Riverside Trail

Enjoy the picturesque River Avon and look out for kingfishers on our Riverside Trail.

Take a gentle walk through woodland and the river meadows along the banks of the River Avon, with stunning views over the surrounding countryside.

How to get here

The start / finish point for this walk is Dorothy's Wood car park:

  • Address: Welford Road, Barton, B50 4NP
  • OS Grid Ref: SP1163251325
  • What3Words: ///mush.apart.joke
Facilities and access

The Riverside Trail starts and finishes at Dorothy's Wood car park. This car park and woodland walking route is being provided for your enjoyment and we ask that you donate via the post in the car park or by text. 

This walk has no stiles, steps or kissing gates but features a single person width bridge and a walk through metal gate (with fitted bottom rail to step up over). The route crosses the public highway.

Download the Riverside Trail walk
Riverside Trail Walk.pdf (893.4 KB)
Download a wider area map to show links to other walking routes
Dorsington Area Map_2.pdf (3.32 MB)
Distance:
1.5 miles
Difficulty:
Easy
Start / finish:
Dorothy's Wood car park
Nearest Postcode:
B50 4NP
Terrain:
Clearly marked woodland paths which can get muddy in winter

Begin walk

1.
1. From the car park, cross the road into Dorothy’s Wood – a riot of blossom and colour in spring. Follow the trail through the trees until you reach the wide grass path.
Dorothy's Wood sign with trees behind and wildflowers in the foreground
2.
2. Turn left onto the path. Continue until you reach a clearing in the woodland with the Tree Dedication area sign. Turn right and follow the path up the hill.
'Tree Dedication Area' sign in Dorothy's Wood
3.
3. At the top of the hill catch your breath and enjoy the stunning views over the surrounding countryside. Continue on up to level ground.
View from the top of the hill in Dorothy's Wood looking back down towards the car park
4.
4. Walk straight on and take the left fork, following the signposted arrows. This part of the path is lined with flowering shrubs. Follow this curved path.
The fork surrounded by in leaf shrubs and trees in the woodland path
5.
5. At the hedge turn left, continuing until you see the woodland sign and head right-handed through the gate opposite, into the young woodland plantation- one of our dedication areas.
A gate in the Forest surrounded by trees
6.
6. Follow the hedgerow down the field and through the pedestrian gate to the road. Cross the road into the woodland on the other side and turn right following the brook to a wooden bridge then turn left.
A wooden bridge over a brook in the Forest
7.
7. Cross the wooden bridge with handrails and enter Roman Field Wood.
Wooden bridge with handrails across Noleham brook
8.
8. Walk up the slope through Roman Field Wood. Bear left and follow the arrows leading to a gate and cross the road. Join the public footpath through the metal gate for a short stretch.
A mown grass path through a young woodland at Romans Field Wood
9.
9. Go through the pedestrian gate on the left into the river meadows and head to the River Avon. Walk left along the banks of the river, past Pilgrim Lock with its large weeping willow.
Also known as Shakespeare’s Avon, this picturesque river flows from Northamptonshire through Warwickshire to join the River Severn in Gloucestershire.
The path running adjacent to the River Avon along our riverside trail walk
10.
10. Head downstream along the river and cross over the Noleham Brook via the pedestrian bridge. Follow the access track to the left which leads back to Dorothy's Wood Car Park.
Kingfishers make their home near slow-flowing water, so keep an eye out for their unmistakable bright blue and orange plumage
A view of the river from our riverside trail walk
End! Well done

Thank you to volunteers Anne-Marie and James for contributing these wonderful woodland walk photos.