Monarch's Way: Wombourne to Oaken

I had a lovely afternoon walking this section of the Monarch's Way (What's the Monarch's Way? See the end of this post for details)

This section starts along the South Staffs Railway Line. The brickwork here is from an old platform. There's a well-regarded cafe here, but we didn't use it - bit much to eat before even starting!

The route was clear ahead: the trees gave a bit of shelter from a hot sun.

View back towards Wombourne

The bridges are all painted in this brown and cream colour, presumably the colours used by the old railway company.

I liked the ageing sign

I see lots of graffiti on my walks (often spoiling what would be nice photos) but I did like this bird - although the dappled shade makes it difficult to see clearly.

Leaving the railway, the Way goes through fields of ripening wheat

The Monarch's Way is indicated by these little round stickers - sometimes on the footpath signs, and sometimes elsewhere

 Trescott ford. Fortunately with a footbridge!

Quite deep even when there's been very little rain.

Fields of barley blowing in the breeze

This is hay drying in the field

Passing the side of Perton Golf Club

Just after the golf club, the Way goes though this field. 

For this section, the Monarch's Way takes the same route as the Staffordshire Way. I took this picture of the same field in October last year

The Way then passes this old airfield at Cranmore Lodge Farm

Only a few buildings are now left standing

Passing a field of broad beans: first I've ever seen (well, at least, noticed!)

Oats. I saw pretty much every crop on this walk.

Oats are my favourite to look at, as they seem to twinkle in the sun.

This is oilseed rape: more difficult to walk through, but all the paths were clear and well-maintained

Typical scenery on the walk.

An excess of signs here!

And finally, we arrived in Oaken. I love this old brick wall and the traditional phone box.

Post van parked nearby.

This walk was an easy 8.5 miles, which we managed in an afternoon: you might prefer to take longer over it. It was very rural, (no shops or pubs after Wombourne) so you'd need to take a picnic!

What is the Monarch's Way? England's longest inland long distance path, following the route of King Charles II. 

Close-up of the signs. The way is largely very well-signposted, and so I would recommend it as a route to walk. You can buy guidebooks here.

To see the previous section of the Monarch's Way - Stourton to Bratch - click here

Sections completed so far: Click to see each section
Powick to Worcester
Worcester to Droitwich
Droitwich to Chaddesley
Chadddesley to Hagley
Hagley to Stourton
Stourton to Bratch

Today's Walk: 8.5 miles, using two cars - one parked at Bratch Locks Car Park, Wombourne, following the Monarch's Way along the S.Staffs railway, and thence to Trescott, Nurton, Wrottesley Park and finishing in Oaken. Moderate to easy as a walk. Good waymarking (but take a map for checking!)