South Staffordshire Railway Walk
This easy route follows a dismantled railway line from Wolverhampton to Pensett.
It runs for about 11 miles along the old Wolverhampton to Dudley railway line. The line was closed in 1965 but is now a leisure route suitable for walkers and cyclists. Along the way there's some nice woodland sections, a nature reserve and views of the local river and canal.
The route starts at Aldersley Stadium, just to the north west of the centre of Wolverhampton. The trail then heads south west, running alongside the Smestow Brook and the River Stour. This opening section passes Newbridge, the Smestow Valley Park Nature Reserve and Compton. The nature reserve is particularly pretty with peaceful trails and lots of flora and fauna to look out for.
You then leave the river and head through Castlecroft and Lower Penn to Wombourne. This is a popular and scenic area which includes the lovely Bratch Locks on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. There is also a nice cafe for a pit stop.
The route continues south through Wombourne before passing through the woodland of the Himley Plantation. Here you branch round to the east, passing Himley and Kingswinford before finishing at Pensett, just north of Brierley Hill.
South Staffordshire Railway Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
South Staffordshire Railway Walk Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
South Staffordshire Railway Walk OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
South Staffordshire Railway Walk Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The bike and walker friendly railway cafe in Wombourne is a good choice for refreshments on the route. The lovely cafe is set in restored railway station and offers a delicious selection of freshly made food, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. If the weather is good you can sit outside in the garden or under cover on the platform.
There's also a nice cafe in the Smestow Valley Park Nature Reserve, near the start of the route.
Dog Walking
The trail is ideal for dog walking and the railway cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly in the garden or on the old platform that is all under cover.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area you could try the Wolverhampton Canal Walk along the Birmingham Canal.
In Wombourne you could pay a visit to the 18th century Himley Hall. The historic hall is surrounded by ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland with woodland walks, waterfalls and a large lake.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Staffordshire Walks page and the West Midlands Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Started in 1912 this GWR line opened in 1925 serving the western side of Dudley and Wolverhampton. The passenger service was shortlived finishing in 1932. The line was used for freight only except for a short period following D-Day when evacuation trains brought the wounded to the hospitals in the area. The final train ran on 24th June 1965. It is now used as a railway walk.
Himley Station. The branch line joining Wolverhampton with Stourbridge Junction closed in 1965. It is now part of an extended leisure walkway which includes a nature reserve and a maintained area of deciduous woodland, both open to the public. Here at Himley Station, the platform, about 150 yards in length is on the right. One of several picnic areas opens out by a car park on the left.
Pine Trees on the South Staffordshire Railway Walk. If you drive from Wolverhampton towards Kidderminster on the A449, a straight avenue of pine trees dominates the skyline on the right as you cross the B4176 at Himley. These trees line the route of the defunct Wolverhampton to Stourbridge railway line on a long embankment.
Trail view at Wombourne. The two intrepid cyclists on this cool and breezy December morning have enjoyed coffee at the former Wombourne (Bratch) Station, now a tea room especially popular on summer weekends.
Steps to the Railway Walk, Himley, Staffordshire. There is easy pedestrian access up sturdy steps from the A449 road to the South Staffordshire Railway Walk.
Near Kingswinford
Smestow Brook in the Valley Park. The Smestow Brook flows down towards Compton. The Brook rises near the centre of Wolverhampton and flows down to the Stour below Stourbridge. On the outskirts of town it looks somewhat different to how it smells!
Smestow Valley Nature Walk, Wolverhampton This part of the excellent recreational area known as Smestow Valley Nature Reserve is looking (from near Meccano Bridge) north-east along the former railway line