[1] The source of the River Severn is high on Plynlimon,[2] in the uplands of mid Wales,[3] from where both river and walk descend[4] to Llanidloes, Newtown, Powys[5] and Welshpool.

It then follows the towpath of the Montgomeryshire Canal, passing through Shrewsbury, Shropshire and the Severn Gorge.

It passes the cradle of the Industrial Revolution at Ironbridge before passing through Bridgnorth, Hampton Loade and Highley (in Shropshire), and Bewdley[6] in Worcestershire, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury.

[8] Originally, the path finished at Severn Beach, but it has recently been extended to Bristol via Lawrence Weston, Shirehampton and through the Avon Gorge.

The River Avon Trail is part of the Kennet and Avon Walk which goes cross country from Reading on the Thames to the Severn Estuary.