175.Severn Way M48 (8 miles)

7/10

Parking - Aust, Bristol BS35 4BA

Download map  KMZ  or GPX

Another week, another walk, today blue skies greeted me and decided to start at Aust close to the Severn estuary. The noise from the motorway started quite loud but as the walk left the M48 behind it became a distant hum. 

Muddy fields and the towers of the M48 or Severn bridge almost always in view.

Oldbury Power station, this is what i was heading towards.

The span of the Severn bridge is 1.03 miles from shore to shore with Beachley making up another 0.16 of a mile.

 It took three-and-a-half years to construct at a cost of £8 million.

The bridge was opened on 8 September 1966, by Queen Elizabeth II.

St. Arilda's Church at Oldbury on Severn.

Oldbury Pill with Wales in distance.

Oldbury Nuclear Power Station now closed, it closed in 2012.

Oldbury was used as a filming location for  Doctor Who, The Hand of Fear. 

The rock band Slade recorded a performance for Top of the Pops inside one of the reactor buildings.Also the power station appeared in several episodes of Blake's 7 . WIKi

Had a sandwich and sit down for 10 mins here.

Following on the Severn Way the first hill of the day heading towards the Motorway service station.

From here i got the best views of the bridge.

The small white house is the old  Beachley ferry terminal see here

Still a few Red Admirals about feeding on Ivy flower.

Made a slight detour from my planned route crossing over the top of the toll booths, the toll stands at £6.70 as of 2017.

I shall be driving underneath tomorrow morning on my way to Forest of Dean! Always good to get another perspective.

Followed on and soon back into Aust and where i parked, 

I met these 2, it's halloween after all.

That's all folks a pleasant walk was some interesting points, next time .......watch this space

That's all for this week, join me again next week  :)

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140.Severn Way Berkeley - Purton Rtn (10.4 Miles )

8.5/10

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Parking @Berkeley, Gloucestershire GL13 9DE

On this walk we rise early 630am and drive to Berkeley,Gloucestershire.

A Frosty Morning at -2.5 to start but well worth it stunning blue skies and not a sole to be seen until Sharpness docks !

The first pic Shows tree absolutely covered in Mistletoe.This on the Banks of the Little Severn.

With the sound of Oystercatchers and Wigeon calling and Meadow Pipits Bouncing from fence post to fence post idyllic !

The 2.5 miles from start is soon covered and we arrive at Sharpness dock once a very busy Port opened in 1827 giving access to the Gloucestershire and Sharpness Canal But on this morning was almost dormant !

 

Now it looks as though it's Crane Heaven,with Jibs scattered everywhere !

Soon after a detour around the docks we come on to the Canal which terminates at Gloucester some  15 miles further on,picture here show the once Mighty Severn Railway Bridge 

Built  in 1870 to transport coal from the Forest of Dean on the Severn and Wye Railway.  The iron bridge, which was 4,162 feet (1,269 m) long and 70 feet (21 m) above high water, had 21 spans and had stone abutments . 

The span across the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal operated as a swing bridge.

 On 25 October 1960, in thick fog and a strong tide, two barges which had overshot Sharpness Dock - collided with one of the columns of the bridge after being carried upstream. Two spans of the 22-span steel and cast iron bridge collapsed into the river. Parts of the structure hit the barges causing the fuel oil and petroleum they were carrying to set on fire. Five people died in the incident.

Demolition began in 1967 and took until 1970.wiki

Further along the canal we come to Purton Hulks not the Incredible Hulks but Ship Hulks abandoned along the shore line with the aim of protecting the bank from erosion by the strong currents in the river.

A great if not bit sad site 

with the once wooden and some stone barges sinking into the mud .

It's also a great place to stop for dinner and watch the Birds flying along, trains on the Lydney side and admiring the great River Severn and its Muddy waters.

Now were on around 6.5 miles and someone mentioning no names Andy!  

Was getting a bit worried about whether there would be a crossing soon! 

The crossing came into sight :) 

A Swing bridge that takes us across in to Purton .

Soon leaving behind The Severn we climb the hills above Purton with some magnificent views across onto the Forest of Dean and beyond.

In this Picture with Frocester Hill in Distance and one of my favorite Places Slimbridge in foreground,you can just about see the Zeiss Hide and some geese on the dumbles !

The next part of the walk a bit boring with winding lanes for some 2/3 miles  but on arriving back at Berkeley i give you the option of paying the £11  to visit Berkeley Castle ,

Yes £11  !! we chose to cut through St Mary Churchyard and sneak a photo from the entrance gate ! a much better option.

Overall a great walk with some very interesting points, views and history i'd recommend it. But i would i love a good walk !

Thanks for looking now walk it !! :)