Part of the 31-mile Worcestershire Way path, the out and back route to Heightington from Bewdley is one of my favourite quiet walks in the countryside. 

Distance: 3.8 miles (excluding the optional Ribbesford detour)
Time: 3 hrs there and back without breaks (add between 15 and 30 minutes if you’re including Ribbesford)
Steps: Approx 8,026
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Mostly tarmacked roads
County: Worcestershire, England
Start: St Anne’s C of E Church, Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2AP
End: St Anne’s C of E Church, Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2AP

Visit quaint villages on the Worcestershire Way near Bewdley

The village of Heightington offers a true remote countryside feel. The town of Bewdley is perhaps best known as the home of West Midlands Safari Park, Severn Valley Railway and rather unfortunately is also known for its flooding, being situated by the River Severn. 

However, what the locals love and enjoy about living in Bewdley is the pretty town with independent shops and eateries, the abundance of history, Georgian architecture and the tranquil walks that the Wyre Forest has to offer.

Situated to the North of Worcestershire, Bewdley is a border town with Shropshire. Being the gateway to the Wyre Forest makes it a natural escape for hiking enthusiasts or anyone that wants to get away from modern life.

It’s also where I grew up and I often return for family visits and long walks to clear my head.

What to expect on your walk to Heightington?

This walk takes in North Worcestershire’s beautiful landscapes in abundance – think rolling hills, fields, hedgerows, orchards, quaint country lanes with remote red-brick cottages and plenty of trees to help you soak up the tranquility of a green surrounding. With Douglas-Fir lined hillsides, the views look spectacular in all weathers. Plus, the Abberley Hills at the end are something to behold.

This hike is not particularly challenging, although it’s a longer walk and includes some fairly steep gradients when you reach the ford – between 15% and 19%. This may prove quite the workout for some. Take a break to catch your breath if you need to. However, your legs will likely feel nice and toned the next day! 

Points of interest: 

I’ve included some interesting landmarks on the walk in order of appearance. If you’re walking with children, you can turn it into a fun challenge to see how many features from the list they spot en route.

• St Anne’s church
• Birthplace of former Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin
• St Leonard’s church, Ribbesford
• Ribbesford woods
• View of Beaucastle (on a clear day)
• Belvedere Alpaca Ranch
• Ford
• Yellow, timber-framed style house (private property)
• Boxing hares garden sculpture (private property)
• St Michael’s church, Heightington
• View of Abberley hills (on a clear day)

Directions: Let’s hike from Bewdley to Heightington!

Begin your walk by St Anne’s church, before heading along High Street. Observe the impressive black and white timber-frame buildings and Georgian houses. You’ll also walk past the birthplace of Stanley Baldwin at 15 Lower Park, and the former home of Rudyard Kipling’s grandparents at Lower Park House. Pass Kateshill House Hotel and head up the hillside until you see a right turn in the road with a sign for Heightington.

If, like me, you’ve yet to master the art of reading maps, this walk is a great choice. Once you’re on Heightington Road, simply stay on the tarmacked path until you reach Heightington. It’s that simple! 

Bewdley to Heightington Photos

For every walk, I share my favourite pictures while leaving some of the gorgeous views for you to discover. I’ll also share some noteworthy history and trivia along the way.

St. Anne’s C of E church in Bewdley town centre. The starting point of the walk to Heightington. This picture was taken on a different day (hence the blue skies compared to the murky fog in the other photos).

The walk to Heightington from Bewdley follows the Worcestershire Way path.

Sheep grazing in a field.

Douglas Firs shrouded in mist in Ribbesford wood.

Straw-coloured field.

Footbridge over the ford. You’re over halfway there!

Foggy walk through Worcestershire country lanes.

Viewpoint of the Abberley hills (eerily missing in the fog, but beautiful in the sunshine). 

St Michael’s Church, Heightington. End point of the walk.

Optional Ribbesford detour:

St Leonard’s church, Ribbesford.

If you want to add a slight detour to the village of Ribbesford (which I highly recommend) you can do this on the way there or back. Once you’re on Heightington Road, take the first left down a gravel dirt road. Walk through the short tunnel beneath the Bewdley bypass. 

It can get a little muddy in the rain and may require jumping over a few puddles. 

Take the same route to get back. 

Alternatively, if you’re en route to Heightington, you can walk up the steps of Ribbesford churchyard and follow the hillside path to reach a point further along Heightington Road. This is only recommended in nice weather as it’s a slippery mud bath in the winter (I’m talking from experience!). However, it offers a pleasant stroll through the woodland.

Amenities & places to eat:

OK, so one of the main selling points of this walk for me is that once you leave Bewdley, there are no amenities en route. You are simply out in nature and remote villages. However, I understand that for some people, this might be a turn-off. My suggestion is to have a toilet break before you start the walk and pack enough food and drink to last a 3+ hours hike.

X Toilets (Bewdley only)
X Benches (Bewdley, St Leonard’s church and St Michael’s church)
X Eateries (Bewdley only)

If it’s coffee and cake you’re after, I recommend Piccolo’s, next to St Anne’s church. If you fancy a full English breakfast, the Wetherspoons at the George Hotel is worth a look in. 

What about dinner after your long walk? Try the Little Pack Horse restaurant on the High Street or if the weather is warm enough, you can’t go wrong with a classic fish and chips by the river. If you’re partial to Indian food, the Vhujon is a popular choice. 

For a three course meal of traditional English food, the Mulberry Restaurant is a must. Hidden down a narrow passageway off Load Street, this restaurant offers a quieter, cosy dining experience. Dare I say it’s a hidden gem?

Places to stay: 

If you’re looking for accommodation in the Georgian town of Bewdley, you have plenty of options.

For hotels in the heart of town, you can’t go wrong with The George Hotel which includes a Wetherspoons pub. Tucked away at the end of the High Street is Kateshill House Hotel which offers a peaceful stay in an impressive manor house.

If you like camping with a countryside view, Hopley’s is the place to stay. They also have a nice farm shop and pizzeria.

Fancy a little luxury? The Elms in Abberley is quite the classy escape with a spa and afternoon tea service. 

Places to park:

If you’re travelling to Bewdley for a day trip, you can park in Dog Lane or Gardener’s Meadow car park. Both are pay and display. 

Getting there by public transport:

If, like me, you get around by public transport, taxis or lifts from friends and family, these are all the details you need for a smooth journey. 

The nearest National Rail station is in Kidderminster, which has regular trains to and from Worcester and Birmingham Moor Street stations. Unfortunately, there isn’t a bus that currently links from the train station to Bewdley. For that reason, I recommend getting a taxi, which typically costs around £11 to get to Bewdley town centre with a pre-booked service. I recommend Regency taxis.

Or, if you want to step back in time, why not hop on the Severn Valley Railway to Bewdley? This has a limited timetable, so make sure to plan ahead.

Best time to do this walk: 

I have done this walk on a crisp winter day, in thick fog and in glorious sunshine, and can attest that it’s beautiful in all seasons and weathers. Part of me has always wanted to do a sunrise walk, and with the views of the Abberley hills at the end, this could well be a stunner!

My favourite hike to Heightington was actually in dense fog as there were times I could hear absolutely nothing and completely immerse myself in the countryside experience. 

The other great thing about this walk is that it’s mud-free as long as you stay on the road! Although, if you’re letting cars pass, you may wind up standing on a muddy verge.

Staying safe:

As a woman who enjoys solo hikes, I have always felt safe walking around Bewdley and the surrounding countryside. I have done the walk from Bewdley to Heightington alone and enjoyed the quiet remoteness to clear my head. However, due to the length and somewhat remote location of the hike, I recommend letting someone know where you’re going and make sure you have a fully charged phone.

While this route does not get much traffic, be mindful that the paths are quite narrow and vans and 4x4s use the route. 

Don’t worry about getting your feet wet in the ford – there’s a handy foot bridge for pedestrians.

I would postpone this walk in the event of storms, high winds, heatwaves or icy conditions.

Fancy walking further? 

I don’t blame you! If you’ve caught the Worcestershire hiking bug, I recommend heading to the village of Astley or The Bell Inn at Pensax for a much deserved bite to eat and a refreshing drink. 

To get to The Bell Inn, you have two options: Head towards the pleasant-sounding Bliss Gate and Rock or skirt past Dunley.

Please note, adding this pub stop to your trip will add two hours each way. Depending on time constraints and available daylight hours, you may want to call a taxi (or a friend) to pick you up. 

For a slightly shorter trek, Astley is 1.5 hours walk away. Hampstall Inn is an ideal place to eat, and there’s also Astley Vineyard, which offers seasonal self-guided walks, wine tasting and idyllic picnic spots (a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon if you ask me.)