[1] Start at the Holy Austin Rock Houses parking layby on Red Hill, Kinver. Head for the T junction visible slightly downhill. Turn left into Meddins Lane. Turn left into Windsor Crescent. Now go straight on between the houses where there is a Public Footpath signpost, and way marked the Staffordshire Way which we will follow to Enville. At the back of the houses walk straight across the field to the metal gate and continue in the same direction.
On arrival at a road, usually quiet but take care, turn right and after a short distance sharp left behind the Chevrons at the bend to pick up the path again. Later cross another road which has a gate on both sides. Carrying on, you will find the path is raised as it crosses a valley approaching a wood. The private wood to the right here, has a hummock of sandstone, which is the location of Samson's Cave. It was a labourers cottage with a high turnover.
Continue to find just after the next gate on the way and to the left is a barred hole (A). This was an Ice Store for the local hall. You will need a light to see its extent.
The Staffordshire Way continues straight on past Home Farm and the ponds on the left, a field usually with a mare and foal on the right, to Enville Hall,
details of which can be found at ( www.envilleestate.com/history.html ). There is a cricket pitch with benches, possibly a comfortable spot for a picnic lunch. We then pass the walled garden and follow the current entrance road for the hall to arrive at the A458 and the Cat Inn.
This is the only place for refreshment on the Northern half of the walk.
[2] Take care: The best place to cross the busy road is to go about 30 yards to the right of the inn; here you have a good view in both directions, but beware of traffic especially if it is trying to turn your way across the road. Go past the Cat Inn and take the first right into Blundies Lane. The lane slowly looses the grass verge and pavements, take care. Fork right with the road and then turn right after the bungalows signposted as Browns lake leading to Brookside. At the end of this access cul-de-sac continue in the same direction onto the footpath. Later where this forks, keep left to follow the path. Enter a wood and at a farm track continue straight ahead to reach Chester Road. Turn right on to the road, pick the side with the clearest verge. Ignore the paths on the left until after about 300yds turn left onto a bridle path which crosses the road.
Enter The Million plantation and follow the path, it drifts left occasionally to avoid hollows that are at time waterlogged but then resumes the original direction. After a long climb the path becomes a sealed road and horse grazing and farms replace the trees. The road starts to narrow and the path drops away from the road into a gully on the right. The path emerges on to a road, cross with care. Cross the field to a bridge before Bridge House. This could be a suitable place for a picnic with the banks and parapet. The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (B) was completed in 1771. James Brindley was the chief engineer.
[3] Turn right before the bridge to walk along the canal. Looking back at the bridge from the towpath you will note it is Prestwood Bridge. Prestwood is at the top of the sandstone bank which is the other side of the canal. A heron can sometimes be seen on this stretch of Canal. As a lake appears across the canal, and a bridge over a tributary of the River Stour comes into sight, look back to your left at the end of the sandstone at the waters edge, there is a gate in the rock, Devils Den (C) Grid ref: SO863856. Continue along the Canal to Stourton, pause to admire the Toll House, from this point there are more visitor information signs. Go under the road at the Stewponey bridge and continue to follow the canal until The Vine Inn is passed on the left.
[4] Optional detour. Leave the canal to the right and follow the road to Stag Corner Grid ref: SO 848832 looking across the road there is a tree on a raised bit of grass and a fenced area to the left of that. If you climb on to the raised grass and look at the cliff over the fence, you may see the sealed entrance to the Stag Inn cellars and storeroom. Retrace your steps to the canal and turn right along the canal.
As you continue along the canal, keep a look out to the right. Look for a small brick pier supporting natural Rock. Now look up to find some near vertical surface, the last remnants of Gibraltar Rock (D) Grid ref: SO852837. Continue along the canal to Whittington Horse Bridge, where we turn right in front of a private dwelling to follow the path at a right angle to the canal to Kinver. As you approach the higher ground a long white building dominates the view. This was once the Anchor Hotel (E), but is now private dwellings. Climb the steep lane to the left, taller people may see over the fence now on the right the ventilation for the old hotels cellars in the cliff. Continue ahead along Dark Lane to the Cross Inn. Cross the road carefully and opposite the inn is a wooden kissing gate to a footpath up the hill. (If using public transport this is the first point to consider going down the road to the bus route).
The footpath emerges on a service road continue briefly and turn right downhill onto a road with a gate to the left. This road is The Compa. At the end turn left into Compton Road and then Red Hill to the Car park passing Meddins Lane where the walk commenced.
The Holy Austin Rock Houses may be visited either before the start or after the end of the walk.. Details including opening hours can be found at the National Trust website if you want to see inside ( www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kinver-edge/ ). At the time of writing non-members were allowed to use the tea rooms.