04/11/17 - Heart of England Way Stage 7 - Hints

Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 6
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6


No real way of sugar coating this walk, its a case of "After the Lord Mayors Show".

The walking on Stage 6 was average but it did have the benefit of ending in a City with four Good Beer Guide Pubs.  Stage 7 starts at Hints, a DRY village that is so boring, the A5 was re-routed to avoid motorists falling asleep.

It means that Old Watling Street provides a quiet refuge for parking.

The old A5 at Hints.  A lost highway

We start by heading north to pick up where we left the HOEW at Knox's Grave Lane.  There's a roped off quarry, an aerial and 3 elderly caches that don't get found too often.

Crossing back over the A5, we do get some views of agricultural Staffordshire.  This is where someone comments "What did you expect from Staffordshire?  Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically...."

I bring you leafy HOEW....

... And a Clump of Trees

Normally the pub saves the most boring of walks but today, we are in trouble.

Hints has a Church and little else.   We kept our eyes peeled for a suitable refreshment stop on the road from J10 of the M42.  There was nothing.....

We try heading home through Sutton Coldfield.

Once Mrs M had refused the Harvester, I knew there was no chance of the Hungry Horse.

For the 1st time, I have a Mappiman Real Ale walk with no real ale.

The next leg of the HOEW looks even less inspiring....  my guidebook doesn't even describe it properly and it seems to be along lanes with no verges and lots of cars.

Next month, I may be blogging a first Virtual Walk.