16/10/25 - Wild about Worcester, Part 1

Doors Closed in the Royal City 

It was whilst completing the Rail Walk between Worcester and Droitwich that I noticed new way-marker posts.

Well Signed

The Wild About Worcester Way is a 12-mile circular walking route created by the Worcester Environmental Group (WEG) in partnership with Worcester City Council and local conservation volunteers. Officially launched in May 2023, the path links together many of the city’s green and wild spaces – from Worcester Woods Country Park and Gheluvelt Park to Laugherne Brook Nature Reserve – creating a continuous wildlife corridor around the city. Designed to encourage people to explore local nature, boost wellbeing, and promote biodiversity, the trail is fully way-marked and highlights the best of Worcester’s riverside, parkland, and community conservation projects.

Of course I was going to walk it. But twelve miles? I can easily squeeze two day trips out of that and maybe investigate a few other things on my ever-growing list.

I start at the river bridge, finding the first marker at Pitchcroft - through parkland, canals and nature reserves.

Looking out across Pitchcroft to Worcester spires

Worcester - Birmingham Canal

The unspoiled, unchanged St Nicholas Church at Warndon is more or less half way and seems a fitting place to stop – austere inside and out, with an oak-timbered tower containing bells cast in the 1400s. The heptagonal font is rumoured to be fashioned from a hollowed-out Roman pillar.

A rare, unmodified original

Sectioned Pews that wouldn't disgrace Belfast's Crown Liquor Stores

The walking done, the 34 back to town.

My first port of call is the Guild Hall. A recent walk told the story of the only Worcestershire Policeman to be killed on active duty. His assailant, was hanged at Worcester Jail. Which resides in the basement of this building. I attempted to determine when the public could gain access. The Tourist Information Centre told me to go to opposite reception. The opposite reception told me to go to the TIC. Eventually, I was told about organised walks. One for another day.

Guildhall, low on information

Pub time. The Cocky Anchor is a new micro pub, optimistically housed directly opposite the city's last remaining Wetherspoons. I've been before and it's OK - hard for me to justify the double price per pint. Plus, if I am in 'Spoons, I am looking at the lovely building, a former artists residence. If I am the cocky anchor, I am looking at thrifty daytime boozers and the ghost of Mappiman present and future.

The Sliver that is the Cocky Anchor

So why attempt a return? Right at the top, there is a rooftop terrace, promising unparalleled views over the City. It comes with a list of caveats. Only open Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. You cannot take the cask from the downstairs bar. Five flights of stairs, health and safety fans.

So this - I'll go to Worcester's best Traditional. Always a wonderful selection of LocALE bitters in the Plough. Today, this includes a wonderful Cotswold Lion Top Tup. 

Nowhere better in Worcester for the traditionalist

I'll be back next week to see what other places I cannot get into.

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Walk Inspiration 

Geocaches - 2

14/10/25 - Two Historic Pubs in Northfield, Birmingham

Fewer but Better

Always interesting to walk with the Ramblers. The conversations jumped between topics; I have determined where the best place to watch free live Blues music in town is (Snobs). And as if they knew where I was heading post walk, the conversation turned to the rather magnificent Black Horse in Northfield.

One Rambler discussed playing in a band in the upstairs function room. Another recounted  the history of the Temperance movement in Victorian Birmingham. They campaigned for the closure of vice-addled drinking dens for "more family friendly pubs".  Fewer but better.

The absolute gits.

In the late Victorian era, when Joseph Chamberlain was transforming Birmingham from an industrial sprawl into a model of civic pride, reform extended even to its pubs. As Mayor from 1873 to 1876, Chamberlain championed the idea that a city could uplift its citizens through cleaner streets, better housing, and moral improvement — an ethos known as the “Civic Gospel.” That same spirit inspired a drive to reform Birmingham’s drinking culture. The Voluntary Compensation Scheme of 1897 allowed brewers to give up licences for overcrowded or disreputable pubs in exchange for trade-funded payments. The effect was dramatic: over 600 pubs were closed in Birmingham, clearing the way for a new generation of “improved public houses” — bright, spacious, and respectable — designed to encourage conversation, dining, and family life over hard drinking.

The Black Horse isa prime example of this blueprint. An enormous, mock Tudor roadhouse, that looks more like a manor house than a pub.

Too big for a photograph

Built in 1929 for Davenports, its now - and no prizes for guessing - a Wetherspoons. Let me count the ways that I loved it.

1. Ornate woodwork, inside and out
2. Real fires
3. Multi-roomed - but the CAMRA Heritage Pub Book includes a map
4. Interesting cask - all at £1.89 a pint
5. A bowling green
6. Downstairs Toilets

I settled in the Gent's Smoke Room

A incredible, affordable theme park palace of a pub.

Make a pint last an hour and this is cheaper than having the heating on at home

5.6% Cairngorm Bothy

The Bowling Green

The more you look, the more you see

I also wanted to discover "Historic Northfield" - so I headed down to the equally interesting Great Stone Inn. Away from the busy dual carriageway, opposite the church and clustered around a collection of cottages dating from the 18th-century.

Historic Birmingham

The item that gives the pub its name is a glacial boulder, once used as a mounting block for riders at the corner of Church Road and Church Hill. In the 1950s it was moved to the village pound, a sandstone enclosure once used to hold stray animals—where it still rests, next to the pub.

A Glacial Erratic in a Pound

Low ceilings, multiple rooms, promotion offers and one-armed bandits, I was faced with a choice of two disappointments. The supplied glass was a too crafty for Wye Valley HPA. And in this part of the world, when a man orders scratchings, he does not expect crunch.

Crispy Crackled Pork Bites are not scratchings

14/10/25 - The Barnt Green Inn

Ghostly Tunnels

Barnt Green - just inside the Worcestershire border and a posh commuter village. Home at one time or the other to Big Ron, Jamelia, Private Pike and Jack Grealish.

I am here with the Ramblers for a magical mystery tour. All I know is where to meet - opposite the butchers with award-winning pork pies - and the distance of the walk, 5 miles.

It's all rather pleasant - south over the M42, new to me paths to Withybed Green and then the familiar along the canal and past the Bittell reservoirs.

Autumn views over North Worcestershire

Communal living on the Worcester-Birmingham Canal

Bittell Reservoir

Walk over and an Adventure Lab Cache guides me around the village. This of course, includes the wonderful Barnt Green Inn. A 16th-century house, converted to a pub, where their Facebook Page announces when Grealish comes in to talk about Cockapoos.

Surprisingly, for a pub that has so much history and in prime walking location, it appears in only one of my Worcesteshire pub guide books. The frankly ridiculous "Haunted Pubs of Worcestershire". From the book's size, it appears that every pub in Worcestershire is haunted.

The Barnt Green Inn

A poor scan of its horrible history

For those time-constrained, a man and his son - at different times - saw a ghostly woman disappearing into a hedge opposite the pub. The reason for blog inclusion? It collaborates WhatPub's rumour that there is a tunnel that runs from the pub to Cofton. Or Coughton (much further away), if you believe the Ghost Book.

An enjoyable visit to the gastro-pub to work out the ALC bonus calculations.... use of their facilities ran to the loos, a warm in front of the roaring fire but I couldn't quite bring myself to spend money on a Doom Bar of unknown quality.

I have a date with a Wetherspoons!

My maths - their fire - someone else's wine

Walk Details

Distance - 5.25 Miles

Geocaches - An Adventure Lab Cache

13/10/25 - London Spiral Stage 21 - Hayes to Hampton Court

That's Very Nearly an Armful

After a fairly dismal Stage 20, the London Spiral needs to convince me on this stage that it is worth continuing with. 

The map suggests it has its moments. A long stretch following the London Loop through Cranford Park. At least it's countryside and off residential streets. That comes later, although there is much to admire in the architecture, as I move into the Hamptons.

Although it's wild, remote walking along the River Crane, it's not particularly pleasant. — littered to the point of fly-tipping, with burnt-out motorcycles and paths that don’t favour the rambler, especially when crossing the Bath Road. And then there is this.

Does Stig of the Dump live in London?

St Dunstan's Church in Cranford is distinctive to look at. A half-rebuilt in brick tower, plonked on top of the original flint structure, stands out. It's "doors locked", which is unsurprising. A less architecturally gifted tramp is asleep in the churchyard. 

Building regeneration, 1710 style

Investigations need to be completed outside - where Birmingham's finest comedic son is laid to rest.

Just 44

In terms of interest, that's it for the walk until reaching Hampton. Two Good Beer Guide Pubs, one already ticked.

The Jolly Coopers is new to me - and despite a sign painter with an odd sense of humour, providing an authentic, pubby experience.

Only just worked out what he is trying to achieve.

From the moment I spot the Watney's Red Barrel lamp in the window, I can tell this is going to be old school. Grade II listed, with the same owners since 1986. A central bar, plentiful nick-nacks, most sports related.

Monday Lunchtime

The sense of continuity and timelessness is enhanced by the conversation that I couldn't help but overhear. A recent, well attended funeral of a 61 year old. All other punters reminding each other of who he was by mentioning which school year he'd been in. The year above the landlord, the same year as others. And a player, according to the mother of a daughter in his year.

The beer - Taking Courage seemed wholly in keeping with the day.

Undeniably Handsome 

My final crossing of the River Thames on this particular LDP is meant to be the Hampton Ferry. October is the last month it runs until next Spring, but only during morning and evening commuting hours.

It road walking on the North shore, past the Garrick Temple to the Bridge at Hampton Court.

Garrick Temple

Hampton Court Palace

Directly opposite the palace is the Mute Swan. A Bruning and Price Freehouse, which if I am honest with you, I don't quite understand how that works. Regardless - its a beautiful building, with a car park full of private plated Range Rovers, their owners lunching.

But that said, the beer range is very good - five cask ales, well kept and for this part of the world, a not outrageously priced. 

£5.70, as you are asking

Across the bridge for transport back to the Smoke. Should I continue? South London is always surprising, so I'll at least have a look at where it wants to take me.

Walk Information

Distance -  11 Miles

Start - Hayes and Harlington Station

Finish - Hampton Court Station

Areas Walked - Heathrow, Cranford, The Hamptons

Geocaches - 8

Pubs - 2

Previous Walks - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13, Stage 14, Stage 15, Stage 16, Stage 17, Stage 18, Stage 19, Stage 20