Britain's longest riverside walk follows the great river Severn (Hafren in Welsh) from its source in the wild mid Wales moorlands to its 6km/4-mile wide estuary on the Bristol channel. Along the way are widely contrasting landscapes, plentiful woodlands and a succession of fascinating towns and cities including Welshpool, Shrewsbury, the World Heritage Site at Ironbridge, Worcester and Gloucester.

The Way ends officially at Severn Beach at the M4 bridge (337km/210.5 miles), where the Bristol Link continues on to the River Avon Trail and the Watershed Centre in central Bristol.

The Way was established by the Severn Way Partnership comprising the local authorities, the Environment Agency, which manages the river itself, and ICI Estates.

Some easy access sections and other lengths of flat, easy path. Contact local authorities for details.

Public Transport

There is currently no public transport to the source in the Hafren Forest: walkers are advised either to organise a lift or taxi from Llanidloes to the Rhyd-y-benwch car park in the Forest, 6km/4 miles from the source. Llanidloes has express coaches and a regular bus service to the station at Newtown.
A railway line runs roughly parallel to the Way between Caersws and Telford, with stations at Newtown, Welshpool and Shewsbury, and services to Machynlleth, Aberystwyth, Pwllheli, Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Shrewbury also has rail services to Crewe, Chester, Liverpool, Hereford and to Llanelli along the scenic Heart of Wales Line. Between Bridgnorth and Bewdley the Way is paralleled by the independent Severn Valley Railway with services to Kidderminster.
Stourport has numerous bus services. Worcester has trains to Kidderminster, Birmingham, Hereford, Cheltenham, Oxford and London. Tewkesbury has bus services, including connections to nearby Ashchurch station for trains to Cheltenham, Gloucester and Worcester. Gloucester also has trains to Bristol, Cardiff, Swindon and London. Buses serve Frampton on Severn and numerous other places along the route.
The official end of the Way is adjacent to Severn Beach station where frequent local trains serve Bristol Temple Meads. For those continuing on the Bristol link there are nearby stations on the same line at St Andrews Road, Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Sea Mills and Clifton Down. Bristol itself is a major transport centre with trains to numerous destinations including Cardiff, Swansea, Bath, Exeter, Birmingham, Southampton and the north of England, long distance coaches and a dense network of local buses serving many points on the route.
More information: Southwest | West Midlands | National enquiry lines

Publications

Local authorities
Bristol
Gloucestershire
Powys
Shropshire
South Gloucestershire
Worcestershire

Connecting routes
Birmingham and Aberystwyth Walk
Cambrian Way
Elan Valley Way
From the Wye to the Thames (see Wye Valley Walk)
Glevum Way
Gloucestershire Way
Glyndwr's Way
Ironbridge Way
Jack Mytton Way
Jubilee Way (S Gloucestershire)
Leapgate Old Railway Line (via Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal)
Malvern Link (see Worcestershire Way)
Marches Way
Monarch's Way
Offa's Dyke Path
River Avon Trail
Sabrina Way
Samaritans Way South West Shropshire Union Canal
Shropshire Way
Silkin Way
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Worcestershire Way
Wychavon Way
Wye Valley Walk

Parks and countryside
Attingham Park (NT)
Blackstone Riverside Park
Dudmaston Estate (NT)
Hafren Forest
Hartlebury Common LNR (nearby)
Severn Valley Country Park
Shropshire Hills
Wyre Forest

Maps
Explorer OL14, 154, 167, 190, 204, 214, 215, 216, 218, 240, 241, 242
Landranger 126, 127, 136, 138, 159, 162, 172
Path is shown on maps.
More about maps

Visitor information
Bewdley
Bridgnorth
Bristol
Gloucester
Ironbridge
Llanidloes
Newtown
Shrewsbury
Tewkesbury
Upton upon Severn
Welshpool
Worcester

Accommodation
Bed and breakfast listings