The recently opened Geopark Way is a 109- mile waymarked walking trail which runs from Bridgnorth to Gloucester.
The brainchild of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust (based at the University of Worcester), it is the first longdistance trail in the UK specifically aimed at explaining and/or fostering an interest in the geological landscape.
While most people are familiar with such landscape designations as LNR (Local Nature Reserve), AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) or SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), far fewer people have heard of the term geopark, which is a relatively new idea applied to areas with significant importance in terms of geology, archaeology, ecology and culture, with the emphasis on geology.
In fact, the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark – the one traversed by the Geopark Way – was only the third to be designated in the UK (in 2004), reflecting the importance of our local landscape in geological terms. Fortuitously, places of geological interest are very often of high scenic value too, and that is certainly true of the four counties explored by walkers on the Geopark Way.
Unfortunately, the creation of the Geopark Way has not led to the creation of new rights of way – apart from a very few permissive paths it uses only existing rights of way. Moreover, in many places it coincides with existing longdistance or medium-distance trails such as the Severn Way and the Worcestershire Way.
But the great thing about it is the accompanying guidebook – buy a copy of this and take it with you on the trail and you will develop an entirely new understanding of the landscape. The book, which costs £9.95, is bursting with information presented in an accessible way, along with numerous photos, maps and diagrams. In addition, of course, there is a detailed route description.
The Geopark Way is currently being waymarked but at the time of writing this process is complete only from Bridgnorth to Knightwick. The waymark features a stylised image of a trilobite, an extinct organism found only as a fossil.
Unless the waymarking team has been busy over the past two weeks you won’t see more than a couple of the new waymarks on this walk, which includes a stretch of the Geopark Way linking Knightwick to Alfrick.
But the lack of new waymarking is no handicap as this walk is already very easy to follow. It makes a great introduction to the Geopark Way, with hills of Silurian limestone, houses of Triassic sandstone and glimpses of the geopark’s oldest feature, the 700- million-year-old Malvern Hills.
There is a beautiful nature reserve too – Crews Hill Wood, which belongs to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.
FACT FILE
Start: The Suckley turn at Knightwick, on the A44, grid ref SO731558.
Length: Six miles/9.5km.
Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.
Terrain: Woodland and pasture, with a couple of gentle slopes.
Footpaths: Excellent.
Stiles: Six.
Parking: Behind the bus shelter by the A44.
Buses: First 420, Worcester-Hereford via Knightwick, daily; www.herefordbus.info or 0871 200 2233.
Refreshments: Talbot Inn at Knightwick, shop at Alfrick.
DIRECTIONS
1 Take the Suckley road then fork left towards Lulsley and Alfrick.
Join a path on the left after 500m, walk to the river Teme and follow the path between the river and Osebury Rock. Beyond the rock, towards the end of a long, narrow field, look for a stile on the right and then follow the ensuing field edge to the second gate on the left. Keep left along a field edge until a gate gives access to a driveway. Turn right, then soon right again at the entrance to Lulsley Court. Walk to a junction and turn left on Hill Road.
2 Turn left on to a byway (Hayley Dingle Road). After about 800m you’ll see two adjacent footpaths on the right: take the second one. Walk through an ashwood then along an ancient holloway which leads to a disused railway viaduct. Pass under the viaduct and turn left along a field edge to meet an access track.
Turn right along this track, following it to a lane, Green Street.
Follow this to Folly Road and turn right to Alfrick.
3 The Geopark Way turns left in Alfrick, bound for Leigh Brook.
Our route, however, is straight on instead, past the shop and church.
Stay on the lane as it bends right, ignoring a ‘no through road’ straight ahead, and keep straight on at a crossroad. Eventually, between Glen House and New House, take a path on the left, skirting the garden of Dove Barn and then heading straight up Crews Hill, keeping to a field edge by a cherry orchard.
Entering Crews Hill Wood, bear left, climbing gently uphill. Turn right at the top and proceed a few paces to another junction.
4 Turn first right on a path whose waymark bears the logo of the Wildlife Trusts and the message that it is ‘not dedicated as a public right of way’. In other words, it’s a permissive path. Such paths are generally closed on one day a year (often Christmas Day) to prevent them from becoming rights of way.
In the unlikely event that you find this path closed, simply turn second right instead (Worcestershire Way) then turn right when you rejoin the lane. The permissive path is the better choice, running along the crest of the hill at first and then just below it.
5 On meeting the lane again, join a bridleway opposite – the Worcestershire Way. Don’t miss the point at which it forks left shortly before Woodbine Cottage. Beyond that point there is no mistaking the route as it leads across Round Hill and then down to Knightwick.
Worcester News recommends the use of OS Explorer Maps, your ideal passport to navigating the countryside. This walk is based on OS Explorer 204.
