Walk 2676 - printer friendly version

River Severn & Apperley from Tewkesbury Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.5 miles / 12.2 km

Ascent - 300 feet / 91 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SO888322
Lat 51.9881390 + Long -2.1645073
Postcode GL20 5SP (approx. location only)

The River Severn is one of Britain's great rivers and this walk follows its banks south to the village of Apperley before turning in land to cross fields back to the start. The view to the west includes the Malvern Hills which rise along the skyline. The walk also offers the opportunity to explore the town of Tewkesbury which is dominated by its Abbey. Further ecclesiastical interest along the way includes Odda's Chapel which is one of the best preserved Saxon buildings in England.

The start is the car park (grid ref. SO888322) on the west side of Gloucester Road a short way south of the Abbey. After parking exit the car park and turn right (south) along Gloucester Road. In a few metres you will reach a lane on your right. Walk down this lane following the Severn Way long distance path and continue the kilometre or so to reach the River Severn. Bear left along the river and follow the path with the river to your right. You now have just under three miles of easy walking before you turn inland. Along the way you can make a short diversion by leaving the riverside path at grid ref. SO867299 to visit St Mary's Church and Odda's Chapel in Deerhurst. After completing these visits return to the riverside path and continue south to reach the Coalhouse Inn (grid ref. SO854283).

The route now turns inland. Initially follow the access road to the Inn, where the road bends sharp left, follow the footpath ahead. This path leads gently uphill to reach the road at the southern end of Apperley village (grid ref. SO861281). Turn left along the road to the road junction with a grassed island. Turn right here along Sawpit Lane. After 400 metres take the footpath on your left just past Apperley Village Hall (grid ref. SO866285). After just over 100 metres bear right onto a footpath which leads across fields to reach the end of a track just south of Deerhurst Vicarage (grid ref. SO872292). Ignore the track (on your left) and continue ahead. The path soon turns left and continues north to reach a lane (grid ref, SO873297).

Cross the road and take the continuing path as it initially follows the west bank of small stream. At grid ref. SO874303, the path turns left to reach the edge of a wooded slope (Rayer's Hill) before turning right to follow the edge of the wood. Stay on this path using the edge of the wood as your guide and continue north. The path continues alongside a golf course and eventually joins a driveway which leads onto the lane used for the first section of the walk from Tewkesbury. Bear right along the lane and retrace your steps back to the car park used at the start of the walk.

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