A short Staffordshire walk that includes the chance to visit the Holy Austin Rock Houses that are preserved by the National Trust. The route uses generally well-signed paths although a good ense of direction is useful in this area.
Technical sheet
n°293251
A Kinver walk
posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 03/10/22
Start : The start is the National Trust car park on Compton Road just to the west of the centre of Kinver village (Grid ref. SO 836 836).
(S/E) From the car park follow the waymarks South-West then South-East up to the viewpoint.
(1) After enjoying the view walk South-West along the edge soon joining the Staffordshire Way. After 800 metres you reach a junction with the North Worcestershire Path with a convenient bench close by the junction (grid ref. SO 829 822).
(6) Turn left here and follow the North Worcestershire Path downhill for 150 metres and a cross path.
(2) Turn right and follow the path to reach the road in Blakeshall (grid ref. SO 831 813).
(3) Continue down this lane in a Southerly direction and turn right along a track to pass in front of Blakeshall House Lodge (which is on your right) to reach Solcum Lane (grid ref. SO 829 811).
(4) Turn right and almost immediately bear right on the waymarked path initially heading North-East but soon bearing left to reach a junction with the North Worcestershire Path (grid ref. SO 825 812).
(5) Turn right here and follow the path for just over a kilometre to reach the path junction passed earlier at Grid ref. SO 829 822. Waypoint (6)
(6) Turn left now and continue downhill for about 50 metres.
(7) Then turn right passing Nanny's Rock Cave and keeping ahead at all path junctions to return to the car park(S/E).
Waypoints
S/E : km 0 - alt. 94 m - National Trust car park
1 : km 0.58 - alt. 147 m - Viewpoint
2 : km 2.21 - alt. 131 m - Junction North Worcestershire Path
3 : km 2.83 - alt. 110 m - Continue down the lane
4 : km 3.2 - alt. 102 m - Solcum Lane
5 : km 3.82 - alt. 86 m - North Worcestershire Path
6 : km 5.38 - alt. 139 m - Turn left
7 : km 5.45 - alt. 124 m - Path junction
S/E : km 7.14 - alt. 96 m - National Trust car park
Useful Information
Start : The start is the National Trust car park on Compton Road just to the west of the centre of Kinver village (Grid ref. SO 836 836).
Terrain: Located in South Staffordshire near the border with Worcestershire, Kinver Edge is a high heath and woodland escarpment owned by the National Trust just west of Kinver, about four miles west of Stourbridge.
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.
This walk offers the opportunity to visit the Holy Austin Rock Cottages which are cliff houses cut out of the red sandstone.
Reviews and comments
3.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Clarity of route description 3.4 / 5
Clarity of route map 3.8 / 5
Walk interest 4.6 / 5
Angelamdan
Overall rating :
3.3 / 5
Date of walk : 25/09/22 Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
We found it a bit difficult at times to be sure where paths veered off onto the next one, despite having the OS map with us.
Steep climbs made it a bit more challenging than an 'Easy' walk.
Boyx
Overall rating :
4.3 / 5
Date of walk : 21/09/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
The Cave houses are at the very end (or the beginning!) Leading up to it is a "good" walk - not fantastic but easily followed
Dandex
Overall rating :
3.7 / 5
Date of walk : 30/12/19 Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Lovely walk. Very little on roads which is good with dogs. Found some of the description confusing, switching from using "left" and "right" to "south easterly" etc. And some of the distances were not accurate.
We are proficient map readers and had OS map with us as a back up. Map route was accurate enough so probably did not need them.
Worth visiting the Rock Houses too.
Would do it again, very enjoyable.
michaelhartland71
Overall rating :
4.7 / 5
Date of walk : 01/11/18 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
This is a lovely walk. We didn't exactly follow the route but started by going past the rock houses (you have to be members of National Trust to go inside them), then lovely views all round, especially along the top of Kinver Edge.
Sarita J
Dear Elena,
Thank you for your feedback. If you have any suggestions of how we can improve the walk description, please do let us know, so we can make it as clear as possible for future walkers To print the map, it is very simple, simply click on "Download sheet and map" at the top of the walk description and you will be able to download a PDF file, with the walk description on page 1 of the PDF and the map on the second page.
Best wishes,
Sarita
ElenaMarchesi
Overall rating :
3.5 / 5
Date of walk : 28/04/18 Clarity of route description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing Clarity of route map : N/A Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
I loved the area but the route description was not very detailed and at times I had to proceed according to my common sense, or go back when I realised descriptions did not match the route I was on. Eventually I got lost! But managed to find my way back somehow.
I could NOT print the map (despite having registered on the website), which was definitely a drawback. How do you download and print maps?
To print the map, it is very simple, simply click on "Download sheet and map" at the top of the walk description and you will be able to download a PDF file, with the walk description on page 1 of the PDF and the map on the second page.
