Severn Valley Country Park — Attraction in Alveley

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk on Sunday, 29th December 2024. It was a lovely, sunny, and warm day for December at 13°C. The carpark is pay and display, we paid £1.50 for two hours on a semi busy carpark. All parking bays are on a hardstanding and easy access to the visitors centre as ramps provided.

The visitors centre houses a cafe too, though we didn't go inside, the toilets are outside at the back. Very clean and spacious, though not suitable for wheelchair users, as no ramp provided. Surrounding the back end of the visitors centre is a large wooden play area and outside there are wooden tables too.

A map showing paths of the area is situated a bit further to the left with the carpark behind you and the view of the valley infront (near an old railway coal carriage). No map near to the visitors centre as you would assume there would be. However, so many more paths are not included, and a great adventure can be had if you have several hours to explore. Along the routes, small wooden sculptures can be found along with signposts, small climbing frames, information boards, and town mileage markers in the shape of ancient warriors.

The park crosses both sides of the river Severn, with a bridge to walk across and part of the Severn Valley Railway track cuts across, too. Brilliant for dog walks, for kids and the whole family. Most paths are a mix of tarmac, gravel, and soil/mud, so not accessible for all as those in wheelchairs or on...

Tucked away behind Alveley, the Severn Valley Country Park is reached (at least by our route) via a very windy singletrack country lane, followed by a slightly less windy single-track driveway. Worth noting... it’s busy, and you’ll almost certainly end up doing some vehicular shenanigans with oncoming cars or farm machinery.

Once you’re there, the car park is decent, plenty of spaces and a fair £4 day charge (pay-by-app available). Up on the plateau you’ll also find a coffee shop and a couple of play areas, which is a nice touch.

But be warned... the clue is in the name. The park sits at the top of the valley, which means a steep drop down to the river. If you’re bringing your infirm nan (or Charlie Bucket’s Granddad), make sure you’re either confident carrying them piggy back style or you’ve got some sort of allterrain carriage. The slopes are not forgiving!

That said, the views are worth it. The woodland walks are beautiful, there are links to other attractions nearby, and it makes a cracking picnic spot or a solid base for exploring the Worcestershire/Shropshire borderlands.

3 stars because its not bad at all, just a bit of a fuss to get...

Lovely park with spectacular views across the Severn Valley. Parking is reasonably priced, and is free for Blue Badge holders.

Pathways are in pretty good order and can be navigated in a powerchair or mobility scooter - however they are very steep in places so do bear that in mind.

The café in the visitors center is reasonably priced and offers a range of home made cakes, and the toilets on our recent visits have been very clean however during very busy times in the past this has not always been the case. Lots of hand sanitizer available at the entrance.

There are several wooden play areas throughout the park with the largest at the top next to the visitors center, these have been thoughtfully planned and our kids still enjoy them even after many visits. There is also a large sandpit area to explore so prepare for little pockets and socks to be emptied before returning to the car.

There are a number of picnic benches available throughout the park and also a good number of benches at handy intervals along the steep pathways if you need to take a break. A beautiful place to enjoy the Shropshire...