Cleobury Country Walks: Walk 17 – A Round of Golf (4.5 mile)

Walk directions

1. Start

   From the Church, cross the road. Turn left and continue, passing the parish hall and the OLD POST OFFICE.

2. Step 2

   Cross the road and continue in the same direction. Turn left into New Road. Where the road bends left, go straight on into Rockley Bank. At the end, take the footpath downhill, and over the River Rea. Go right through a gate passing PAPERMILLS COTTAGES.

3. Step 3

   Straight on through gate and along river. With NEWBRIDGE ahead [Built by Telford in 1783-94] go up steps onto main road. Cross road (with great care) and turn left along pavement, around bend to parking area and kissing gate on other side of road.

4. Step 4

   For the short route back to the church.

   Continue uphill along pavement for a few minutes. Turn right down farm track. Where track bends right, go straight on towards trees. Go through gate into trees and continue to footbridge on right. Go over bridge, re-joining longer walk at point 8.

   To continue to the golf course.

   Cross road again and go through kissing gate. Continue uphill with field edge on left. Go through gate (into nature reserve) and immediately right, through gate. Follow path to road. Cross and go over stile opposite. Continue with fence to left through trees. Cross access road to golf club, and continue in same direction to car park and club house.

5. Step 5

   Leave car park in far corner (to right of clubhouse). With woodland on your right and golf course to your left go through trees to a waymark post. Downhill, over a footbridge, steeply uphill and over a stile. Diagonally left across field, and over stile. Keep field edge on your left and over a stile to the A4117.

6. Step 6

   Cross with care and go through gap in hedge to path through trees. At the clearing continuation is slightly to the left through trees but in same direction to a stile. Turn right and follow track to the main entrance drive to MAWLEY HALL.

7. Step 7

   Take the path opposite which winds downhill passing an old walled garden. At the bottom continue for about 100 metres to a footbridge over the River Rea at the site of UPPER FORGE.

   If doing the shorter walk starting from the golf course, do not go over footbridge but continue straight on. Emerge into field and up to a track where go right to road. Turn left downhill along pavement for a few minutes to a parking area with kissing gate on other side of road. Re-join walk at point 4 to return to the golf course.

8. Step 8

   Go over footbridge and uphill with fence on your left. Go through a high gate, across a field to another high gate and stile. Turn left along the lane. After 100 metres go right through first farm gate. Go forward 50 metres then over stile in right hand hedge.

9. Step 9

   The church steeple should now be visible. Head towards this and go through a gap. Go downhill to a kissing gate and uphill back to the church.