St Leonard’s Circular Walk
A riverside meadow, forests and arable fi elds allows the visitor to explore a relatively small area of Worcestershire’s countryside, yet this small area is steeped in history and offers wonderful views across the Severn Valley.
A
Ribbesford walk
posted on 09/10/20 by Worcestershire County Council. Last update : 12/10/20
Description
(S/E) From Blackstone Riverside Park (start/finish point) head off across the meadows towards the River Severn. From here walk to the main road following the Ribbesford Circular ‘Willow tree’ logo.
(1) Cross the road, taking extra care to look out for traffic and continue to St Leonard’s church following the Ribbesford Circular ‘Willow tree’ logo.
(2) Leave the Ribbesford Circular and follow the Worcestershire Way ‘Pear’ logo through St Leonard’s Churchyard. Continue on the Worcestershire Way entering Ribbesford wood. Follow the defined track through the woods until you come out onto Heightington Road.
(3) Cross the road and leave the Worcestershire Way, following the public footpath sign through the tree lined verge and onto the arable farmland. Keep to the footpath and you will soon re-entering woodland. Follow the path through the woodland and leave via a stile.
(4) Turn left and follow the enclosed track for 200m where you will come to a road. Turn right and head up the road, leaving the woodland behind.
(5) After another 200m take the public footpath on your left hand side and cross the arable field until you meet the hedge line.
(6) Cross over a stile and turn left. You are now back on the Worcestershire Way heading towards Bewdley. Follow the Worcestershire Way ‘Pear’ logo all the way back to St Leonard’s church and then retrace your steps to Blackstone Riverside Park.(S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 29 m - Blackstone Riverside Park
- 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 24 m - Road
- 2 : km 0.75 - alt. 45 m - Worcestershire Way
- 3 : km 1.53 - alt. 131 m - Road
- 4 : km 2.33 - alt. 141 m - Enclosed track
- 5 : km 2.81 - alt. 153 m - Public footpath
- 6 : km 3.24 - alt. 132 m - Stile
- S/E : km 5.91 - alt. 31 m - Blackstone Riverside Park
Useful Information
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
Meadowland, woodland, historic buildings and outstanding views are waiting to be discovered on this circular walk. En route you will pass Ribbesford House, St Leonards Church and Ribbesford Wood. Ribbesford House, now private, was once home to the Free French Army under General de Gaulle during World War II, while at St Leonard’s you can see a Norman carving in the doorway and a Pre-Raphaelite designed stained glass window from the hand of William Morris.
The walk continues through the churchyard and onto an elevated section, a suitable placed bench offers the opportunity to rest and appreciate a spectacular view across the valley to the Devil’s Spittleful. The landscape changes again as you enter Ribbesford Wood, home to many species of fauna and fl ora including Fallow and Roe Deer.
