Cleobury Country Walks: Walk 16 – The Catherton Excursion

Walk directions

1. Start

   Follow path north across CATHERTON COMMON in direction of waymark post (positioned on other side of cattle grid). Following faint track*, keeping at the same height then very gradually climbing, go straight on at all cross paths to end of common with house (The Turf House) eventually appearing ahead. Turn right along track to road. *Second part of this path is not a right of
   way but the common is open access.

2. Step 2

   Cross road and go diagonally left towards trees at left edge of common. Turn right along edge. Path is at first undefined but becomes clearer. Keep close to left hand edge and at fallen trees, keep close to brook through the trees, eventually over brook then over stile in left corner onto U-bend of a track. Go ahead (right) along track, passing Fir Tree Cottage, eventually through gate to CRAMER GUTTER NATURE RESERVE.

3. Step 3

   Continue in same direction (if necessary, take wide detour to the right to avoid boggy area) to information board about the reserve. With your back to the board, go diagonally left downhill, through gate onto common and in same direction uphill to waymark post with gate 50 metres ahead.

4. Step 4

   For the short walk:

   Turn right at waymark post (before gate) and follow directions from Step 8.

5. Step 5

   For longer walk:

   Go through gate ahead and left downhill with field boundary on your left. Go over stile ahead and in same direction to go left into next field after about 100 metres. Turn immediately right and with fence on your right, go round bend then forward and over stile in middle of field edge ahead (ignore stile to the right). Go diagonally left into trees and over stile in far left corner of woodland. Turn right and over brook and stile.

6. Step 6

   Turn left along field boundary and over stile in middle of hedgerow ahead at end of long field. Turn immediately right through gate and continue through another gate to a third gate at end of field on right. Go through this gate, if crop in field, go left downhill for about 100 metres then right on path through crop to track on far side. If there is no crop you can go diagonally left across field to same point.

7. Step 7

   Take track, keeping hedgerow on your left. After about 200 metres go left through field gate. Turn right keeping hedge on your right until you go over a stream, then uphill with telephone poles to your left to a gate in far corner of field. Follow track to road at CATHERTON.

8. Step 8

   Turn right for 100 metres then right down farm track. Follow this undulating track to a stile and footbridge. In next field go uphill keeping field edge on your left and over a stile. Go forward in same direction to go through gate and turn left to re-join shorter walk.

9. Step 9

   Follow track, keeping left at fork, eventually onto gravel and then to a road. Turn left along the road and then right (signposted Hopton Wafers) back to the car.