Disabled Facilities   Picnic Place   Toilets   Walks   Tel: 01746 781192

Severn Valley Country Park stradles both banks of the River Severn on the site of the spoil heaps that came from Highley Colliery.

It's hard to believe that this site was once a barren wasteland. It's now home to a wide range of animal and plant life, woodland and river walks, and a visitor centre that is run by a very enthusiastic team. The care and effort that the rangers put into this park become evident as you explore it.

The visitors centre is adjacent to the ample, even gravel car parks. The toilets (including disabled facilities) are built into the outside of the visitors centre. Inside are a wide range of natural history and educational displays, as well as one telling something of the colliery's history. The visitor's centre looks down over the River Severn and affords some wonderful views. You can just about see and here the Severn Valley Railway on the opposite side of the river as it pulls in and out of Highley Station.

Adjacent to the car park is a wildlife pond which has been created for the benefit of the disabled with easy wheelchair access.

The car park and visitor centre are some distance above the river, to which you can descend via a number of routes. A woodland walk takes you downstream through Hall Close Coppice. Gravel paths descend more gently towards a footbridge from where you can walk either side of the river, up or downstream. The decline is fine for pushchairs but I haven't seen any wheelchair users try it.

The more interesting route is to cross the footbridge and then take the gently ascending footpath upstream to your right. This takes you through a wooded area to the Severn Valley Halt, where you can see the regularly running steam trains or picnic at one of several picnic benches.

If you cross the footbridge and head downstream (to your left) you will pass a golf course and a group of cottages before reaching (just under 3/4 mile) Highley Station. All the stations on the Severn Valley Railway are very well maintained and well worth a visit. Platform access is free. Trains follow a regular timetable from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth.

Attractions near Severn Valley Country Park include Wolverhampton, Rays Farm Country Matters at Bridgnorth, Dudmaston near Bridgnorth, Wyre Forest at Bewdley, Kingsford Country Park near Kinver, Daniel's Mill at Bridgnorth, Kinver Edge near Stourbridge.