Hagley to Stourton on the Monarch's Way Part 2

Stourbridge town centre: refreshed, we carry on with the Monarch's Way. (Rare sighting of other half - in green tee shirt, and eating aniseed twists)

We leave the road at the Bonded Warehouse. Records show that Charles II carried on towards Wordsley, but as that's along a busy road, and there is nothing there to see now, we carry on... 

...along the Stourbridge Canal

Nearing Wollaston, we peek at the buildings on what used to Sunrise Medical. The good news is they've taken River Stour out of the concrete culverts and are turning it into a feature, as it deserves.

The Tudor Crystal sign

Some of the old buildings, with doors straight out onto the canal for loading. 

We turn left at this junction...

...where straight away the canal narrows. It's an aqueduct over the River Stour.

The Stour

The canal turns rural almost immediately. We are deep into horse country here.

Reflections

While repairs were being made to the canal embankment here, the opportunity was used to build  this lake - for fishing.

There are little islands

The towpath is very good.

The sad sight of the old sunken boat

Nearing Stourton.

Britain's most beautiful locks? Discuss!

Closing the lock gate for a boat.

The Monarch's Way turns right at this junction, but we turn left towards Stewpony lock and the car!

Stewpony Lock

We will continue the Monarch's Way soon. Perhaps at half term.

Today's walk: part of a day walking along the Monarch's Way from Hagley to Stourton. Distance: 9 miles. Well signed, but probably wise to have a handbook or similar in case you miss the tiny signs in the built up streets. Contact me if you need help/advice. Details below.
What is the Monarch's Way? It's a 631 mile long distance footpath, originally established by Trevor Antill, and now maintained by the Monarch's way Association. The route starts at Powick, where the Charles II lost the Battle of Worcester, and continues north past Boscobel, and over to the Severn. As Charles was unable to cross this, the route then goes back down south again, to Charmouth, and then finally to Shoreham where the king's party finally found a ship to take them to the continent.

Hagley to Stourton along the Monarch's Way 1

The Monarch's Way stretches for 615 miles, following the route of Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester. 
This part of the route starts in Hagley, near Stourbridge. This is the A456 to Birmingham, which you follow for about 400 metres,...

...before turning up Monument Lane, which turns into a cart track.

The walk is leafy and pleasant: you could be a million miles away from habitation

As we climbed Wychbury Hill, the views over the surrounding countryside, and towards the Abberley Hills were quite spectacular.

The Obelisk is just off the route, but you really have to take a detour,

...not least because of the views. Towards Worcestershire here,...

...then over to Shropshire...

...and down to the Malverns.

The monument has "heritage" graffiti on it, referring to a local murder scandal/mystery from 1941. More can be found on that wondrous site, Wikipedia 

Leaving the Obelisk, the path then gives great views over the Black Country. The white blocks of flats are in Brierley Hill.

Descending, the views are to Stourbridge, the next point of the journey.

The path with the Wrekin, Shropshire, in the distance

It's a good year for blossom. (Brown Clee in the distance)

After a short way on the road, the path goes down into Ham Dingle nature reserve. I had never been here: the locals have a gem on their doorsteps!

It really is lovely

Continuing on to Oldswinford.

Mistletoe in the trees.

Oldswinford church and, presumably, Vicarage.

Aargh! This is a genuine Tudor timbered house. Why - really why? - would you put such an unsympathetic "loft extension" on it?

More walking, and Stourbridge High Street is reached. Time for refreshment!

The walk continues tomorrow.
Today's walk: Parking at Hagley, and then following the Monarch's Way 9 miles to Stourton. (Park by Stewpony Lock on the junction of the A449/A458). The route is fairly well signposted, though it's probably best to have a copy of the guidebook in case you get lost in the streets, where tiny stickers can be hard to spot.

Cookley to Wolverley along the Staffs and Worcs canal

It was a lovely sunny day, and therefore, time for a walk!
I parked in Cookley, and walked to these houses...

...with, at the far end, this path down to the Staffs and Worcs Canal.

I turned towards Cookley Tunnel, glad I wasn't the two men working above the big drop!

Titan Steel Wheels works used to be an ironworks, and dates back to a forge on the Stour here in 1650. The footbridge once went over a small canal branch going into the works itself.

The canoes looked interesting. I don't know the story behind them

A boat coming out of rocky Debdale Lock 

I love the red sandstone "cliffs" along this section of canal.

Coming up towards Wolverley - some of the canalside houses are beautiful

  
Such a peaceful part of the world.

A view over to Wolverley Church

Some of the fields seem to be used for off-road motorbike racing.

The Lock Inn at Wolverley is always popular. (There's a cafe on the other side too.)

A few butterbur flowers - nothing like as many as I saw on the Oxfordshire canal at Ansty last week (click to see)

A lone cyclist pedalling along the lovely country lane between Wolverley and Cookley

Twisted trees

Arriving back at Cookley Lock

The tunnel sign - one minute to travel through it!

It's almost a large bridge - except there are houses over it. 

Today's Route: an out and back route from Cookley to Wolverley and return. About 4 miles, but you can shorten or lengthen it. Most enjoyable. Towpath in very good condition.