Alveley – Park Trails, Nature and History

Alveley brings together several distinct themes: the trails and nature of Severn Valley Country Park, the history of former mining, and historic architecture and geological history. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between these aspects: the park trails vary in length and duration, while the church, colliery railway and Alveley Footprints each reveal different periods of history.

Trails in Severn Valley Country Park

Severn Valley Country Park is located on the site of the former Alveley Colliery. It opened in 1992, after the former spoil heaps and site had been restored. The park’s origins are therefore part of its mining history.

The Woodland Trail is approximately 1 mile long and takes about 45 minutes; the Riverside Trail is approximately 2 miles long and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Riverside Trail is therefore approximately twice as long and takes roughly twice as long. The Easy Access Nature Trail is relatively flat and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Other options include the Country Park Geology Trail, a 1.2-mile circular route to the geological features of the “Seven Valley”, and the Highley Trail, which extends beyond the park boundaries and takes you into the local community of Highley. A permanent orienteering course has three difficulty levels.

Traces of former mining

The trails at The Sidings were part of the original colliery railway. Coal was transported along this route for washing and sorting, and then loaded onto trains. The original Colliery Bridge was built in 1937 to transport coal across the River Severn. Together, these details provide insight into different aspects of industrial history: the colliery railway’s operations and the transport of coal across the river.

Nature and the seasons

The park’s natural features vary by location and season. The rare club-tailed dragonfly can be spotted in the riverside meadows. In autumn, visitors can sample locally grown apples in the park’s orchard. If you plan to try them, autumn is the right time to visit.

Church and geological history

The Church of St Mary in Alveley is a Grade II* listed building. Construction began in 1140. The lower part of the tower, the nave and the aisles are predominantly Norman; features from the Tudor and Victorian periods were added later. Its Grade II* listing adds its protected status to the church’s architectural history.

The Alveley Footprints reveal a much earlier period. They were discovered at Butts Quarry in Alveley and date from between 315 and 307 million years ago. The tracks document communities of early tetrapods. Alongside Alveley’s architectural and mining history, they bring its geological past and early communities of life into focus.

Discover more destinations: Trefonen, Halford, Oswestry, Wem, Bitterley, Market Drayton, Minsterley, Clee Saint Margaret.

For the wider travel overview: Shropshire.