Droitwich (From Worcester News)

Droitwich

12:15pm Monday 26th September 2011 in Walks By Julie Royle

THIS walk is in response to a request from Worcester News reader Ted Duke, who wanted something to mark the restoration of the Droitwich Canal.

The final stretch of towpath was finished in July, enhancing access on foot from Droitwich to the countryside. Two miles of towpath are included in this walk, which heads north to Wychbold before returning to Droitwich by way of Hampton Lovett. The landscape is mostly arable but there are some pleasant surprises along the way, including places where wildlife is regaining a foothold as former fields are reclaimed by nature.

Even in the most intensively farmed areas there is evidence of the adaptability of wildlife, with roe deer present between Westfields and Astwood.

FACT FILE

Start: Vines Park, Droitwich, grid ref SO900635.

Length: 9½ miles/15km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Arable, pasture, woodland, towpath.

Footpaths: Most of the paths across arable fields have been over-cropped. The crops have now been harvested, but sharp stubble remains. There is also some overgrowth, some poor stiles and patchy waymarking.

Stiles: 23.

Parking: Droitwich.

Public transport: Bus 144 or train; worcestershire.gov.uk/ bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Droitwich, Hanbury Wharf and Wychbold.

DIRECTIONS

1 Join the canal towpath in Vines Park and follow it east, soon passing under Bromsgrove Road.

The towpath is not continuous and after a while you will have to take to a roadside footway instead, but it’s only for a short distance and the towpath resumes on the other side of the M5. Follow it to Hanbury Wharf.

2 Turn left towards Westfields Farm. Go straight on into the farmyard but turn right just before a pool, after passing the last of the buildings on the right. Cross a farm track and two fields, going to the far right corner of the second field, then along the left edge of a third. Continue across the field on a well-made path when you reach a hedge corner.

3 Pass a group of trees and look for a cross-path a little further on. Turn left here. There is no waymarking so head for a prominent clump of blackthorn near a wind pump, in another field 450m to the left. Turn right when you reach it, climb over a fence at the far side of the field and cross the next field, as waymarked, passing through a gap in a line of trees. Continue to the far right corner of the next field and in the same direction across another.

Aim to meet the right-hand hedge at the far end of a group of trees round a pool, then follow the hedge.

4 Go diagonally right, initially heading towards a farm but going only as far as a line of trees.

Reaching the trees, turn left towards Wychbold – look for a greenish-grey roof rising above the trees and aim just to the left of it.

Cross the railway and go straight on to meet Stoke Road. Turn right, then immediately left in Chequers Lane. Cross the A38 and walk along Crown Lane. Pass under the M5, turn right in Coley Pits Lane, then soon left towards Withy Furlong.

5 Take a footpath on the left.

Keep straight on at a path junction and straight on at a road junction, joining Brine Pits Lane.

Take a path on the right after about 100m. It’s waymarked and easily followed at first, though overgrown in places. However, soon after the second bend in the path you’ll find yourself walking through fields which are returning to scrub and woodland. It’s lovely here, but the path is overgrown and easily lost. Keep roughly straight on and stay as close as possible to the right-hand edge.

Cross a stile when you come to a fence and return to arable fields. If you’ve drifted off course, just turn right when your way is blocked by the fence and you’ll find the stile.

6 Walk along a field edge to the next corner. Turn left past a pond then turn right into the adjacent field. Go diagonally towards the far left corner then cross a footbridge, after which the path is easily followed to Crutch Lane. Turn left, then right on a footpath which is also an access road. Turn left just before Elmbridge Brook and follow the brook for 700m, until it begins to move away to the right. Turn left across the field to a gate, go diagonally left to the far top corner of a pasture then turn right along the edge, descending back into the valley.

7 Leave the field and follow a bridleway past Hampton Lovett to Kidderminster Road. Cross to a track opposite which leads to Doverdale Lane. Turn left, then right on Cycleway 45. Follow it through an industrial estate back to Kidderminster Road and turn right to Stonebridge Cross. Cross an access road and Pointon Way then turn right on a footpath, which soon makes a left turn.

Follow it towards Jakeman’s Hill Farm then fork right to bypass the farm. Join a track, then go left at a waymarked junction, passing a pond. Continue past young woodland then towards houses at Westlands. Cross a footbridge and turn right to follow Elmbridge Brook through woodland.

8 Emerging from the trees, go diagonally across grassland, passing well to the left of a picnic table to meet Westwood Road.

Cross to Farriers Way, walk to number 195 and turn left, then soon right, past number 191. Turn right at a T-junction then second left on a footpath. Keep straight on at a junction then cross Park Way.

The footpath then swings left to run above Roman Way for a while before tunnelling underneath it.

Cross the river Salwarpe and walk across playing fields to the canal.

Turn left on the towpath. Fork left to Vines Park just before bridge 16.

Please note this walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however