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The Severn Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in the United Kingdom, which follows the course of the
The source of the River Severn is high on
The River Avon Trail is part of the Kennet and Avon Walk which goes cross country from Reading on the Thames to the Severn Estuary. The Severn Way includes Gloucestershire Way, Wye Valley Walk, Worcestershire Way, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Walk, Worcester & Birmingham Canal Walk, Three Choirs Way and Telford and Wrekin Walks, and Shakespeare's Avon Way.
Photos of the Severn Way on geograph.org.uk
{{authority control River Severn Elenydd Footpaths in Powys Footpaths in Shropshire Footpaths in Worcestershire Footpaths in Gloucestershire Long-distance footpaths in England Long-distance footpaths in Wales Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom
River Severn
The River Severn (, ), at long, is the longest river in Great Britain. It is also the river with the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales, with an average flow rate of at Apperley, Gloucestershire. It rises in t ...
through Mid Wales
Mid Wales ( or simply ''Y Canolbarth'', meaning "the midlands"), or Central Wales, is a region of Wales, encompassing its midlands, in-between North Wales and South Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the Senedd covered the unitary autho ...
and western England.
According to the Long Distance Walkers Association the Severn Way is long.
The route
The source of the River Severn is high on Plynlimon
Plynlimon, or Pumlumon in Welsh language, Welsh (also historically anglicised as Plinlimon, Plynlymmon or Plinlimmon), is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales (taking a restricted definition of the Cambrian Mountains, ex ...
, in the uplands of mid Wales
Mid Wales ( or simply ''Y Canolbarth'', meaning "the midlands"), or Central Wales, is a region of Wales, encompassing its midlands, in-between North Wales and South Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the Senedd covered the unitary autho ...
, from where both river and walk descend to Llanidloes, Newtown, Powys
Newtown () is a town in Powys, Wales. It lies on the River Severn in the community of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn, within the Historic counties of Wales, historic boundaries of Montgomeryshire. It was designated a New towns movement, new town in ...
and Welshpool
Welshpool ( ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community in Powys, Wales, historically in the Historic counties of Wales, county of Montgomeryshire. The town is from the Wales–England border and low-lying on the River Severn. The c ...
. It then follows the towpath of the Montgomeryshire Canal, passing through Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire (district), Shropshire, England. It is sited on the River Severn, northwest of Wolverhampton, west of Telford, southeast of Wrexham and north of Hereford. At the 2021 United ...
, Shropshire
Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...
and the Severn Gorge. It passes the cradle of the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution, sometimes divided into the First Industrial Revolution and Second Industrial Revolution, was a transitional period of the global economy toward more widespread, efficient and stable manufacturing processes, succee ...
at Ironbridge before passing through Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the United Kingd ...
, Hampton Loade and Highley (in Shropshire), and Bewdley
Bewdley ( ) is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Severn. It is in the Severn Valley, and is west of Kidderminster, north of Worcester and southwest of Birmingham. It ...
in Worcestershire
Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...
, Stourport-on-Severn
Stourport-on-Severn, often shortened to Stourport, is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest (district), Wyre Forest District of North Worcestershire, England, 4 miles to the south of Kidderminster and downstream on the River Severn from Be ...
, Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the north of Gloucestershire, England. The town grew following the construction of Tewkesbury Abbey in the twelfth century and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. It stands at ...
. It enters Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...
and passes through Gloucester
Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean ...
itself before passing Berkeley Castle and following the Severn Estuary
The Severn Estuary () is the estuary of the River Severn, flowing into the Bristol Channel between South West England (from North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire) and South Wales (from Cardiff, Newport to Monmouthshire). Its very h ...
past Slimbridge. Originally, the path finished at Severn Beach
Severn Beach is a village on the Severn Estuary in South Gloucestershire, England. The eastern portal of the Severn Tunnel is on the outskirts of the village. The River Severn, Severn footpathon the sea wallis part of the Severn Way that leads fro ...
, but it has recently been extended to Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
via Lawrence Weston, Shirehampton and through the Avon Gorge
The Avon Gorge () is a 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometre) long Canyon, gorge on the River Avon (Bristol), River Avon in Bristol, England. The gorge runs south to north through a limestone ridge west of Bristol city centre, and about 3 miles (5&nbs ...
.
Connecting trails
The River Avon Trail is part of the Kennet and Avon Walk which goes cross country from Reading on the Thames to the Severn Estuary. The Severn Way includes Gloucestershire Way, Wye Valley Walk, Worcestershire Way, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Walk, Worcester & Birmingham Canal Walk, Three Choirs Way and Telford and Wrekin Walks, and Shakespeare's Avon Way.
See also
*Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom
There are hundreds of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom designated in publications from public authorities, guidebooks and OS maps. They are mainly used for hiking and walking, but some may also be used, in whole or in part, for mou ...
* List of crossings of the River Severn
* Severn bore
References
External links
Photos of the Severn Way on geograph.org.uk
{{authority control River Severn Elenydd Footpaths in Powys Footpaths in Shropshire Footpaths in Worcestershire Footpaths in Gloucestershire Long-distance footpaths in England Long-distance footpaths in Wales Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom