Severn Way

Severn Way

Shadow the River Severn from its source at Plynlimon in Mid-Wales to its end at Severn Beach in England.

4 to 19 nights
29-216 miles
Moderate to Strenuous

From £495 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

From the wild Cambrian Mountains flows the longest river in Britain: the Severn. For years it supported industrial revolution in Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, leaving rural wharves and busy inns dotted along its length. These make it an accessible – and these days far more peaceful – setting for a relaxing, largely downhill walk that culminates in a meander along the sandy shores of the Severn Beach.

With the powerful Severn Bore sweeping along the broader sections of the river, the Severn Way provides a unique look into a beautiful force of nature, and all it has provided for the people who live along it.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • Severn Way
  • Severn Way - South Section
  • Severn Way - North Section
  • Severn Way Short Break - South Section
  • Severn Way Short Break - North Section

About this route

7 to 10 nights
104 miles
Moderate / Demanding to Demanding / Strenuous
2nd January to 24th December

From £855 per person

Severn Way - North Section

Combine the hilly Welsh portion of the Severn Way with the gentle terrain of Shropshire in England. This streamside walk from the Severn’s source wanders along heathered pathways and through lush landscapes of grassy farmland, linking together characterful Welsh and English towns.

Kingfishers and grey wagtails are common sights along the thickly wooded riverbank that leads the way to the walk’s final stop at Bridgenorth.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
SEVWN1 From Rhyd-y-Benwch/Hafren Forest to Bridgnorth 7 nights, 6 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £855
SEVWN2 From Rhyd-y-Benwch/Hafren Forest to Bridgnorth 10 nights, 9 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1215

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
SEVWSBS From Worcester to Gloucester 4 nights, 3 days walking Moderate £495

Severn Way - North Section 7 nights, 6 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights
Start

Travel to Llanidloes where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Transport is provided from Llanidloes to Rhyd-y-Benwch/Hafren Forest for the morning of your walk.

Day 1

Rhyd-y-Benwch/Hafren Forest to Llanidloes. 15 miles (24km)

Day 2

Llanidloes to Newtown, Powys. 18.5 miles (29.5km)

Day 3

Newtown, Powys to Pool Quay(T). 18.5 miles (29.5km)

Day 4

Pool Quay(T) to Shrewsbury. 23 miles (37km)

Day 5

Shrewsbury to Ironbridge. 19.5 miles (31km)

Day 6

Ironbridge to Bridgnorth. 9.5 miles (15km)

Finish

Depart from Bridgnorth after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
(please ring for prices)
Single Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night

Due to the high costs incurred by booking a Solo Traveller on this trail, we can only provide prices on application. Please contact us for further details.



You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Severn Way - North Section map
Rhyd-y-Benwch to Bridgnorth
104 miles (166 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Descending from Plynlimon, the highest peak in the Cambrian Mountains, to the gentle paths of Shropshire.

Exploring the Welsh market town of Llanidloes, complete with famous timber-framed buildings.

Visiting Dolforwyn Castle, the Berriew Aqueduct, and Attingham Park.

What's included?

  • 7 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Extend your walking holiday with an extra night in one of the fantastic towns along the River Severn.

Shrewsbury is one of England's finest medieval towns, full of cobbled streets lined with black-and-white-timbered buildings. Shewsbury Abbey and Shrewsbury Castle are each inspiring sights, while the Quarry Park is a fine spot for a lazy lunch surrounded by flowers.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 104 miles (166 km)
Duration: 7 nights, 6 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 9.5 miles (15 km)
Maximum daily distance: 23 miles (37 km)
Code: SEVWN1 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Rhyd-y-Benwch/Hafren Forest
End of holiday: Bridgnorth

Route Profile

Severn Way - North Section Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff.

By Rail - The nearest rail station to the start of the trail (Llanidloes) is at Caersws (about 8.5 miles away). The nearest rail stations to the end of the trail (Bridgnorth) are either Telford (about 14 miles away) or Wolverhampton (about 15.5 miles away).

By Bus - Buses run from Caersws to Llanidloes Monday to Saturday only, so a taxi would be required on a Sunday. Buses also run from Bridgnorth to Telford or Wolverhampton Monday to Saturday only, so a taxi would be required on a Sunday, and would be quicker in any case.

From London - Trains run from London Euston station to Caersws. From there a bus/taxi will be required to Llanidloes.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take a taxi, as public transport options are very lengthy.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.