Cleobury Country Walks: Walk 6 – Upper Forge and Beyond

Walk directions

1. Start

   From the Church, cross the road opposite the pharmacy. Turn left and cross Lion Lane to THE WELLS.

2. Step 2

   Go right passing the pond and left of the Old Pumphouse. Walk alongside a brook on your left to turn right at a lane. At the T-junction go straight across on to a Bridleway and continue to a track at the top.

3. Step 3

   Turn left and follow path as it goes to the right of a bungalow and narrows. It eventually comes out to tarmac at PINKHAM MILL

4. Step 4

   Cross over the stile in the right hand corner and take the path along the river. Once over a stile into a large field, do NOT go uphill but follow the path parallel to the River, eventually going over a stile. Continue following the River as it bends right to a stile on your left leading to a footbridge over the River. This is UPPER FORGE.

5. Step 5

   For the short route go to Step 8.

   For the longer (3.5mile) route only.

   Go over the bridge and up steps to a path junction. Turn right and ignore the next track on the right to head uphill. At a track turn sharp left to go clockwise around an old walled garden to the tarmac access road to MAWLEY HALL Turn left*.

   *Turn right for a few yards first for a beautiful view over Cleobury. You may also retrace your steps from here to avoid a section along the main road.

6. Step 6

   Continue to the main road, turn left and walk for about 5 minutes, passing the turning to Bridgnorth on the right, to turn left down a signposted farm track.

7. Step 7

   Where the track bends right, bear left off the track towards a gate into woodland. Go through the gate and follow the track until you come back to the bridge, crossed earlier, on your right. Go over the bridge and re- join the shorter walk.

8. Step 8

   Go uphill away from the River back towards Cleobury and along a high ridge with wonderful views to go through a chicken wire gate then straight on to another chicken wire gate & stile to a lane.

9. Step 9

   Turn left along the lane for 100m then right through the first farm gate. Go forward to go over a stile in the right hand hedge.

10. Step 10

    Continue forward. The steeple of Cleobury Church should now be visible. Go through a gap with a seat to your left and a view over Cleobury. Go downhill to a kissing gate and uphill back to the church.