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Following the initial harbour regeneration project the Environment Agency have built a flight of steps near the outer basin to give permissive access to the cliff top path (FLY44).
Permissive steps from Harbour to FLY44.
This path has been cleared by a small team of volunteers led by David Street. Encouraged by this effort, and the fact that the path was now being well used, Gloucestershire County Council Public Rights of Way Department repaired the collapsed culvert and installed waymark posts at appropriate positions.
Beyond Cliff Farm work was also carried out to level the path and move it away from the cliff edge for safety reasons.
Looking up river from the cliff path.
This path now gives a very nice flat, linear walk through the wooded cliff top area to Black Bridge. The spring time wild flowers and the very fine views across the Severn to Sharpness Dock and the Cotswolds beyond make this a very attractive walk.
Old bridge piers on Sharpness bank.
There are a number of Public Rights of Way branching off the cliff top path which can be used to create convenient circular walks of between 1.3 and 2 miles. These paths form the basis of themed walks from the Docks. The walks show off the varied scenery and history of this area. There are excellent views down the estuary to the bridges. The cliff top views to Sharpness docks and the remains of the railway bridge piers illustrate the historical link with Sharpness. Also the local farming and forestry are on view together with the interesting Naas House and the harbour area.
Naas House from FLY45.
Beyond Black Bridge FLY44 has been diverted with the agreement of the land owner. It now continues above the railway and roughly parallel to the river to eventually join FLY50 and then descend down to the road near Purton Manor. The total distance from Lydney Harbour to Purton is 2.7 miles.
Stone barn at Purton Manor.
The official Severn Way is a long distance path which follows our longest river for 210 miles from its source at Plynlimon in Wales to Bristol. The route from Gloucester to Bristol follows the east bank of the river. However, the County Council had tried to define a west bank route but had only got as far as Purton. Following the local work on the Lydney paths the west bank Severn Way now follows the river from Gloucester to Lydney.
Old railway bridge on FLY50 near Purton.
Further development of this route westwards will of course depend on the outcome of the claim of a Right of Way over the Tack. It would be a significant achievement if this route could be linked to the Offas’ Dyke path at Chepstow.
The path running from near the roundabout on the bypass which crossed the railway to reach Harbour Road by the pond (FLY21) has now been closed on safety grounds. After prolonged negotiations with GCC & Railtrack a new path has been created which closely follows Harbour Road inside the Recreation Trust land to just before the Dean Forest Railway level crossing. Walkers can then proceed along the road over the main line level crossing (if the barrier is down you can fork right along a path under the signal box). In a few yards fork right to then turn left along the permissive path leading to the harbour. This was the route of the old tramway which carried coal and iron ore to the harbour.
The old swing bridge.
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