RoutesHiking trails & RoutesUnited KingdomEnglandWest Midlands RegionWorcestershireWyre ForestBewdley
Bewdley Riverside Promenade – Wyre Forest loop from Bewdley
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesUnited KingdomEnglandWest Midlands RegionWorcestershireWyre ForestBewdley
Bewdley Riverside Promenade – Wyre Forest loop from Bewdley
Moderate
4
hikers
Bewdley Riverside Promenade – Wyre Forest loop from Bewdley
04:55
18.1km
250m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: May 9, 2026
Waypoints
A
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
1
1.14 km
Bewdley Riverside Promenade
Highlight • River
Great place to get a cuppa
Tip by
2
6.17 km
View of Trimpley Reservoir
Highlight • Lake
nice spot to visit in the Wyre forest and a great view of Trimpley reservoir.
watch out for dog walkers
watch out for dog walkers
Tip by
3
12.9 km
Mercian Way Marker
Highlight • Monument
4
13.3 km
Worcestershire Natural Flood Management Project – Leaky Dams in Wyre Forest
Highlight • Natural Monument
Worcestershire Natural Flood Management (NFM) Project in the Wyre Forest.
The aim of this project is to reduce flooding in
the Dowles Brook catchment, by implementing at large number of small scale, natural interventions in upstream areas to help slow the flow of water and hold it back during times of high flows. These measures involve working on the tributaries of the Dowles Brook and could include things such as planting hedges, creating wetland areas. attenuation ponds, leaky dams, soll aeration and other land management techniques
The intention is to slow the flood peak on the
Dowdes so it does not coincide with the flood
peak on the River Severn at Bewdley.
Water moving at speed through the landscape is incredibly destructive and leads to erosion, soil loss and widespread damage, therefore slowing down the water has a wealth of positive impacts.
It is the intention that many more features will be installed over the riext few years with the aim of slowing the flow throughout the catchment.
If you would like more information, or are
a landowner who is keen to get involved.
please contact the NFM Project Officer al
Worcestershire County Council.
worcestershire.gov.uk/NFM
Natural Flood Management - Leaky Dams
Trees are sourced from the immediate stream side and used to build a lattice. Over time, especially in high flow, smaller woody debris accumulates naturally, and this increases the effectiveness of the leaky dam.
The dars are wedged behind living tree stumps to prevent them moving or floating away, over time they bed in and naturalise as part of the landscape.
Leaky dams work with nature, providing a food source and habitat for wildlife. This timber lattice allows wildlife, such as fish, to move freely upstream and downstream.
Leaky dams are constructed to allow free passage of water in normal flows, and only hold water back when required during high rainfall. The backed up water is pushed out of the channel into appropriate sites upstream where silts are deposited.
A single structure has little impact, but a series of leaky dams at various locations can help reduce the risk of flooding downstream.
Felling by the river bank allows more sunlight to reach the watercourse and its banks. This leads to the growth of marginal vegetation, creating further food sources and habitats for wildlife.
The aim of this project is to reduce flooding in
the Dowles Brook catchment, by implementing at large number of small scale, natural interventions in upstream areas to help slow the flow of water and hold it back during times of high flows. These measures involve working on the tributaries of the Dowles Brook and could include things such as planting hedges, creating wetland areas. attenuation ponds, leaky dams, soll aeration and other land management techniques
The intention is to slow the flood peak on the
Dowdes so it does not coincide with the flood
peak on the River Severn at Bewdley.
Water moving at speed through the landscape is incredibly destructive and leads to erosion, soil loss and widespread damage, therefore slowing down the water has a wealth of positive impacts.
It is the intention that many more features will be installed over the riext few years with the aim of slowing the flow throughout the catchment.
If you would like more information, or are
a landowner who is keen to get involved.
please contact the NFM Project Officer al
Worcestershire County Council.
worcestershire.gov.uk/NFM
Natural Flood Management - Leaky Dams
Trees are sourced from the immediate stream side and used to build a lattice. Over time, especially in high flow, smaller woody debris accumulates naturally, and this increases the effectiveness of the leaky dam.
The dars are wedged behind living tree stumps to prevent them moving or floating away, over time they bed in and naturalise as part of the landscape.
Leaky dams work with nature, providing a food source and habitat for wildlife. This timber lattice allows wildlife, such as fish, to move freely upstream and downstream.
Leaky dams are constructed to allow free passage of water in normal flows, and only hold water back when required during high rainfall. The backed up water is pushed out of the channel into appropriate sites upstream where silts are deposited.
A single structure has little impact, but a series of leaky dams at various locations can help reduce the risk of flooding downstream.
Felling by the river bank allows more sunlight to reach the watercourse and its banks. This leads to the growth of marginal vegetation, creating further food sources and habitats for wildlife.
Tip by
5
14.3 km
Wyre Forest Butterfly Trail
Highlight • Trail
Welcome to the Wyre Forest Butterfly Trail. This 3.5 mile trail takes 2-3 hours to complete and has been designed to introduce the amazing diversity of butterflies found in the Wyre. The Butterfly Trail now continues along the Dowles Path to Coopers Mill.
The track that you have walked along from the bridge over Dowles Brook is a good area to spot the bright yellow Brimstone butterfly. The Brimstone hibernates as an adult through
the winter and is often the first butterfly seen each spring. Some people believe that the insect's original name of 'butter-coloured fly' was the origin of the word 'butterfly'.
It is only the male that is bright yellow in colóuration; the female is a more greenish-
white and in flight might be mistaken for a Large White.
The reason why the Brimstone is generally numerous here is because of the presence of several bushes of alder buckthorn between the track and the brook on which the female lays her eggs. If you look carefully during May and June you can often spot the yellow skittle-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves and sometimes also the caterpillars which are extremely well camouflaged against the green of the leaves. The caterpillar goes through a number of skin changes. as it grows before eventually pupating away from its food-plant to emerge as an adult butterfly in late July.
Brimstones can then be seen visiting flowers like teasels and thistles for several more weeks before going into hibernation to emerge the following spring. It is often regarded as Britain's longest lived butterfly with some adults surviving as long as 11 months. Only a handful of our butterflies hibernate as adults in this way, most species pass the winter as an egg, caterpillar or pupa. Consequently, their adult stage may only last for a few days but, nevertheless, long enough for courtship, pairing and egg-laying to take place to ensure the survival of the species for another year.
Other species to look out for include the Comma, with a distinctive ragged edge to its wings; the Common Blue, on the wing in May and June with a second generation from July to early September (if you see a 'blue' butterfly before May then it is almost certainly a Holly Blue which is similar in size and colour but lacks the orange markings on the underside of the hindwing); and the Gatekeeper, which is generally brown in colour with orange splashes across its forewings.
The Butterfly Trail now continues to Coopers Mill. Two butterflies to look out for on your return journey are the graceful and very beautiful White Admiral, which has only colonised Wyre in recent years and is still something of a rarity here; and the Speckled Wood which is on the wing for most of the summer in a series of overlapping broods and is generally found in shadier spots along the Trail.
The track that you have walked along from the bridge over Dowles Brook is a good area to spot the bright yellow Brimstone butterfly. The Brimstone hibernates as an adult through
the winter and is often the first butterfly seen each spring. Some people believe that the insect's original name of 'butter-coloured fly' was the origin of the word 'butterfly'.
It is only the male that is bright yellow in colóuration; the female is a more greenish-
white and in flight might be mistaken for a Large White.
The reason why the Brimstone is generally numerous here is because of the presence of several bushes of alder buckthorn between the track and the brook on which the female lays her eggs. If you look carefully during May and June you can often spot the yellow skittle-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves and sometimes also the caterpillars which are extremely well camouflaged against the green of the leaves. The caterpillar goes through a number of skin changes. as it grows before eventually pupating away from its food-plant to emerge as an adult butterfly in late July.
Brimstones can then be seen visiting flowers like teasels and thistles for several more weeks before going into hibernation to emerge the following spring. It is often regarded as Britain's longest lived butterfly with some adults surviving as long as 11 months. Only a handful of our butterflies hibernate as adults in this way, most species pass the winter as an egg, caterpillar or pupa. Consequently, their adult stage may only last for a few days but, nevertheless, long enough for courtship, pairing and egg-laying to take place to ensure the survival of the species for another year.
Other species to look out for include the Comma, with a distinctive ragged edge to its wings; the Common Blue, on the wing in May and June with a second generation from July to early September (if you see a 'blue' butterfly before May then it is almost certainly a Holly Blue which is similar in size and colour but lacks the orange markings on the underside of the hindwing); and the Gatekeeper, which is generally brown in colour with orange splashes across its forewings.
The Butterfly Trail now continues to Coopers Mill. Two butterflies to look out for on your return journey are the graceful and very beautiful White Admiral, which has only colonised Wyre in recent years and is still something of a rarity here; and the Speckled Wood which is on the wing for most of the summer in a series of overlapping broods and is generally found in shadier spots along the Trail.
Tip by
6
14.5 km
Wyre Forest
Highlight • Forest
The Wyre Forest is a National Nature Reserve and a large area of ancient oak woodland. Packed with trails and wildlife, there's plenty to explore here throughout the year. A disused railway runs through the forest, now part of National Cycle Route 45 as well as the long-distance hiking route, the Geopark Way.
With parking, toilets, a cafe, a play area and lots more, you could easily spend an entire day here.
With parking, toilets, a cafe, a play area and lots more, you could easily spend an entire day here.
Tip by
7
15.7 km
Knowles Mill
Highlight • Historical Site
Lovely place for a break
Tip by
8
17.0 km
Butterfly Trail
Highlight • Trail
Long flat path most of the way
Tip by
B
18.1 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
8.94 km
4.50 km
2.05 km
1.78 km
528 m
264 m
Surfaces
7.25 km
6.84 km
1.68 km
1.03 km
864 m
264 m
146 m
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Elevation
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Highest point (150 m)
Lowest point (20 m)
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Weather
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Monday 13 July
29°C
13°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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