Widney Manor to Dorridge Railway Station, Rail Trails

This trail takes you through areas of Solihull’s suburbia and countryside, crossing the M42. Along this trail you’ll also cross the River Blythe, one of the richest rivers in lowland England and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.34 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 12 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 11 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 136 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 117 m

Description

Start: Widney Manor Railway Station (B91 3TD) Grid ref. SP 154 775

(S) Exit Widney Manor station to the road. Turn right and go down to the crossroads, where you go straight across into Lovelace Avenue.

(1) Turn right before houses onto the footpath to go ahead ignoring footpaths right and left to cross M42 Motorway bridge.

(2) After crossing the Motorway, continue ahead on the footpath with the hedge on the left across two fields and then ahead through a small field with trees on the right to reach Smiths Lane.

(3) When you reach Smiths Lane, turn left.

(4) Then after a few yards take the footpath on the right hand side of the road. Follow the footpath until you reach Brown’s Lane where you turn right.

(5) After 300 metres, turn left onto Widney Road and follow that for 400 metres until you turn right onto Slater Road. Follow Slater Road until you meet the T-junction with Mill Lane.

(6) Turn left and walk for about 5 minutes until you reach the turning on the right for Poplar Road. Follow Poplar Road all the way to the end.

(7) Turn right onto Station Road. Cross the road at the zebra crossing and then turn left onto Station Approach, where the station is around 20 metres up on the right hand side.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 124 m - Widney Manor Railway Station
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 132 m - Footpath right
  3. 2 : km 0.89 - alt. 122 m - Motorway bridge
  4. 3 : km 1.42 - alt. 133 m - Smiths Lane
  5. 4 : km 1.47 - alt. 133 m - Footpath right
  6. 5 : km 2.12 - alt. 136 m - Widney Road
  7. 6 : km 3.13 - alt. 129 m - T-junction with Mill Lane
  8. 7 : km 4.17 - alt. 124 m - Junction Station Road
  9. E : km 4.34 - alt. 125 m - Widney Manor Railway Station

Practical information

Start: Widney Manor Railway Station (B91 3TD) Grid ref. SP 154 775

Transport: Widney Manor Station is served by trains on both the Leamington and Stratford lines into Birmingham. Three trains per hour travel in each direction between Birmingham Snow Hill and Widney Manor (hourly on Sundays) to stations including Stratford-Upon- Avon, Stourbridge Junction, and Leamington Spa for connections to London.
There are limited facilities at this station.

Alternative : Just a short diversion from the trail you can take in the beautiful setting of Widney Manor Cemetery where you’ll see many contemporary, ornate memorials, many in the traditional Catholic style.

Refreshments: The wealthy, rural village of Dorridge is surrounded by Warwickshire countryside just a short walk from the town centre. It offers designer boutiques, canal-side gastro pubs and plenty of country walks. If setting off from Widney Manor, the Fieldhouse is nearby for a pre-walk refreshments. Otherwise, you’ll pass the Drum and Monkey and Dark Horse Espresso on the route. Alternatively, reward yourself once you reach Dorridge with a coffee at Espresso, a tipple at Skogen or a feat at The Butchers Social.

The Fieldhouse: Just over half a mile from Widney Manor Station, this local pub is a great spot for good quality pub food before you kick off. Vegetarian, vegan and special Sunday menus available.

Dark Horse Espresso: Great coffee direct from elite roasters, dedicated and skilled baristas and brewed to exacting standards. Its proper hand-crafted coffee and handily smack bang on the trail!

Drum and Monkey: Serving since 1860 and surrounded by the Warwickshire countryside, the Drum & Monkey is rightfully popular with walkers. The expansive garden is a great place to kick back with a cheeky pint!

The Butchers Social: An old coach house transformed into a modern restaurant, bar and boutique rooms - a place of comfort and opulence with a warm atmosphere. If you are looking for post-trail reward, look no further!

Discover the Heart of England by rail at Heart Community Rail Trail here.

In the nearby area

Botanically, the Blythe is one of the richest rivers in England, with sections containing as many species as the very richest chalk streams.

The first section of the M42 opened in November 1976 linking Birmingham Airport with the M6 motorway. It was completed in December 1989 with the opening of the link from the M5. Along with sections of the M5 and M6, the southern sections of the M42 form the Birmingham Outer Ring Road.

River Blythe: A rare example of a lowland river on clay, with incredibly rich and diverse flora and an incredibly important community of invertebrates. Despite the proximity of the M42 its a lovely spot to linger.

Malvern & Brueton Park: A Green Flag park and local nature reserve. Explore mature woodland, ornamental gardens and lake, the Parkridge local nature reserve, sensory garden and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre.

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