06/06/26 - The Three Good Beer Guide Ticks in Cannock

A Spoons and Two Micros

An oddly dull walk from Walsall brought me to Cannock, a previously unexplored town. If you ask AI what there is to see and do in Cannock, it tells you to look for a dogs grave, Freda, on Cannock Chase.

Which is probably not bad advice.

The Wetherspoons, Linford Arms, is where all the life is. A twin gabled town house, where nearly every single table was occupied. Thank God for their ruthlessly efficient app. An all day breakfast and a pint of Moorhouse Pendle Witches brew, whilst I guarded the last available single seater table.

Stand further back to get both gable ends in

The New Hall Arms is just a short walk away, opposite a shabby looking shopping centre. It's a bigger than usual micro, concentrating on cask rather than more esoteric international offerings. Bass was on, but in a move that showed a lack of care and attention, it was stuffed into a craft Vocation pint pot. Covered in art.  Give my boring brown beer in a boring nonic.

New Hall Arms

On the way back to the station is the final part of the trilogy, The Arcade. A quirky little micro pub, which appears to share its space with a music shop. People enter carrying guitars. An interesting collection of keg and cask on, I went for a previously untried Feld Helles lager from Ampersand Brewery.

Cannock, greened.

 

06/06/26 - Walsall to Cannock on the McClean Way

Arrow Straight to a Broken Boulder

Walk Midlands is such an excellent resource. Subscribe to their mail list and as regular as clockwork on the 1st of the month your inbox will be filled with wonderful ramblers inspiration. I had my eye on today's walk as it ended in the never explored before Cannock. As usual, I ask AI what there is to do there. Let's just say ChatGPT is not going to get employed by the Cannock Tourist Board.

If you're expecting a picturesque market town full of historic buildings, Cannock itself can feel a bit underwhelming.

As surprising as that sounds, it's quite a fair assessment. Who says we need to worry about the veracity of  AI?

Still, its probably better than Walsall. In the rain. I look to make my escape as soon as possible and pick up the McClean Way. A former railway line, its arrow straight, offers no views and makes canals seem exciting.

It's like this for miles

Until you escape at Pelsall

Cadman's Lane offers little to lift the boredom - a green lane dividing cow pastures. There's an oddly placed blue plaque in a thicket and even this is a memorial to something that no longer exists. John Wesley, founder of the Methodists, preached from a large sandstone boulder near Fishey. The boulder no longer exists. Kind of fitting for the walk, somehow.

Unexpected Plague

Impossible to say where Great Wyrley ends and Cannock begins but the last couple of miles are along the A34. At least there are three pubs for needed refreshment. I picked well at the first - The Star Inn. A community pub trying to be all things to all people. Food, entertainment and sometimes both. The upcoming England World Cup games can be enjoyed with a half time chip butty.

Well kept beer - HPA, Butty Bach or Timothy Taylor

Over two horrible roundabouts - and then I am in Cannock. A town where the planners really don't want the pedestrian to make it into.  

Three Good Beer Guide Ticks await.

Walk Details

Distance - 10 miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration

 

05/06/26 - Masons Arms, Wichenford

Church Treasures and a Dovecote

The Pickerwheel is spun and returns Page 91 of the Hidden Places of Worcestershire book. Wichenford, for a dovecote and a pub.

My extensive library of walking books fails to find a single route in this small village. I am forced into making my own. It's a success - maybe the start of a new career. 6 miles through beautiful agricultural landscapes in the shadows of Woodbury and the Malvern Hills. Plenty of stiles to clamber over. 

Mainly on paths like this

With Views like this

Wichenford Dovecote - when I woke up this morning, I was unsure I could describe to you what a Dovecote is. Now, I know. It's got a brown tourist sign, pointing into the moated Wichenford Manor House. It's gated, so I nervously let myself in. The first building looks suitably ancient but on inspection, it's just stables. Around the corner, I find my quarry. 

C17th Birdhouse

Home for 557 Birds. Who, presumably, have all been evicted

 

Wichenford Church - This is what I love about exploring. The church is not only "Doors Open" but provides the WiFi password on the front door. Live blogging from the field was a possibility. The church is pretty enough and with the low lying land, is visible for much of the walk. Inside it housing two beautiful C17th shrines to the Washbourne family. 

St Laurence

Bunk Bed Shrines

And the loyal dog

The Masons Arms - is a food led country pub, which surprisingly has competition with the most bizarrely located Thai restaurant you will find. Housed in the barn at nearby Buryendtown Farm. One cask on, Wye Valley HPA, and I should have trusted my instincts, as it was badly on the turn. The landlady was that pleasant and attentive, I couldn't bring myself to complain. Besides, there was nothing to swap it with.

Repeat after me Mappiman - if in doubt, sample it; optimism pairs badly with blind ordering.

The menu looked fantastic

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - Page 91 of Hidden Places in Worcestershire 

02/06/26 - London Spiral Stage 24 - Kenley to Knockholt

Ups and Downs on the North Downs

The London Spiral had got into a complete route of built-up housing estates with little green space.

That changes on Stage 24, where the North Downs are explored. History underfoot, as ancient villages and Roman Roads are found. Then there are the hills.... all gentle in their own right but over the 14 miles, 1,150ft of ascent has been completed.

This starts from the get go - out of Kenley Station and up a chalk hill to Riddlesdown and the London Loop.

I've been here before

One of the gentle valleys on the North Downs

It's all golf courses, woodland, horse fields and the odd little village like Fickleshole. Fine, cache laden walking with two "highlights".

The words Biggin Hill will stir memories in any child of the late sixties brought up on Commando and Sven Hassell books. I was quite excited to be walking around the northern perimeter of this key site of the Battle of Britain. Until I arrived there. Dense vegetation, an overgrown footpath and a high fence. I heard aeroplanes and at one point, I saw the tail of one as it revved up for take-off.

Milking Lane Cottages, just before Biggin Hill

Refreshment should have been found at the two-pub, one-café village of Downe. A place with strong associations with Charles Darwin.

Charles Darwin moved to Down House in the village of Downe in 1842, seeking space and quiet away from London after returning from the voyage of the Beagle. He lived there with his family for the rest of his life, spending more than 40 years working, observing nature, and developing his ideas on evolution. It was at Down House that he wrote On the Origin of Species (1859) and carried out many of his famous experiments in the house, garden, and surrounding North Downs countryside. Darwin remained there until his death in 1882, by which point the house had become both his home and his lifelong scientific base.

I arrived at 10:50am, too early for the pubs but I could have murdered a cup of coffee. The café had an opening time of 11am detailed on the door but remained firmly in darkness after my 20 minute exploration of the church.

Coffee tickers having as hard a time of it as pub tickers.

A Sundial dedicated to Darwin on Downe Church

The front door of the Queens Head Pub, Downe

More countryside to Pratt's Bottom and the nearby Knockholt Station to end the walk. 

Initially, I think the Bulls Head is closed. The door refuses to open and a look through the window shows a place seemingly devoid of life. I console myself with the thought I will have more time to battle Central London tube strikes, when a lady chases after me down the street to tell me they are indeed open. The door is stiff and I am not the first to fall foul of its required "twist and pull" operation.

The first fully enjoyable leg of the London Spiral is celebrated with a Harvey's Sussex Best.

Be careful not to make a Pratt of yourself at the Bulls Head

And no problems on the Northern Line from Charing Cross to Euston.

Walk Details

Distance -  14 miles

Start - Kenley

Finish - Knockholt

Areas Walked - North Downs, Biggin Hill

Geocaches - 17

Pubs - 1

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, Stage 21, Stage 22, Stage 23