Awre-inspiring
This walk is on level fieldpaths, lanes and flood defences alongside the River Severn. Sart at the Red Hart at Awre. From Blakeney, on the A48 between Gloucester and Chepstow, follow the unclassified road signposted to Awre. If approaching from Newham (north of Blakeney) take the turn on the left off the A48 onto an unclassified road to Awre. The Red Hart lies in the centre of the village. There is plentiful roadside parking nearby.
D ating back to before Saxon times, and with a listing in the Domesday Book, Awre lies alongside the Severn, whose winds and tides have moulded the character of the village.
Around the churchyard at St Andrew's lie the graves of fishermen who drowned in the river's treacherous waters, while the wooden chest inside the church – carved from a single trunk of elm – was supposedly used for laying out the corpses of those unfortunate enough to have perished in those murky waters.
It is below Awre that the world-renowned Severn Bores makes it first appearance, when the incoming tides heading up the Severn Estuary are funnelled into a much narrower channel on the approaches to the river's notorious Horseshoe Bend.
Alongside the river lie meadows filled with grazing livestock, while the banks are adorned with colours that herald the changing of the seasons. An atmospheric walk, whether it be in the raw air of a winter's morning or accompanied by the passage of the Bore on a balmy summer's evening.
The Red Hart was built in the 16th century as lodging for workmen building the nearby church, remaining open as a hostelry when the building work was completed.
Unusually, there is a glass-covered well in the centre of the main bar. The pub's fine real ales and cuisine are well known in the Forest of Dean. Wherever possible, fresh local ingredients are used in the preparation of dishes, which range from sandwiches and baguettes through to mixed grills and salads.
On a warm summer day, the Red Hart's garden is the spot to rest and linger awhile.
Opening times are noon to 3pm and 6.30pm to 11pm on Monday to Friday; noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on Saturday; noon to 3pm and 7pm to 10.30pm on Sunday.
Telephone 01594 510220.
1.
Leave the pub car park, turn left up to a road junction by the village war memorial and follow the main road ahead. In 300 yards, at a junction by the village hall, follow the cul-de-sac lane on the right – Northington Lane. In 600 yards, where the land ends at Northington Farm, walk ahead to a gateway to the right of the farmhouse. Continue along an enclosed track to a gateway. Stay on this track as it crosses the left edge of the next field to reach another gateway and continue down the right edge of the next field to its bottom corner. At this point, bear right down a bank for a few yards before crossing a stile on the right into the adjoining field. Turn left and follow the left edge of this field – passing a pylon – around to a stile on the left in 200 yards. Cross this stile to reach a riverside field.
2.
Walk alongside the Severn across two riverside fields. At the far side of the second field cross a stile into the next field and follow its left edge – below the river defences and out of sight of the river – to a stile in the left-hand corner. Turn right for a few yards to the next stile before joining the river defences. Follow the riverbank downstream for three-quarters of a mile to a stile, then walk along the bottom edge of a field to a stile and, in the next field, turn sharp right away from the river to a gate and lane by a farm complex called Whitescourt. Follow the land ahead up to the junction by the war memorial in Awre and turn right back to the pub.
Place of interest
The Dean Forest Railway, a standard gauge heritage railway, operates mainly steam-hauled passenger trains between Norchard and Lydney junction, just a few miles down the A48 from Awre. Norchard is the headquarters of the railway, and offers visitors a souvenir shop and museum, a restoration shed and the Coaches Cafe, which is open on running days. For further information on the railway, including days and hours of operation, call 01594 843423.
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