Start off by Stewponey Lock, on the Staffs and Worcs Canal. (There's parking in a lay-by right beside it)
I walked this way, past the white house.
...admiring the autumn tints on the way.
I crossed this bridge
...to join the Stourbridge Canal.
The walk passes these lovely locks.
This is the (ugly) road bridge under the A449.
The passing motorists are within metres of this picture, but they probably don't know.
There were a few narrow boats on the move as I walked.
There were also these cyclists
They are taking part in one of the Over 50s cycling sessions run weekly(Click here for more details)
It looked great fun
They all stopped for a breather
...but were soon ready to set off.
At the bridge, I turned left, past Saunders Scrapyard...
and along a rutted road,...
...across the A449 and into these gates.
The cows were too interested in the food to notice me
A bridge across the River Stour
There is a very small bit of new housing down here - though rather dwarfed by the massive pine trees
This is the site of the old Prestwood Hall, which later became a TB sanatorium, and then burned down. This is what was rebuilt.
The grounds were rather lovely.
Past the Hall, the private road (with a right of way which I'd been following) becomes a path. Looks like the squirrels have been busy
The path reaches this path, and I turned left
On reaching the canal bridge, I turned left again.
The wooded setting is just stunning.
The Smestow brook running by the canal.
Beautiful red sandstone cliffs, typical of this part of the Staffs and Worcs Canal
The aqueduct over the river Stour, which joins with Smestow Brook shortly afterwards. The cows are the ones I saw earlier, still round their feeding station
More beautiful scenery
Dappled sunlight
And after a four mile walk, a return to Stewponey Lock, and the start of the walk.
Today's walk: Highly recommended. Park in the lay-by on the A458, where it crosses the A449. Turn left on to the canal, and walk to the first bridge. Then cross it, to join the Stourbridge canal. Follow it to the first canal bridge after the locks, and turn right down an unmade road. Cross the A449 and over into the private road which leads to Prestwood Hall. Past the hall, the road becomes a path. Follow it round the edge of a field, to a T junction with a sandy bridle path. Turn left, and and you reach the canal bridge, turn left onto the Staffs and Worcs canal. Follow it back to your starting point. Four miles - I defy you not to like it! There's a cafe set back from the traffic lights, if you want some post-walk sustenance!
For mobile phone users: click here to see other walks. For computer users, there's a menu at the side.
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