20 Attractions to Explore Near National Trust - Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses

Kinver Edge is a high heath and woodland escarpment just west of Kinver, about four miles west of Stourbridge, and four miles north of Kidderminster, and is on the border between Worcestershire and Staffordshire, England. It is now owned by the National Trust. There are two Iron Age hillforts on Kinver Edge; the larger one, Kinver Edge Hillfort, is at the northern end, while the other is at the southern end, on a promontory known as Drakelow Hill.

Drakelow Tunnels are a former Top Secret underground military complex beneath Kingsford Country Park north of Kidderminster, Worcestershire. The tunnels were built between 1941-1942 as a Shadow Factory for the Rover car company. Parts for aircraft engines were machined in the 3.5 miles of tunnels throughout WWII. After WWII the tunnels began producing parts for tank engines until 1958 when the tunnels were handed over to the Ministry of Supply, and later Ministry of Works.

Bodenham Arboretum is an oasis of plantations, pools and avenues beautifully landscaped including over 3000 species of trees and shrubs from all over the world. Each season bringing a beauty of its own. The epicentre of the Arboretum lies around the big pool where many rare and ornamental trees can be seen in flower or fruit at all times of the year; their autumn colours are a special beauty.

Mary Stevens Park is a public park located in Norton, Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK. Opened to the public in 1931, it attracts 1.3 million visitors per year and is approximately 13.65 hectares. It is one of four of Dudley’s Healthy hubs, which aim to provide the community with outdoor venues where people of all ages and abilities can come along to get active and have fun in a safe, pleasant outdoor environment. The park has a number of architectural features including the War Memorial and the

The Red House Glass Cone lies in the heart of the Glass Quarter, Stourbridge, West Midlands. It was built at the end of the 18th century and used for the manufacture of glass until 1936. It was used by the Stuart Crystal firm till 1936, when the company moved to a new facility at Vine Street It is now one of only four left in the United Kingdom and is currently maintained as a museum by Dudley Council.

The Museum of Carpet is a textile museum in the town of Kidderminster in Worcestershire, England. It houses an extensive collection of objects, archives, books and photographs relating to the carpet industry dating from the 18th century to the present day.

The Severn Valley Railway is a tourist attraction and heritage steam railway operating full-size, mainly steam-hauled passenger trains for 16 miles along the beautiful Severn valley. The railway is the sixth-longest standard gauge heritage line in the United Kingdom. Train services are hauled predominantly by steam locomotives, with vintage diesel locomotives hauling occasionally. Diesel locomotives are also used for engineering trains, to replace failed steam locomotives at short notice, and du

Brinton Park is a large park of 12.067 hectares near the centre of Kidderminster. The main entrance to the park is from Sutton Road. Oneof the iconic location for a walk and also you can spend some beautiful time in the middle of nature.

Arley Arboretum is home to over 300 species of trees, it features Britain's longest Laburnum arch, and is popular with nature lovers, families and walkers. The collection includes many rare and spectacular domestic and exotic trees. Nestling in the Severn Valley and overlooking the river, it has been growing and maturing in this idyllic setting for two centuries. In the woodland garden you will find many more camellias, masses of daffodils, bluebells and trails.

Severn Valley Country Park offers over 51 hectares of beautiful countryside and wonderful views. The Green Flag award winning Severn Valley Country Park is the perfect day out for all the family. The site was a coal mine for over 400 years, with shafts being put in at Highley in 1870; and the river and then the railway were used to transport the coal.

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park is a safari park located in Bewdley in Worcestershire, England. It was opened under the name of West Midland Safari Park in spring 1973. The park holds over 165 species of exotic animals, among other attractions such as a small theme park. The park contains the largest groups of white lions, cheetahs, hippopotami, and meerkats in the UK, as well as the largest lemur walk-through exhibit. It was also the first park in the UK to have the African big five game

A commanding 18th Century building set amongst 180 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland. Once the family home to the Earls of Dudley and host to royalty and high society. Its park and garden, which were extended in the 1770s by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, are Grade II listed with the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Today it is a glamorous setting for civil wedding ceremonies and receptions and other special occasions as well as Indulgent Afternoon Teas, prestigious

Bewdley Museum is a museum in the town of Bewdley in Worcestershire, England. It provides a fascinating insight into the growth and trades of the town, the lives of its people and the crafts of the surrounding Wyre Forest area. The collections include local social history, geology, archaeology, fine art and numismatics. The museum also contains a local history reference library and archives.

Dudmaston is a 17th-century country house in Queen Anne style, built by Sir Thomas Wolryche (1672-1701) and filled with a superb art collection, including ceramics and Dutch art. It comprises the main hall, the landscaped gardens, parkland, managed woodlands, lakeside, farmland and the estate cottages, for example at Quatt, a model village designed by London architect John Birch in 1870 for the workers and tenants of the estate.

Harvington Hall is a beautiful fortified English manor house whose name all but demands to be pronounced in a cartoonish British accent, and which also holds a number of secret compartments built by the saint of illusionists to hide Catholic priests. The interior features numerous Elizabethan wall paintings, some hidden under whitewash for centuries. Beside the manor is a malthouse and remains of medieval fishponds.

Saltwells Nature Reserve is one of the largest urban nature reserves in the UK. It is home to ancient bluebell woods, dragonfly filled wetlands and orchid covered grasslands making it well worth exploring. The reserve, created in 1981, covers 247 acres and includes Saltwells Wood and part of Netherton Hill within its boundaries. The reserve encloses two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and one scheduled ancient monument.

The National Trust's Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire, is a beautiful 17th century house with wooded parkland and sweeping gardens. The gardens are maginifcent with beautiful lakeside vistas leading the eye across the Shropshire countryside and a walk through the Dingle is a must. One of the iconic location where you can enjoy the architectural legacy of ancient time as well as the beautiful nature.

The Clent Hills lie 10 miles south-west of Birmingham city centre in Clent, Worcestershire, England. It is the most popular hillwalking hill in the range, although it is not often mentioned because the whole area is referred to as Clent Hills. Just under a million visitors a year are estimated to come to the hills, making them Worcestershire's most popular non-paying attraction.

Baggeridge Country Park is a beautiful area of countryside on the doorstep of the Black Country, with a great range of facilities on offer. The park has been a Green Flag winner every year since 1998 which is an international mark of quality for parks and green spaces. The main feature is a large hill of Pit Mounds which has plenty of paths to its summit and a lake named Bag Pool located between the parking grounds and the hill.