Date: Tuesday 1st January 2019 – Chairman’s New Year’s Day Walk
Time: 11.00am Distance: 4.0 miles (6.4 kms)
Route: Knowle Park – Grand Union canal – Copt Heath Golf Club – Knowle Park
Map: OS Explorer 220 Postcode for parking; B93 9HT
Directions to parking: From Solihull travel to Knowle via the Warwick Road and opposite the Toby Inn turn right onto Lodge Road and then turn right onto Longdon Road. The entrance to Knowle Park car park is about 250 yards on the left. (Free public car park)
Information: The walk follows field paths and the canal towpath with a small amount of road walking. There are 3 stiles on the walk and a total ascent of 154 feet (47 metres). Approx. finish time 1.30pm. Please note later start time of 11.00am
Breaks: Morning coffee break Toilets: None
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Date: Sunday 6th January 2019 Time: 10.00am Distance: 5.0 miles (8.0 kms)
Route: Henley in Arden – Hunger Hill – Merrifield Farm – May’s Hill – Henley in Arden
Map: OS Explorer 220 Postcode for parking: B95 5JE
Directions to parking: Henley in Arden Station car park (Free public car park) – From Solihull take the A34 to Henley in Arden and turn right into Station Road off the high street.
Information: Predominantly good field paths, a little quiet country lane walking and through the town of Henley in Arden. There are 12 stiles on the walk and a total ascent of 210 feet (64 metres). Approx. finish time 12.30pm.
Breaks: Morning coffee break Toilets: None Pub: At the end of the walk
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Date: Wednesday 16th January 2019 Time: 10.00am Distance: 10.0 miles (16.1 kms)
Route: Erasmus Darwin Walk – follows the original boundary for the City of Lichfield.
Map: OS Landranger 128 Postcode for parking: WS13 8JB
Directions to parking: The Hedgehog pub, Stafford Road (A51), Lichfield (Permission given) – From Solihull take the M42 north and exit at J9 onto the A446 signposted Lichfield. Follow the A446 to Bassetts Pole Island and exit onto the A38 towards Lichfield. Take the A51 through Lichfield and at the Bowling Green pub roundabout follow the A51 Stafford Road/Western Bypass – the entrance to the car park for The Hedgehog pub is about 0.5 miles on the left just past Cross in Hand Lane, about 50 metres before the set of traffic lights. Please park on the gravel car park to the left of the pub along the driveway.
Information: Although the walk starts near the centre of Lichfield, the majority of the walk is through fields and woodland with only a couple of short sections of road walking through residential areas. The walk also follows part of the Lichfield Canal Heritage Trail where the Trust is re-opening part of the old Lichfield canal. There are 10 stiles on the walk and a total ascent of 550 feet (168 metres). Approx. finish time 3.30pm.
Breaks: Morning & lunch breaks Toilets: Morning break & at the end Pub: At the end
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Date: Sunday 20th January 2019 Time: 10.00am Distance: 5.0 miles (8.0 kms)
Route: Stoke Pound – Birmingham Worcester canal – Tardebigge Reservoir – St. Bartholmew’s Church in Tardebigge – Stoke Pound
Map: OS Landranger 139 & 150 Postcode for parking: B60 3AU
Directions to parking: Queens Head pub, Sugarbrook Lane, Stoke Pound, Bromsgrove (Permission given) – From Solihull take the M42 south and exit at J1 and take the 2nd exit onto the A38 Birmingham Road towards Bromsgrove. Continue on the A38 and at the 3rd roundabout take the 1st exit onto Buntsford Drive ( Signposted Avoncroft Museum). Follow the road round to the left onto Buntsford Hill and on into Sugarbrook Lane and continue until you reach the Queens Head car park on your left. Please park on the left on entering the car park.
Information: A gentle circular walk from Stoke Pound onto the Birmingham Worcester canal passing the Tardebigge Reservoir and ascending to St. Bartholmew’s Church, returning via the Monarch’s Way along fields, bridleways and quiet lanes back to the Queen’s Head – distant views of the Malvern Hills subject to the weather. There is only 1 stile on the walk and a total ascent of 233 feet (107 metres). Approx. finish time 12.45pm.
Breaks: Morning coffee break Toilets: At the end Pub: At the end
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Date: Sunday 3rd February 2019 Time: 10.00am Distance: 8.0 miles (12.9 kms)
Route: Illey – Lapal – Remains of St. Mary’s Abbey – Romsley – Twiland Wood – Lower Illey – Illey
Map: OS Landranger 139 Postcode for parking: B62 0HJ
Directions to parking: Black Horse pub, Illey Lane, Halesowen (Permission given) – From Solihull proceed to the Maypole via Haslucks Green Road/Colebrook Road/Maypole Lane. At the roundabout go straight on down Bells Lane and then turn left onto Parsons Hill/Wharf Road. At the roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A441 Pershore Road then at the next roundabout take the 1st exit onto the B4121 Middleton Hall Road. Continue along the B4121 onto Great Stone Road to the Junction with the A38 Bristol Road – turn right onto the A38 then next left onto Frankley Beeches Road. Proceed to the roundabout and take 2nd exit onto Egghill Lane then onto Frankley Hill Lane and Ravenhayes Lane. Turn left onto Illey Lane, cross the M5 and the Black Horse pub is approx. 0.5 miles on your left. Please park at the far end of the car park away from the pub.
Information: Mainly field and woodland walking with pleasant views across the rural landscape. There are 15 stiles on the walk and a total ascent of 758 feet (231 metres). Approx. finish time 2.15pm.
Breaks: Morning & Lunch breaks Toilets: At the end Pub: At the end
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Date: Wednesday 13th February 2019 Details to follow shortly
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Date: Sunday 17th February 2019 Time: 10.00am Distance: 5.6 miles (9.0 kms)
Route: Callow Hill – Elcocks Brook – Ham Green – Hunt End – Callow Hill
Map: OS Landranger 150 Postcode for parking: B97 5GN
Directions to parking: Morton Stanley Park, 2 Green Lane, Redditch (Free public car park) – From Solihull take the M42 south and exit at J2 onto the A441 signposted Redditch/Evesham. After 9.5 miles, at the McDonalds roundabout, follow the A441 south to the next roundabout and then take the B4504 signed Callow Hill/Hunt End. Morton Stanley Park is on the left after 2 miles. Alternatively leave the M42 at J3 and take the A435 south, then take the A4023 signed Redditch, then onto the A441 and follow the directions from the McDonalds roundabout. Although this is a relatively large car park, it is used on Sundays by a lot of dog walkers, so please try and car share if possible.
Information: A relatively flat walk through fields, woodland, and a small amount of lane walking. There are 12 stiles on the walk. Approx. finish time 2.00pm.
Breaks: Morning coffee break Toilets: None
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