own, if you are refering to the Upper Arley Circular Walk leaflet please note that the reference points differ to those on this audio trail.

Whilst on the walk please be sure to close any gates you have opened behind you and keep any dogs under close control.

This 4 mile walk takes a circular route down river, through woodland and open country back to your starting point. Depending upon your speed of walking it could take between two and a half and four hours. This particular walk is way marked with a ferry man logo.

Your walk starts in the delightful riverside village of Arley, in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside. When you are ready to begin, make your way past the bridge on the village side of the river, and head south down the riverside path, with the river on your right hand side. This first section of this walk is along part of the Severn Way a long distance regional route following the length of the river from source to sea.

Head off along the path for the first 1 kilometre or so. Down to your right hand side you will see glimpses of the river through the trees as the path skirts the fringes of Eyemore Wood, consisting of an oak over-storey with a mixture of native trees and shrubs.

The River Severn is Britain's longest river, stretching 210 miles from its source 2000ft up at Plynlimon in the mountains of mid Wales, to the point at which it empties out into the Bristol Channel. It passes through the Welsh county of Powys and the English counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Follow the path until the Victoria Bridge comes into view, then press Track 2.

Track 2 You should now be looking at the iconic local landmark that is the Victoria Bridge. This railway bridge was erected in 1861 having been forged by the John Powell engineering company in nearby Coalbrookdale Gorge at what is today Ironbridge. It is an early example of a single span iron bridge of the type that allowed the expansion of the railway network in the late 1800s. At the time of its opening it was the widest single span bridge in the world at 200ft. Today it carries the Severn Valley Railway, transporting passengers between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster. You may just catch a steam train passing across it.

From here the path passes beneath the bridge and then swings left, revealing views across the countryside on the other side of the river. Follow the path through a stand of tall poplar trees and on until you pass through a gate and onto the grassy banks of the Trimpley Reservoir, then press track 3.

Track 3 You should now be entering a large area of grassland with the river on your right and the grassy banks of the Reservoir up to your left. Trimpley Reservoir was built in 1968 to supplement the supply of water from the Elan Valley to Birmingham. There is an informative interpretation panel at this point with information about the history of the site.

Between the base of the embankment and the terrace of land just above the footpath is the site of an ancient ditched enclosure that dates from the medieval period, although possibly has origins in a much earlier Romano-British period. The site is marked on old maps as a 'moat'. However, the size and shape of the enclosure suggest it may have been a small riverside settlement or stock enclosure located near one of the many droveways that once forded the River Severn.

There is now very little visible evidence on the surface, however, at certain times of the year it is possible to see the shape of the rectangular ditch marked out by different vegetation patterns. The ditch contains wetter, more nutrient-rich soil, which provides a different habitat and plant community compared with that of the surrounding ground. Walk up onto the terrace and see if you are lucky and can see the ditch. It is, perhaps, by a twist of good luck that the reservoir was not built over the site.

From here proceed along the path at the foot of the bank. On the opposite side of the river the ground rises steeply, clothed by the tall trees of Seckley Wood. Still on the riverside path, pass the red brick pumping station with its green doors and proceed to the other interpretation panel at the end of the grassed area, then press track 4.

Track 4 At this point we leave the river behind. Do not go through the footpath gate but head left up the bank. However, before departing if you look back across the river you can see the point at which the Elan Valley pipeline passes over the River Severn on its 118 km journey from mid Wales to Birmingham, supplying the conurbation with Welsh water.

Head up the bank until you come to edge of the smaller of the two reservoirs, "Lower Pool", then press track 5.

Track 5 The reservoirs sometimes provide a useful haven for migratory birds in spring and autumn. Even the occasional osprey has been seen here, stopping off on its way from Scotland to Africa. Of the many resident species, herons are likely to be seen at any time and cormorants frequent the site too, along with various ducks and assorted waterfowl.

Follow the path right along the edge of the reservoir, passing a nice stand of Scot's pine trees on your right with their characteristic salmon pink bark. Keep to the edge of the reservoir until you have the railway on your right hand side. Proceed until you come to a way mark post between a pair of large oak trees, then press track 6.

Track 6 At this point you leave the reservoirs behind and cross over the railway line at the designated crossing, being careful to look out for trains on the Severn Valley Railway. Originally built between 1858 and 1862 the line connected Hartelbury near Droitwich with Shrewsbury - a distance of some 40 miles. Even in its heyday the line was never a commercial success, relying mainly on colliery and agricultural haulage and small numbers of passengers. However, it did have a strategic importance in the Second World War as a way of by-passing the Black Country and its bomb damage.

The line was axed in the 1960's as part of the now notorious Beeching cuts. Today, just a 16 mile stretch between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster remains as a heritage railway and tourist attraction. Opening in the 1970's it relies on hundreds of volunteers who freely give of their time and expertise to keep the line and its trains alive. It is an extremely popular local attraction drawing some 250,000 visitors a year.

Once across the railway line, follow the rough cobbled path up the slope, bearing left onto a gravelled forest road, then press track 7.

Track 7 You are now in the depths of Eyemore Wood, an extensive area of mixed broadleaf and coniferous forestry.

On the promontory of high ground rising up to your right is the site of another Romano-British enclosure. This site is very similar in size and form to the example down at the Reservoir. However, in this case the site has survived as a large platform, demarcated by an earthwork embankment. The function of a site like this is always clouded in mystery, although it is likely to have been a small native-British settlement possibly accommodating an extended family group, and was one of several other, similar sites located in and around Wyre Forest area. The surrounding landscape would have been largely devoid of trees during the Romano-British period and would instead have been much more open heathland. The local population, based in their isolated settlements, would have grazed animals on the heathland. The occupants of the site on the promontory would have enjoyed extensive views across the Severn Valley.

Proceed up the forest track and upon reaching the road, press track 8.

Track 8 You should have just passed through a footpath gate. From here, pass over the tarmac road and continue along the gravelled forest track, always keeping straight ahead. Again this will take you through some fine stands of forestry. Look carefully at the ground either side of the track along this section and you will see low, circular embankments of soil surrounding shallow pits. These are the remains of 17th or 18th century coal mining pits. Unlike the deep cast mines that we associate with modern coal mining, these pits were small and relatively shallow because they represent small-scale mining of coal measures that are close to the surface. Sometimes called ‘bell pits,’ a narrow shaft was excavated into the top of the coal seam. The coal was then mined out until the excavation became too hazardous to continue, when the pit was abandoned, leaving a large chamber at the base of the shaft. The bank visible around the pit is the remains of soil overlying the coal that was initially removed from the pit.

Proceed until you come to a fingerpost at a crossroads in the track, then press track 9.

Track 9 On this stretch of the walk you may well hear the cry of buzzards as they whirl overhead.

As you walk past the coal pits, on towards Huntsfield Farm, once again look around at the ground and you will see more tell-tale signs of human history. Rather like the coal pits, there are undulations in the ground that this time run more or less parallel to the footpath. These are themselves other footpaths and cart tracks that have been long abandoned. The tracks were carved into the land as a result of centuries of use, and particularly woodland management where coppiced wood and timber was removed by horses. Not all the tracks were abandoned. Some survived in use to become modern Public Rights of Way. Indeed, on some parts of this guided trail you are walking in the footsteps of our ancestors.

You will eventually come to a corrugated iron barn on your left hand side where you should press track 10.

Track 10 At this point, leave the gravelled forest road and head straight on. The path drops down and becomes a sunken trackway until you reach a wooden bridge over a stream. From the bridge, the path bares sharply left, before rising up again At this point, press track 11.

Track 11 The path bears right between two old gate posts take this track and stay on it eventually taking you down a hedge enclosed path.

On a clear day you can see the Clee Hills in the distance and fully appreciate the beauty of the surrounding countryside. From here the path continues down to the road flanked on both sides by mixed species native hedges. These types of mixed hedges are valuable wildlife habitat and you maybe lucky enough to see a range of birdlife as you pass along. When you eventually reach the road, press track 12.

Track 12 When arriving at the road, turn right and carefully walk for 100 metres until you come to a farm track on the left and a pedestrian gate into a newly restored orchard, then press track 13.

Track 13 This orchard is part of the Arley estate and by way of an access agreement you are free to look around it. It has been re planted with a wide range of varieties of local fruit trees.

Turn right and follow the fence until you reach another pedestrian gate. Pass through the gate and follow the path which zig zags down to an old stone bridge over a little stream, then press track 14.

Track 14 Cross over the bridge and follow the path through a small woodland dingle where there are some fine beech trees.

The path then opens out into a grassy area planted with young trees. This area has kindly been dedicated by the Arley Estate as a memorial woodland to the Acorns Children's Hospice. Wander through it making your way to the road. When you eventually reach the road press track 15.

Track 15 You should now be standing on the roadside with the Memorial Wood behind you. Turn right and head along the road 30 metres or so, then take a left down the drive of the Arley Arboretum and gardens. Proceed along the drive passing through the spectacular parkland landscape until you reach the cattle grid, then press track 16.

Track 16 Arley Arboretum is the one of the oldest arboretums in Britain and has more than 300 species of tree, in a mixture of parkland and garden settings. There are some spectacular specimens of both native and exotic species. Nestling in the valley and overlooking the river, it has been growing and maturing for over 200 years.

It is worth noting that the Arboretum tea rooms are open to non visitors so you can always take a break here for a tea or coffee stop even if you are not actually visiting the Arboretum.

To continue, go through the pedestrian gate at the cattle grid and bear left along the drive. From here on it is a leisurely stroll along the drive, past Arley House on your right and back down into the picturesque village of Arley itself, and your start point.

When you get down to the riverside press track 17.

Track 17 You should now be back in the heart of Arley village where you will find a tea room and post office and a chance to relax by the riverside.

Whilst today Arley is a sleepy village, much loved by visitors, it is worth remembering that in the past, when the river was a busy highway of trade, with boats up and down carrying people and goods it would have been a bustling community wedded to the life blood of the river, with all its comings and goings. In 1851 the village hosted 5 public houses serving the bargemen and traders, as well as locals.

Upper Arley, as it was previously called, was recorded in the Doomsday survey of 1086, although a settlement was probably here long before then. Situated at a fording point, later to become a ferry crossing, it had a strategic importance connecting the west and eastern sides of the river. There are records of a ferry at Upper Arley as early as the twelfth century, and getting people, animals, carts and goods across the river would have been an essential part of local life.

Upper Arley was a medieval manorial settlement and the castle that dates from 1844 stands on the site of the old manor, close to the church. In settlement studies, Arley is classified as a dispersed hamlet, that is, it is a settlement that does not have a distinct centre. Properties in the village are strung out along the sinuous lanes that converge on the Severn crossing; now represented by a footbridge. The footbridge was installed in the 1972 to replace the Ferry which ceased to run in the mid 1960's.

At any time of year Arley is a peaceful and picturesque village so take time to stroll around it. You may also wish to cross over the River and saunter up to the picturesque Arley Station, one of the stops on the popular Severn Valley Railway.

We hope you have enjoyed the Upper Arley Circular. For more information on downloadable audio trails please visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/countryside

This audio trail was voiced by Rebecca Blockley, recorded by ...... and special thanks to Adam Mindykowski of the Historic Environment and archaeology service of Worcestershire County Council for providing the historical material.