Kinver Edge Rock Houses Circular Walk
Staffordshire
Kinver Edge is a wooded sandstone ridge on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire border owned by the National Trust, best known for the Holy Austin rock houses carved straight into the cliff. The heath and woodland is dog friendly with miles of paths across the ridge and out over the common.
The 5 km circular climbs through beech and birch woods up onto the open edge before dropping back via the rock houses themselves, with good gravel paths and a couple of short steep sections. Dogs can be off lead across most of the edge, with seasonal on lead areas clearly signed near ground nesting bird habitat, and a lead is needed in the cattle enclosures on the heath and around the tea room. Free parking is on Compton Road, with toilets and cafes both at the site and in Kinver village.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.1 km (3.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 45 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Historic, Moorland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Seasonal National Trust tea room near the Rock Houses, plus toilets and cafes in Kinver village a short walk away.
- Parking
- Free National Trust lay-by parking on Compton Road, plus extra parking on Comber Road for the edge itself.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinver Edge Rock Houses Circular Walk dog friendly?
Kinver Edge scores a solid 7/10 for dog friendliness, and it's a genuinely enjoyable place to bring a dog. The National Trust heath and woodland offer miles of paths across the ridge, and the 5 km circular route has a good mix of woodland trails and open edge with well-maintained gravel paths throughout.
Can dogs be off lead at Kinver Edge Rock Houses Circular Walk?
Dogs can be off lead across most of the edge, which gives them plenty of room to roam through the beech and birch woodland and out onto the open heath. There are seasonal on-lead areas near ground-nesting bird habitat, which are clearly signed, and leads are required in the cattle enclosures on the heath and around the tea room.
What should I know before visiting Kinver Edge Rock Houses Circular Walk with my dog?
The route includes a couple of short steep sections, so it's worth knowing your dog is comfortable on uneven terrain. Parking is free — there's a National Trust lay-by on Compton Road and additional parking on Comber Road — and there's a seasonal tea room near the Rock Houses as well as toilets and cafes in Kinver village a short walk away.
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