The best walks and hikes around Worcester

Riverside rambles

The River Severn is undoubtedly the heart of Worcester as it snakes through the city, past the cathedral and out into the countryside to the south. This beloved river offers you a perfect companion for your hikes in Worcester’s gorgeous centre and its wider surroundings. South of Worcester Bridge, you can explore along both river banks; there aren’t many crossing points, so plan well if you want to walk out on one bank and return on the other. 

The Severn might be the watery heart but it’s far from the only watercourse you can explore on the beautiful walks that Worcester offers. The city centre is hemmed in by the Severn on its western side and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on the eastern side – another option for waterside rambles. Follow the canal path as long as you like, enjoy the pretty locks and this gentle way to explore the city. 

To the south, the River Teme flows into the Severn and is another lovely way to see yet more sights and countryside. 

Nature in the city

Away from the water, some of the best hiking trails in Worcester take you through the city streets to its pretty nature reserves. In the eastern section of the city, you can explore the Perry Wood nature reserve, a site of ancient semi-natural woodland that’s bursting with life, particularly during spring when it lights up with bluebells and wood anemones. 

A short walk from Perry Wood lies Worcester Woods Country Park where you can find even more hiking trails. The park comprises Nunnery Wood, a vibrant forest which dates back to the time of the Black Death, when the farmstead that operated here was abandoned; and the adjacent Hornhill Meadows, an area rich in wildflowers and wildlife like bullfinches and woodpeckers. Between the two reserves sits the visitor centre with a cafe, ideal for hungry hikers. 

Combine Worcester’s highlights

If you can’t decide which part of Worcester to explore, you can easily link multiple sites, beginning on the Severn and exploring the cathedral close before heading east to the nature reserves. Thanks to its myriad pretty spots, you can start your hike from anywhere and take in a wide variety of fascinating places.