THE village of Blakedown lies between Kidderminster and the Clent Hills. Though surrounded by agricultural land, it was for about 350 years involved in a thriving ironworking industry, along with Belbroughton and other nearby villages.

The numerous small streams flowing down from the Clent Hills were dammed to form millponds. Many of the mills were used to grind corn, as you would expect, but a substantial number powered small ironworks instead, where agricultural tools were made.

Scythes were a speciality and were exported all over the world. It was only in the late 1940s that this thriving rural industry began to die out.

All but one of the mills is now disused, but the former millponds have become important wildlife sites. There are still 30 pools in and around Blakedown and they greatly enhance the local landscape, which even without them would be very pleasant.

Unfortunately, the pools are threatened by excessive use of groundwater, which was licensed for public supply in the 1960s. This has lowered the water table, leading to insufficient stream flows in summer and lower levels in the pools, some of which have dried out completely in recent years.

The Environment Agency and local water companies are now exploring ways of reducing groundwater use, but a long-term solution remains elusive.

So, enjoy the pools while you can, along with the other assets of this attractive area, including surprisingly far-reaching views obtained with little effort from hills of modest height, and numerous small but lovely patches of woodland.

DIRECTIONS

Follow Station Drive away from the vicinity of Hagley Road (A456) to Churchill Lane. Turn left to meet Hagley Road at the southern edge of Blakedown. Cross with care to join a bridleway opposite which leads to Sandy Lane. Turn left, then almost immediately left again on another bridleway.

The bridleway descends to Ladies Pool, where you turn right on a footpath. At the corner of the pool go straight up a bare slope then continue through light woodland with gorse and bracken, then by field edges to Sandy Lane.

Turn left for 100m, then join a footpath on the right which climbs gently past a wood and then descends into the valley of Barnett Brook. Keep straight on at all junctions. Entering a wood, cross the brook at a footbridge then proceed into a field.

Turn left, passing another pool and more woodland. Turn left when you reach a path junction by a ruined, ivy-clad mill. Pass another abandoned building, duck under a fallen tree and rejoin Sandy Lane. Turn right and walk to Stourbridge Road.

Turn right for a short distance. When the crash barrier on the other side comes to an end cross with care to join a footpath. Follow the right-hand edge of an old orchard to a stile at the far side and continue through another orchard before descending through woodland to cross the brook at a footbridge.

Turn right, soon crossing another stile and continuing through woodland above the brook, then through fields, and past more pools, to meet a lane at Hillpool. Turn left and walk past Sion House and Sion Court. At Sion Farm turn left on a bridleway. Go past the farm buildings then look to the left to find a sign indicating the way.

Before long, the bridleway merges with the drive to Sion House. Follow it to the Stourbridge Road, cross and continue opposite, climbing gently up Barnett Hill. The path soon levels out and follows a delightful course through birches, gorse and bracken.

Again, it merges with a driveway and then meets Sandy Lane. Turn right and, as the lane bends sharp left, keep straight on to join another bridleway. Go straight on at the next junction, passing through woodland and wetland adjacent to Ladies Pool, and then past paddocks to Belbroughton Road.

The bridleway continues opposite, past woodland and eventually past Broome Mill to Hagley Road. Cross with care and join a bridleway a few paces to the right, by Harborough Farm. When you reach Stakenbridge Lane, keep straight on, passing under the railway. Walk past a pool then join a footpath (unsigned) at a stile (broken) on the right, just before Stakenbridge Farm.

This leads to Brake Mill Farm where you turn left by a cottage on a path (a former Roman road) cut deep into the sandstone. But before you take this path a brief detour to the right is worthwhile, to see the swans, ducks and geese on the pool by the railway. Back on the footpath, follow it past Brakemill Plantation to meet the North Worcestershire Path (NWP) at Brake Lane.

Go left, then left again, following the NWP now. After crossing Iverley Lane, stay on the NWP for another 300m then turn left on another bridleway which offers excellent views before descending to a road. Cross over to join a footpath opposite and follow it to Churchill. Turn right by the church, left at the junction with Waggon Lane and finally left again on Mill Lane, which leads to Station Drive.

FACTFILE

Start: Blakedown Station, GR881787.

Length: 9 miles/14.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer 219, OS Landranger 139.

Terrain: woodland, pasture, orchard; very gentle with only a few slight slopes

Stiles: 13.

Parking: one or two spaces on Station Drive (not the station car park); or park near Stakenbridge (see map) and join the route at Brake Mill Farm.

Public transport: central rains, daily; or by bus, changing at Kidderminster to the 192 (get off at the Swan and cross the road to join the bridleway to Sandy Lane); Traveline 0870 6082608.

Refreshments: two pubs and a shop in Blakedown, farm shop on Sandy Lane.

DISCLAIMER

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