Monarch's Way - Droitwich to Chaddesley Corbett

A last look at the the Droitwich Barge Canal (and its swans), and we are off on the next section of the Monarch's Way.

After a very short road walk, our route is through this enticing parkland,... 

 ...and on past Elizabethan Westwood House. Lovely as the path looks, it was very sticky, and difficult to walk.

The House is now converted into flats, and the twin towers of the gatehouse are called "Salt and Pepper"!

There are extensive views over to the Malverns

...and the Abberley Hills

Not sure if the sheep appreciate the views much, though.

Looking back to the Malverns again

It is late February, and the hazel catkins are starting to turn a fresh pale green

By Hampton Lovett, a small settlement which mustered a force to fight on the King's side in the Civil War...

...I admired the eagle weathervane

By the roadside was this cross - no explanation as to why 

Approaching Hampton Lovett Church, this gravestone commemorates the wife of the Third Baron of Doverdale  - a prominent local family

The lych gate

The church itself

Our muddy walk coninued by a railway for a short time, and then up this hill

More sticky clay to walk on!

After the earlier blue skies, the sky threatened rain (but none actually came)

The faint path went though woodland for quite a while - without the excellent Monarch's Way signposting it would have been almost impossible to follow

We reached Rushock, and this lovely timbered house

Rushock Church

This is the tiny Village Hall. We have been to quiz nights here - but never managed to win!

There are good views over the nearby countryside from here

Then, on towards Chaddesley Corbett. This is the point to point course. Good job there was no racing today!

Chaddesley in the distance.

To be continued.
Below, the Monarch's Way explained.

Today's walk. We parked at Droitwich Station,(because the parking is good) having left our other car at Chaddesley Corbett. We followed the well sign-posted Monarch's Way. My GPS made the distance 10.04 miles, and the very heavy going made our progress quite slow. The predominant soil is clay, which does make walking difficult if it has been wet. But this is more than made up for by the fabulous views, and lovely buildings on route.