Himley to Baggeridge - a popular Black Country walk

Mention this walk to most people from the Black Country and they will say they know it. Here's why: 

The walk starts in Himley Hall park. By the lake.

Then, past the Hall itself - once the home of the Earls of Dudley. (It's now publicly owned and is a very popular place for walking, sailing and generally visiting).
This is the haha  - a boundary which separates the garden, but can't be seen from the house.

The Hall's gardens are beautiful

...and Capability Brown's landscaping gives great views of the lake he created

The house, with lake beyond.

Behind the house is this lovely water garden

This was once the stable block: I love the wonky clock tower.

The walk continues up past pools...

... and landscaped waterfalls - from a period later than Capability Brown

Plenty of fishing platforms 

The sign announces the arrival at Baggeridge Country Park

This whole area was once owned by the Earl of Dudley - and around here was the site of a huge colliery.

The mine closed in 1968, and the South Staffs Council designated it as a country park

It's amazing how quickly nature has taken over this site

This bridge once carried part of the pit railway

The dense trees make the area's recent past difficult to believe.

This is one of the clues - some ashy soil.

The view from the top of the mound in the previous picture

The park is quite extensive and deserves to be explored properly in a future blog.

Like most people, I walked back the way I came - back to Himley and the car park. 

But ever the hungry type, I noticed the advertisement for cream teas - mentally storing it for a future occasion

Today's walk: Starting at the car park at Himley, follow the pools by Ward House (with the clock tower) Head straight on, past the pols. There are various routes in Baggeridge Park - and there is a cafe there. Return by the same route and the walk will be roughly 4 miles depending on your exact route.

Dudley Trail: the 9 mile route

On the first Sunday of May, every year, Dudley holds its Borough Trails event. You can choose from 6,9 12, 18 and 26 miles.

Some people might be put off by the sound of walking in an urban area.This post is aims to show you just how beautiful urban walking can (mostly) be. 

Picture : End of the canal near Fens Pool, Pensnett.

Admittedly, the start of the route is a bit urban, with the blend of Victorian and modern flats by the Leisure Centre, where you register to start the  trail

...but within 400 metres you are off the road and walking through a leafy cemetery 

I love this picture - looks so unpromising but cross the road, and 100 metres later...

...these steps lead down to ...

...the portal for Dudley Tunnel

 The 9 mile trail then reaches Park Head Locks and the viaduct 

Looking towards the church at Netherton

Past Blowers Green pumphouse

The canal could be in the depths of the countryside

There are lots of wild flowers - like these forget-me-nots

 
Though canals were built to serve the Black Country's industry, there's very little left now. There are only rare glimpses, like this old winding gear

A cheery narrowboater!

Rusting bridge with beautiful greenery

Then, round the corner - the recently developed Waterfront

The canal passes high above the Merry Hill Shopping Centre - handy as a source of refreshment, but it's quite a steep descent to get to it.

Just past Merry Hill, the canal passes under Ninelocks Bridge to reveal  - you guessed it, nine locks 

The litter pickers had worked hard - there was barely any anywhere.

The locks are properly called the Delph Flight 

Ground paddle with BCN cast into it. (Birmingham Canal Network: it famously has more canals than Venice - though fewer gondolas!)

The locks are close, so in order to provide sufficient water, each lock has a pound which continues round the side...

...and then overflows to the next, if there's too much water.

Who can say urban walking lacks attraction? 

Boats moored near old buildings, just after the curiously named Seven Dwellings Bridge

My first ducklings of the year. One is almost hidden in the reeds.

Bowen's Bridge needs some attention. 

 ...on both sides

A new canalside development.

Bluebells

And still the walk continues

Suddenly, a bit of industry intrudes, as you turn left onto the Stourbridge Canal 

A short distance takes you to Fens Pool Nature Reserve.

Every single time I visit here, the sky clouds over - I can assure that is attractive though - even if it looks a bit miserable here

Then to an old railway line . As you would expect, this area has many of these

This one then goes under Pensett High Street (though you can't see it)

...and on past bluebell woods  - they're just starting here

On the other side, an enormous quarry. Limestone I think.

You have to look out for this tiny gas marker, to indicate that you turn onto another path here (Obviously, I missed it at first)

Then, more pleasant walking, looking towards Barrow Hill - the remains of Dudley's volcano.

The leafy path continues towards Russells Hall

Just over a quarter mile of road walking brings you to this path which follows woodland and grassland right to the top of the hill. At that point the Leisure Centre, where you started, is just over the road.

NB If you did the Dudley Trail many years ago, this last section is much better than the old route which went across old scrubland.

I hope I've managed to persuade you that urban walking can be rewarding. There's still time to enter the walk (you can enter on the day if you want) Click here for details

Why not give it a go? The route's a bit long for description here, but if you want more details, feel free to email me. lucygriffiths1112*gmail.com (replacing the * with @)