20/04/13 - Britain in Bloom - 2002

Distance - 7.5 Miles
Geocaches - 10 Found, 2 not so found
Walk From - Country Walking Magazine - Feb 1999

North from Bridgnorth

All set for a 10 miler today.  In the pub last night, Sonia decides that the weather is going to be lovely but she doesn't want a marathon.  She wants a nice walk that delivers her to a town, where she can indulge in post walk ice-cream.

A midnight re-planning session, hunt through old magazines and a walk from CW Mag all the way back in 1999 hits the spot.  The walk writer is Julie Meech.  I am sure this is Julie Royle.  And I have my eye on when she retires and a vacancy comes up at CW towers.

Bridgnorth has a lot going for it.  Two towns and one of the them was the winner of the Britain in Bloom - 2002.  They bang on about this, when in reality, they could be celebrating the Britain's only inland cliff railway.  We park up near the remains of a 13th Century Franciscan Abbey on the West Side of the River.  The river is our friend for the first mile or so.

West Side

High Rock

The walking is easy.  We soon hit the golf course, walking along the edge of it.  There has been no geocaches to hunt for, but I notice on the map there is a disused railway line which contains two.  Worth the diversion from Julie's easy to follow instructions.

We are rewarded with a long and straight path that goes on forever.  Overtaken by cyclists and runners.  Find the two caches with no problems, dropping off a TB.

When it's Impossible to get lost, it makes the dog happy

At Chestnut Coppice we turn left and up hill, walking through the cool and shady woodlands.   Get muggled by a jogging lady as I hunt cache 3.  She doesnt seem to notice.  Over a field and we meet our next hobbyist - The Fishermen.

 

 

Escaping Wife and Kids

These worm-danglers have taken their art form to new heights, by filling tiny pools with large moby dick sized fish.  Every one of them is reeling in a monster from the depths.  We arrive just as the uniformed inspector is going around, checking that none of them are Eastern European and taking their bounty home for tea.

Astley Abbotts next and a collection of impressive houses and a 12th Century Church.  No pub, so I'm not moving there.

Vicar's House

Cross the road at Cross Lane Head.  Sonia is just getting to the point where she wants her frozen dairy produce.  Fortunately, we can see Bridgnorth in the distance.    We drop down to the Hook Dingle for the best walking of the day.  This is a hidden stream with garlic bound paths and a number of geocaches to find.  Super walking.

The 99 is imminent

The Dingle brings us back to the edge of town and we work our way through the estates until we meet High Town.  With its North Gate and Market Hall its always been impressive.  The sun has brought the black country hoardes out and it is slow going battling our way through the browsers to find a pub that has a beer garden.  The Swan provides just what we are after.

Drive Through the Arches

After our break - we head off looking for a a geocache that proves impossible to retrieve with so many muggles around.  We take a look at the Cliff Railway.

£1.20 Return - No Singles - Unsure if Dog Friendly

Instead of taking public transport for the last leg, we walk down the windy steps that pass the Theatre.  This is an adventure in itself. 

 

And at the bottom..... an ice cream stop.  She goes for Fudge.

 

Super walk - maybe tomorrow I'll do the 10 miler.