Wombourne Bratch Locks Canal Walk

8.5 miles (13.6 km)

This walk follows a pleasant section of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal from Bratch Locks at Wombourne to Kinver. The route runs for about 8.5 miles, following the towpath south to Hinksford, Greensforge and Prestwood before finishing in Kinver.
Walk Report September 22nd 2026 By David Marshall:
We started from the Bratch Locks car park (postcode: WV5 8DH for your sat navs) and spent a little time looking around the locks before setting off south along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.... The three locks at Bratch are an interesting sight, arranged in a distinctive staircase formation, with the old pumping station adding to the historic feel of the place. It's a lovely spot to begin a walk, with the canal, lock gates and surrounding greenery giving us plenty to look at before we joined the towpath.
Once we were underway, we found the towpath made for easy walking, with the canal winding gently through the countryside. We passed under old bridges and watched the narrowboats making their way along the water. The route is largely flat, so although eight miles is a decent distance, we didn't have any steep climbs to contend with. We enjoyed the steady pace of the walk and the changing views along the canal, with quiet stretches where it felt a world away from the nearby roads and villages.
We continued towards Hinksford, where the canal and lock make a good place to pause and take in the surroundings. There is a pleasant mix of open countryside and wooded sections along this stretch, and we found plenty to enjoy without needing to stray far from the water. Following the towpath south made the route straightforward, although we still kept an eye out for the bridges and landmarks as we went.
Greensforge was another good point along the way. The Navigation Inn sits beside the canal here, making it a handy place to stop for a drink or something to eat if you want a break. We liked the traditional canalside setting, with boats passing through the lock and the pub close by. It would be worth checking opening times if you're planning to rely on it for refreshments, particularly if you're walking outside the main season.
After Greensforge, we carried on towards Prestwood, passing more bridges and attractive stretches of waterway. This is the sort of walk where we could settle into a comfortable rhythm, enjoying the scenery without having to tackle difficult terrain or frequent climbs. The towpath does make for straightforward navigation, but we found it was still worth paying attention at the bridges and any junctions rather than assuming every path beside the water continued in the right direction.
We eventually reached Kinver, where the canal takes us into the village and the surroundings become more built up. Kinver Lock and Kinfare Bridge are notable features to look out for as you approach. After covering around eight miles, it was good to have pubs and cafés in the village where we could stop for refreshments. If you've got time to spare, Kinver Edge is also nearby and offers woodland walks and views that are quite different from the flat canal towpath.
We enjoyed this walk for its mix of historic locks, peaceful waterside scenery and small villages along the way. Starting at Bratch Locks gave us an interesting feature right at the beginning, while Hinksford and Greensforge provided natural stopping points before the final stretch into Kinver. It's a good option if, like us, you enjoy a longer countryside walk without steep hills, and the canal makes a pleasant companion for most of the journey.