Worcester Vista - a view of Worcester, articles and photos about the City of Worcester

Worcester Walk

A Worcester Walk (Two Miles)
Start from Worcester Bridge walk along South Quay, passing Browns Restaurant, with St. Andrews Spire and the College on your left, walk alongside the river, passing the rear of the Old Bishops Palace and the Cathedral.

When reaching the Watergate leading to college green, look on the wall to the right and you will see plates recording the flood levels of the Severn over the years. Another feature, just through the gate is the outline of a giant fish, caught in the Severn many years ago.the fish can be seen stuffed, in the Foregate street museum.
Continue along the river under trees, past a lane on the left that leads to the Worcester Porcelain Museum, you now come to the Diglis Hotel, and then on to Diglis Avenue, with a row of houses facing the river.

Walk on until you reach Diglis Lock, cross over the lock, turn right past the lock keepers cottage, and note the many varied boats moored in the basin. Walk over the swing bridges and turn left behind Anchor Public House on to the canal towpath.
Continue along the canal side until reaching Sidbury lock, and leave the canal at the archway near the Commandery.

Turn right into Sidbury and walk towards the Cathedral along College Street passing the Cathedral turn left into Deansway, continue past The Old Bishops Palace and the College on the left, turn into Copenhagen Street, down towards the river and back to your starting point.

An Interesting Two mile walk around Worcester

Park the car in Copenhagen street carpark, next to St. Andrews Spire, in front of the college. Begin by walking up Copenhagen Street, crossing Deansway.
When reaching High Street turn left in front of the Guildhall, pause for a moment to admire the magnificent architecture.
Carry on along high street until reaching Church Street on the right; note the old church "St.Swithins", from church street make a slight detour left into The Trinity, stop to have a look at "Queen Elizabeth's House" walk along The Trinity to the Cornmarket.
Turn right into Queen Street, across Mealcheapen Street, then into New Street, passing "King Charles House" on your left.
Walk straight over Pump Street into Friar Street, passing "Greyfriars", turn left in to Union Street in front of "Lasletts Almshouse's" until you Reach City Walls Road.
Turn right, note preserved remains of ancient city walls, incorporated into wall at side of path, on opposite side of road is, "Fownes Hotel" which used to be a glove factory.
When reaching Sidbury, cross to the left over pelican crossing walking straight on over canal bridge, at the The "Commandery" turn left onto the canal towpath.
Pass under the bridge by the locks continue along the canal passing industrial buildings, and new flats on the left, until reaching Diglis basin, and the Anchor public House.
Turn left off the canal at side of pub.
Walk past "Grist to the Mill Boatyard" over a swing bridge with the basin on the right, over another bridge until reaching canal path again walk until reaching the lock at the junction with the river
Note the lockkeepers cottage on the left, cross over final swing bridge, and join the riverside path, passing headquarters of Worcester sea cadets, you now arrive at Diglis avenue, a row of houses facing the river.
Continue past the Diglis Hotel, and the King School boathouse.
When reaching "Watergate" look for the ferry (only usually operating in the summer months.) The gate leads to college green and the cathedral. On wall, to the right, flood level markers are built in to record depth of floods over the years.
Continue along the river until reaching steps up to the carpark at your starting point.

A Longer Walk around Worcester approx. 4.5 miles

Begin your walk from south quay, walk up to, and cross over the Bridge noting the Magnificent Cathedral on your left and the interesting plaques on parapet.
On reaching the crossing, turn right over the main road to reach path on St. Johns side of river.
Walk along Henwick Parade, passing under railway viaduct, until reaching Sabrina Footbridge.
Cross over to Pitchcroft Racecourse, pass in front of the grandstand, and return to riverside path. Note on race days this path will be closed.
Walk until reaching steps and ramp on right this path takes you away from the riverbank on the edge of the racecourse. At the far end of the racecourse, the path bears to the right.
Find and pass through the white gate, and bear right in to Waterworks road.
Continue until a sharp right turn, and turn left along a path with hedge on right, then turn right in to Gheluvelt Park. Walk through park, along Barbourne Brook, Passing Island Bandstand.
When reaching main gates stop and take a look at inscribed plaques depicting how the Worcester Regiment prevented an enemy breakthrough at Gheluvelt near the Belgian town of Ypres.
(The Museum of the Worcestershire Regiment is on the upper floor of the central library in Foregate Street, and is well worth a visit).
Cross over Barbourne Road walk towards Worcester for a short distance, then turn left in to Sunnyside Road. When reaching St. George's Walk turn right, until St. George's Lane North, turn left and pass in front of Football Ground, until reaching the Cavalier Tavern, a good place to stop for refreshment.
Join the canal towpath, from the car park, turn right and pass under bridge no. 12 walk towards Worcester passing Flagge Meadow, and The Arboretum, later passing allotments and a high retaining wall, with Landsdown Crescent above.
When you reach the tall Railway Bridge, leave the canal to cross bridge spanning entrance to Lowesmore Wharf, rejoin the towpath, walk under bridge, passing industrial remains of Heenan and Froudes, The Old Gas Works and Hardy and Padmore Ironfounders.
Pass under bridge No. 8 on reaching bridge No. 5 you again have to leave the towpath to cross road, turn left over the bridge and immediately right to rejoin the towpath, now on the opposite side.
Pass under bridge No. 4 and we then reach lock by Commandery Visitors Centre.
At this point leave the canal through the arch of The Commandery Gateway. Note these gates close at sunset.
Turn right on to Sidbury and cross over, walk towards Edgar Street, turn left and walk under Edgar Tower (St. Mary's Gate) walk across college green, in the far left corner, go down the steps to the Watergate. Turn right and walk along the river to your starting point.

More local walks can be found in "Leisure Walks from Worcester Bridge" Written by Derek Starkey. Published By the Worcester Group of the Ramblers Association