Cleobury Country Walk 18: Rea Valley Amble

Walk directions

1. Start

   Take the path north between Church and Market Hall (Visitor Information). Continue along narrow section to road. Go straight across, uphill and continue to cross roads. Go straight across passing junior school on left to go through kissing gate into field.

2. Step 2

   Veer right downhill. At bottom go down steps, over footbridge, then right uphill to Cleanly Seat Farm. Go over stile ahead (not down main track) and turn left to keep field edge to your left to lane. Go straight across down farm track. Continue past buildings onto grassy track and through gate.

3. Step 3

   For shorter route only.

   Go over stile on right just after gate, downhill through trees, over stile and across field to riverside then left. Go over stile at end and continue in same direction to go over stile at end of field onto road. Turn right along road to the river at picturesque Neen Savage Ford. Go over footbridge and turn right to re-join longer walk at point 8.

   For longer route only.

   Continue on track to road. Turn left along lane for 200 metres then right down farm track. Go over cattle grid and after tree on right, veer right off track to pass to right of house. Head downhill to far corner of field and river. Continue with river to your right to go over stile and footbridge over brook. (Stile may be obscured by nettle growth in high summer)

4. Step 4

   After stile, with river to your right go through two fields then cross river via footbridge. Turn right along river and through gate into trees and into field. Keep river to your right then go left around field edge with brook to your right to a stile at a corner.

5. Step 5

   Over stile then with field edge on your left go through gate. Forward in same direction through another gate. Just before line of conifers, go over stile in hedge on right.

6. Step 6

   Keep field edge to your left and at end go left through two gates. Head across field with gardens of CHILTON HOUSE about 50 metres away to your left to go through gate in hedgerow ahead. Continue forward along right field edge. (Watch out for holes in ground.)

7. Step 7

   Go through field gate and forward keeping to high ground to left field edge. Go over stile on left to lane. Turn right along lane passing Neen Savage OLD SCHOOLHOUSE on the left to Neen Savage Ford where there is a seat to rest and enjoy this attractive location.

8. Step 8

   Continue along lane passing old Sproseley vicarage on left and church on right. As road bends left, go straight on down track with Black & White farmhouse to your left. Continue for half mile, passing outlet for ELAN VALLEY PIPELINE on right [Completed in 1904 to carry drinking water from Wales to Birmingham. The water travels all the way by natural flow] to white house on left, and footbridge over river.

9. Step 9

   Go over footbridge and turn left along lane. Take footpath on left part way up steep hill and follow up steps into cul-de-sac. At end go right. At right bend go straight on into cul-de-sac. At top left corner, continue along footpath. At lane turn left, and immediately right. At end, turn left and retrace your outward route back to the Market Hall.