We visited a small Staffordshire market town renowned for its beauty and community spirit as locals tell us why it's got the 'wow' factor
Kinver is often considered one of the 'jewels in the crown' of the West Midlands region and the greater South Staffordshire area.
Many people associate it with Kinver Edge which incorporates the former Kingsford Country Park in Worcestershire and comprises 600 acres of land owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
It is also home to the last troglodyte dwellings occupied in England, with a set of complete cave-houses excavated into the local sandstone.
These are staffed by volunteers and visitors from all around the country, Europe and even the world visit them and often walk in the adjacent countryside.
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is another attraction in the village, which has a population of just over 7,000 and popular for people walking along the towpath.
Two people who are fully immersed in the village are Andy and Joe Calloway who the Star spoke to on a rather overcast Monday morning.
They have lived in the village for over 20 years and Andy cited the surrounding countryside as giving Kinver the 'wow factor' when it comes to reasons for living there as well as the community feel.
He said: "I am on the parish council now and I have enjoyed things Kinver has to offer so felt I should give something back which is what being on it is all about because it is all voluntary,
"The community itself is brilliant, people get on and chat as you walk around and we have just been for a walk this morning. There are acres and acres of parkland and space to discover and even if you have been here for a long time there is always somewhere new to go."
Joe has been a volunteer ranger for the National Trust since early this year and said: "It is an amazing space up there and a good group of people I really enjoy the role and find it a good part of living in Kinver."
Keith and Eileen are a couple, with Keith having moved to Kinver from Stockport around 11 years ago but Eileen having lived in the village for over 40 years ago.
Keith joked: "I still keep my property in Stockport in case she throws me out."
Eileen said she had lived there 42 years and had seen Kinver grow from a small village to a sizeable town.
She said: "It is a nice area and friendly, we go to the Conservative Club quite regularly and obviously there is plenty of countryside around, the only thing I would say with the growth of the area is parking can be a problem if you are coming into the centre as it is now pretty much a small market town."
Keith said: "We moved in together two years ago and although I'm not from the area originally it has become home and did so pretty quickly."
Other people used the words 'safe, stable and familiar' to describe the village which serves as a 'community hub' and apart from the visitor attractions such as Kinver Edge, the sense of the lack of change was also quoted as a popular reason for wanting to live there.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.