Hanbury Circular Walk, part 1

I had to make a delivery, so I decided to do a walk while I was out. I parked here, just outside Droitwich

I was following the 6.75m Hanbury Circular Walk - the logo is a pair of lock gates.

This is one of the Hanbury locks...

 ...complete with this cute dog.

That's his brother on the bank (the dog). These locks are on the Droitwich Canal, only recently restored (2002) 

Flowering primroses by the canalside

The path soon turns onto the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. The towpath has been well-maintained, but interestingly, they have left these tall reeds standing.

I've never seen this before - sandbags used to line the banks. From a distance, they look like stones.

The canal passes through tranquil countryside...

...occasionally disturbed by fast trains. (this one was pulling at least 30 goods wagons )

Another boat. The canals are starting to get busy as we move towards Spring.

The culverts have all been cleaned out. Culvert 21 is behind this gate

The countryside started to get more hilly.

More locks ahead

Still following the right path, according to the sign

A Canadian flag. What was the story behind that, I wondered. 

The lock cottage.

Its garden is on the other side of the canal.

Soon the signs indicated that it was time to leave the canal 

Past fields of lambs. These two must be twins

Lots of the hedges were covered in this very attractive yellowish lichen. Reminded me of Cornwall.

 Into Piper's Hill Woods Nature Reserve

 A timbered cottage almost hidden away.

 Looking back to Piper's Wood

On the top of the hill, the reason I had come. Hanbury's Church of St Mary the Virgin, better known to many as St Stephens in Ambridge.

Of which, more tomorrow.

Today's walk: The Hanbury Circular is well-signposted. It is part canal walk, part fields and woods, and it passes the church used as St Stephens in the Archers. It then passes National Trust's Hanbury Hall (good tea room) and heads back to the canal. It is described as 6.75m long, but Runkeeper made it 7.5m.