A moderate route in Other England. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Layby parking by Holy Austin Rock (SO 834 836) - fair amount of parking
Terrain: Staffordshire Way climbing steadily then steeply to plateau (ancient hill fort), along Kinver Edge, dropping down to clear path alongside woods, crossing track into woods, through woods to track, roads through Blakeshall, Drakelow Lane, path around Frogmore Farm, Wolverley village, River Stour and canal, canal towpath for good distance winding past Debdale Bridge through Cookley and Whittington Lock, Whittington Horse Bridge, path uphill to Hill Farm, roads, lane by church (easy to miss turn!), graveyard, roads winding through Kinver, Centenary Trail back to Holy Austin Rock
This is is a complex but rewarding circular walk from Kinver Edge combining ancient history, canal heritage, and war memorials. The Staffordshire Way climbs steadily then steeply to the plateau featuring an ancient hill fort, where turning left visits the toposcope for views before continuing along Kinver Edge. Dropping down to a clear path alongside woods, the route crosses into woodland before emerging at Blakeshall, where roads wind past Solcum Farm with optional detours to Baxter's Monument and another ancient fort for local history enthusiasts. The crossroads at SO 818 806 marks the turn onto Drakelow Lane before the path rounds Frogmore Farm into Wolverley where the impressive red brick church immediately catches the eye. The River Stour and canal offer "The Legend of the Swan" information before the towpath winds for a good distance past Debdale Bridge, through Cookley, and past Whittington Lock. Leaving via Whittington Horse Bridge, the uphill path to Hill Farm requires careful navigation at the church lane turn at SO 845 829 - we missed this and doubled back approximately 100 metres each way. The graveyard across from the church contains about 8 war graves from both wars, worth visiting before the road winds down into Kinver. The Centenary Trail provides a clear final section past Holy Austin Rock back to the start. A complex route requiring attention to numerous turns but rewarding with varied terrain and historical features throughout.