Canal Circular - Prestwood

This wonderful 4 mile walk is well worth doing, especially at the moment with the trees beginning to turn autumnal. It's very easy to follow and makes a great walk (About 2 hours)

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!

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The 69th Halesowen and Hagley Farmers' Show

On Sunday I was at the Halesowen and Hagley Farmers' Show. I was in the commentary box, commentating on the horse section of the show.

It was a lovely venue, on Fieldhouse Lane, Romsley

In the Secretary's tent: rosettes for the Welsh Horse and Pony Section,

 ...and some of the trophies and rosettes

Competitors, with horses gleaming in the sunshine

It was a wonderful setting. Who would have thought we were so close to Birmingham? 

Spectators enjoying the straw bale seating

An in-hand class. Horses and ponies are handled from the ground.

St John's Ambulance officials basking in the sunshine. They had an easy day - no casualties (thankfully)

The commentary box - my "home" for the day. Inside is Hazel, organiser of the Horse Show section, taking over while I have a tea break.

From my position, I could see into the main field - but only a small part. There were food stalls, craft stalls, a craft fair, farmers' demonstrations, dog show, birds of prey and lots of exhibitions, games and competitions.

Another view

Mid afternoon, the foxhounds from the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt came into the ring. 

It is a trail hunt these days, not a fox hunt. The hounds follow a pre-laid scent trail.

 They move almost as one flowing wave!

Towards the end of the day, the weather got much colder. Spectators began to leave, and those who stayed wrapped up in blankets!

By 5.30 the final horse class finished (the main show finished about 4.45) The judges (with posh hats) decided the overall winners - the Supreme Champions of Show

This is "King Edward", who won Runner-up Best Rider, even though he says he only entered for the experience. (He got his nickname because he thinks he rides "like a sack of spuds")

The Show has been running since 1946, and next year will be the 70th Anniversary. It was a really good show, and admission was only £2! Click here  to visit the website, and seriously, make sure you go next year. It's usually the third Sunday in September.

PS this is normally a blog about walking, but I have been unable to walk recently owing to other commitments. I hope to re-start walking in earnest this week - so look out for new blogs! In the Black Country and beyond.
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Black Country Boating Festival, Bumble Hole, Netherton

Today, a walk round the Black Country Boating Festival. Who says walks have to be in wild, lonely places?


There were lots of interesting boats to look at. This is an old British Waterways Ice Breaker, now restored.

I think the dog is a later addition though.

Traditional working boats

Other old canal-related vehicles

The trip boat was very busy 

Some boat passengers, and Bumble Hole cafe/tearooms on the opposite bank.

The festival is by a canal juntion - the third sign (hidden) points towards Halesowen. (Properly known as Hales Owen)

We carried on, along the towpath over one of the black and white bridges,...

...walking to the entrance to Netherton tunnel. 

Near the tunnel, Cobb's Engine House. Built around 1830, and properly known as Windmill End Pumping Station, it stood over a shaft which was 525 feet deep. In its heyday, it pumped out 1,600,000 litres a day - all going into the canal, which must have kept it topped up.

The leaves are starting to turn autumnal already.

Walking up the hill, you can see how tall the chimney was. I think this was to make sure the smoke was blown clear away.

There are good views of the Black Country from here - as well as a huge bouncy castle today!

Bulrushes in a pond. This area, once a hive of industry, full of mining, ironworks and often covered in a pall of smoke (hence the Black Country name), is now a nature reserve

The canals came with the industry, of course, leaving Birmingham and the Black Country with more miles of canal than Venice.

Back at the canal, we admired some of the stalls: this one sold dog-related items

Another historic boat

This was from the Commercial Boat Owners Association , which promotes trade on the canals: nowadays more is carried than you might think.

Boats were three deep in places

I loved this a butty boat (the one without the engine, towed by the motorboat) selling jam - called, of course, the Jam Butty.

Lots of local boats had come for the occasion

The place was thronging with people

It was a very pleasant day, very well supported, both by boats and by locals. 

There was even a funfair - larger than this picture shows. 

If you're interested in the festival, click here for more details.
A good day out, and we manged to walk three miles without really noticing the exercise, as there was so much to see.
Today's walk: park on Windmill end road (postcode DY2 9SU). Walk along the canal in any of three directions (but going deep into Netherton Tunnel without a torch isn't recommended  - the towpath has holes in places). Or, simply explore the nature reserve. Climb the hill for great views. Walk as little or as far as you wish, but try to take in the visitor's Centre (and its excellent cafe - if open)

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