Kingsford Country & Forest Park next to Kinver Edge
Located north of Kidderminster and directly on the border between Worcestershire and Staffordshire, Kingsford Country Park & Kinver Edge is made up of over 200 acres of natural woodland and sandstone cliffs. The area has many walking trails that cross over between the two counties and each with its own surprises. The views of the countryside and forest from the top of the sandstone cliffs are wonderful. Descend into the valley and you’ll discover caves that were once houses that had been carved into the rock. Many of those near Drakelow are ruins and have been closed off although there are some further up the trails that are still accessible although caution is advised as the rock is often slippery and there is no structured entrance. However, just over the border in Kinver, Staffordshire, the National Trust have restored several rock houses that are very much worth a visit.
Most of the formal houses were carved into the sandstone cliffs around or before 1770 and may have expanded on existing caves or earlier dwellings. The Kinver edge rock Houses have often been suggested as the inspiration the Hobbit Holes in JRR Tolkien’s masterworks ‘the Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’. Please note that there is an entrance fee to enter the restored rock houses.
Kingsford Lane and Blakeshall Lane both have car parks that make an excellent starting point for exploring Kingsford Country Park. There are four circular trails ranging from half a kilometre to three kilometres. These are:
- The Robin Trail, a third of a mile (0.5 km)
- The Coal Tit Trail, over one mile (2 km)
- The Nuthatch Trail, about one and a half miles (2.5 km)
- The Woodpecker Trail, almost two miles (3 km)
Much more detailed information PDF is available from:
www.worcestershire.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/5082/Kingsford_Forest_Park_Site_Map.pdf
It’s worth noting that the once secret Drakelow Tunnel Complex, built during WWII, is located underneath this area. The name Drakelow derives from the old Anglo-Saxon and means Dragon Mound or Dragon Nest.
ADDRESS & CONTACT
Physical Address: Kingsford Lane, Wolverley, (Nr Kidderminster), Worcestershire, England – DY11 5SL
(please do not use this for postal correspondence)
POSTCODES
Sat Nav Postcode Parking: DY11 5SL
Please note that this postcode is not exact and will take you to a point on Kingsford Lane that is 800 meters south of the parking & picnic area. You will either have already passed the parking area or you will need to continue along Kingsford Lane.