A Worcester Wander: The Pitchcroft and Diglis Basin Circular Walk

On a crisp winter morning we ended up doing something that seems to happen quite a lot when you’ve got a small child: abandoning the original plan. We’d intended to get the train to Colwall and walk over the Malvern Hills to Great Malvern, which is usually a great route. Unfortunately it had snowed recently and the paths on the hills were icy. Carrying my 18-month-old daughter in a baby carrier on my back along frozen paths suddenly felt less like a wholesome family outing and more like an accident waiting to happen. I decided to be a responsible parent, for once.

I use AllTrails a lot to find walks that won’t end in tears (hers or mine), so I searched for something flatter and pram friendly. That’s how we ended up on the Pitchcroft and Diglis Basin circular walk in Worcester. It’s about 5.5 miles in a sort of figure-of-eight loop, which is perfectly manageable, especially as the alternative was sliding off a hill in the Malverns.

We got the train from Ledbury and started from Foregate Street Station, then headed towards the racecourse. Circling Pitchcroft on a sunny winter's day is a lovely stroll, and on the western side you’re right alongside the River Severn. This is where we had our first swan sighting. By the end of the walk we estimated we’d seen roughly 800 swans. This figure may not stand up to scientific scrutiny because it's massively exaggerated, but there were a lot of them. Enough that you stop being impressed and start wondering if it's some sort of waterbird uprising. 

Walking around Worcester Racecourse 

Rebelious swans on the Severn, Worcester

Along the banks of the Severn at Worcester Racecourse 

After passing the racecourse grandstand we crossed Sabrina Bridge and headed towards the cricket ground, then past Worcester Bridge and along Bromwich Parade towards Diglis. Near Worcester Bridge I spotted a sign telling the story of Sabrina, who the river is apparently named after. The short version is that she was a young woman who was drowned in the Severn by her stepmother Gwendolen after some fairly grim family drama involving power struggles and betrayal with her father King Locrinus. After her death, she is said to have become a water nymph who's spirit is immortalised in the Severn. It’s a cheery little tale to read while on a family walk by the river.

The story of Sabrina of the Severn, Worcester

Worcester Bridge

This next stretch of the river is apparently a swan sanctuary, which explains why they were absolutely everywhere. If you've seen the film Hot Fuzz, whenever you see a swan you'll automatically think that they can "break a man's arm". I fact checked that statement and apparently it was made up to make children cautious around them. Good to know when you are surrounded by them. 

Quite a lot of swans, Worcester

The Severn from Bromwich Parade

Bromwich Parade, Worcester

We crossed Diglis Bridge, which was built in 2010 to make walking and cycling around the city easier, and made our way to Diglis Waterside and Marina. The plan here was very clear: pint at the Anchor. Molly had fallen asleep in the pram, so we rushed there with the urgency of people who know this window could close at any second.

Naturally, the moment we arrived she woke up.

What followed was a system where one of us walked Molly slowly around the marina in the pram while the other enjoyed about five minutes of peace in the beer garden. Then we swapped. She did not go back to sleep. We accepted defeat, drank up, and carried on.

Diglis Bridge, Worcester

Diglis Waterside and Marina

The beer garden of The Anchor, Worcester

The final stretch back into Worcester along the riverside path was flooded, so we had to take a diversion into the city centre. By this point we decided Molly probably wasn’t sleeping because she was hungry, so we stopped at Ask for a late lunch before heading back to the station and getting the train home.

It was a genuinely lovely walk on a nice day. I’m a proud Herefordshire lad and have always had a built-in bias towards Hereford over Worcester, but this walk made me realise there’s a lot of beauty and interesting stuff around Worcester. Also, absolutely loads of swans. 

Walk Details

Route: Pitchcroft and Diglis Basin, Worcester

Distance: 5.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Time: We took ages stopping with the kid, but most would do it in about 2 hours. 

Terrain: Mainly flat tarmac paths

Dog Friendly?: Yes. Great for dogs.

Pub Stop: Loads to choose from in Worcester. The Anchor and the Diglis House Hotel are both along the route

Found on: AllTrails - Pitchcroft and Diglis Basin