The circular weir at Stourton Junction is one of the unique features to look out for during the walk this weekend.

Though a large village, Kinver is expanding rapidly, but it still retains some interesting buildings from the days when it was a busy port on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

This is one of our oldest and loveliest canals, built in James Brindley's contour style which gives it the appearance of a natural waterway. It also has some unique features, such as circular weirs.

One of the very finest stretches is between Stourton Junction and Prestwood Bridge, an almost secret environment where overhanging sandstone cliffs keep the outside world at bay on one side, while the meandering River Stour and Smestow Brook serve a similar purpose on the other side.

Look out for a cave cut into the cliffs at water level. This is Devil's Den and is thought to have been used as a boathouse by the Foley family of Prestwood Hall.

Look out, too, for a variety of birds, including such species as grey wagtail and kingfisher.

Lovely though the canal is, there is much else to enjoy during this walk, including The Million, an oddly named plantation.

Apart from the inevitable conifers, it also has an abundance of silver birch, sweet chestnut, holly and beech. Better still is Kinver Edge, a sandstone ridge shared between Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

It reaches only a modest 164m, and yet offers far-reaching views, together with a beguiling mix of heathland and woodland.

Looking west towards Brown Clee from Kinver Edge.

The soft red stone of the ridge is easily worked and a number of dwellings were hewn out of it in the distant past.

The largest complex is at Holy Austin Rock, where a hermitage was first recorded in the 16th Century. Many of the later occupants worked in the iron industry and their homes were probably superior to most industrial housing of the time.

Many have brick façades but even the most basic were fairly comfortable and it was only in the 1960s that they were finally abandoned.

Holy Austin Rock is owned by the National Trust and the site, complete with gardens and orchards, is open daily from nine until four in the winter.

The houses themselves may be open on Saturday afternoons.

PLEASE NOTE This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.

FACTFILE

Start:Kinver High Street, grid ref SO845834.

Length: 8 miles/13.6km.

Maps: OS Explorer 219, OS Landranger 138/139.

Terrain: Woodland, farmland, canal towpath. One short, fairly steep climb near the end (easily avoided). Sandy soils mean less mud.

Footpaths: Excellent.

Stiles: Three.

Parking: Car park off High Street.

Public transport: Bus or train to Kidderminster then Whittle's 580 at 0945, returning from Kinver at 1157 or 1412, Tues/Thurs/Sat only; or Central Trains to Stourbridge Junction then Hansons 227 (infrequent) or 228 (hourly) to Kinver, Mon-Sat only; Traveline 0870 608 2608 or www.traveline.org.uk Refreshments: Kinver High Street, Kinver Lock and Stewponey Lock. In addition, drinks and confectionery are sold from a narrowboat which you may find moored at Stourton Junction.

DIRECTIONS

1 Walk south along Kinver High Street then turn left on Mill Lane. Turn left on the canal towpath when you come to Kinver Lock.

2 Leave the towpath at Prestwood Bridge, turning left on bridleway 91, which crosses a lane and then climbs gently to a junction. Turn left on what looks like a road but is actually still the bridleway, though it provides vehicle access for two houses, after which it regains its rustic character. Keep straight on at all junctions, soon entering The Million. Again, keep straight on at all junctions, including a lane (Chester Road).

3 Meeting a road (A458 Cote Lane), turn right on a roadside path. When the path comes to an end care is required for the next 150m before you can cross to a footpath. Walk straight across a field then turn right across a second field to a road. The path continues opposite. Go diagonally left across a field, but not to the far corner. Aim for a point roughly halfway between Home Farm and its outlying buildings. You'll soon see a stile in the fence ahead, after which the path is obvious.

4 Joining a track by a pond, turn left on the Staffordshire Way (bridleway). Keep straight on at all junctions, until you reach the second of two lanes. Turn right here, then leave the Staffordshire Way at the next junction, keeping straight on along a lane (Rocky Wall). Turn left at the next road junction, crossing Kingsford Lane and taking an unsigned path into woodland on Kinver Edge. Turn right to walk parallel with Kingsford Lane. Keep right at a junction a little further on.

5 Turn left when a sign indicates Kingsford car park ahead. Go to the right after a few paces, then straight on at the next junction, but only for a few paces, to a sign for Holy Austin Rock. Turn left and ignore any branching paths, staying on the main path which soon swings left. Reaching a cross-path, turn right, back on the Staffordshire Way, albeit briefly. Climb to the top of Kinver Edge and turn left to a toposcope.

6 Turn second right, on the path closest to the escarpment edge, and go left at a junction, descending to an open grassy area. Turn left on a wide path which descends to a junction. Cross a track to a gate giving access to Holy Austin Rock Grounds. Return to the track after visiting the rock houses and turn left. Turn right at Compton Road, then continue down Stone Lane. You can keep straight on to the High Street but, to avoid traffic, it's better to turn right on The Compa. Fork left at a junction then take path 42 to Stone Lane. Turn right to the High Street.

9:57am Monday 22nd January 2007

The narrow boat Lion moored on the canal at Kinver.

Houses at Holy Austin Rock which were only abandoned in the 1960s.

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