Kempsey has two distinct aspects: paths through the countryside and a local history bearing traces from the Bronze and Iron Ages through to Roman times. This combination may interest you when planning a trip if you would like to include the area’s historical background as well as outdoor activity. The parish has about 60 miles of footpaths and bridleways; it is also home to the Church of St Mary and archaeological finds from Kempsey.

Walking along the River Severn and through the parish

The approximately 60 miles comprise footpaths and bridleways in the parish of Kempsey; they are not a single walking route. Kempsey’s walking paths include routes along the River Severn in both directions. These riverside paths are one specific part of the parish-wide selection. This means that an overall network of footpaths and bridleways sits alongside a dedicated focus on the river. Conditions along the banks of the River Severn can vary with the season; the condition of individual paths can also change. So if you are planning a particular walk, take the season and the conditions on your chosen route into account.

In Malvern Hills District, Kempsey Common is one of three sub-regional green infrastructure assets. This classification is at the scale of the District as a whole and adds a landscape-planning perspective to the view of individual paths. In Kempsey, then, you will encounter two different levels of consideration: paths within the parish and the green infrastructure classification across the wider District.

From early settlement traces to Roman times

Kempsey’s historic settlement site was on elevated ground by the water. An earthwork, known as the “agger”, fortified the site. Artefacts from the Bronze and Iron Ages have been found there. A small Roman camp at Kempsey was intended to protect the Saltway and an important ford. Kempsey’s gravel pits have also yielded Roman coins and local and imported pottery. Taken together, these traces point to different historical connections: a fortified settlement site, the protection of a route and a ford, and finds from Roman times.

The Church of St Mary in Kempsey is another historical landmark. The Grade I listed building was constructed between the 12th and 15th centuries. The church thus adds a later architectural history to the earlier settlement and Roman-period traces. Kempsey’s Roman road also connects history with walking: anyone travelling along the route follows a story that goes back hundreds of years.

Practical planning information

The season matters when walking by the river, as conditions along the banks can vary. Another planning consideration is the Kempsey Community Bus: on Fridays, it runs from the Severn Stoke/Kinnersley/Kempsey area to St Peters Garden Centre, as well as to Tesco and Aldi. If you would like to include the bus in your plans, check the timetable in advance. This lets you take account of the seasonal riverside conditions and the bus service’s day of operation as two separate factors.

If you are looking for a hotel in Kempsey, you can first decide which focus you would like your stay to have: the paths along the River Severn and through the parish, the landscape perspective on Kempsey Common, or the area’s history.

Discover more destinations: Hopwood, Churchill, Uckinghall, Rous Lench, Strensham, Alvechurch, Bewdley, Stoke Prior.

For the wider travel overview: Worcestershire.