25/10/14 - No Dogs

Walk Inspiration - Stage 17 of the Millennium Way
Distance - 4 Miles
Caches - 9

A short, yet delightful walk for my monthly ramble on the Millennium Way.

Back to Hockley Heath and park up at the pub.  The Wharf Tavern has a massive car park, outdoor seating and a board advertising special lunches.  Perfect, with an added bonus that it provides access to the canal.

We will be back

Typical canal walking, though eerily deserted.  Two caches at drawbridges.

Canal in the Sunshine

We leave the canal after only after a mile and enter the grounds of Packwood House.  An unexpected delight and its always nice to find something unknown and of historical interest.  This is a Tudor Farmhouse in the hands of the National Trust.  They seem to be getting a lot of visitors today.

Packwood House Ahoy.

Orimur Morimur on the Sundials - We have risen and we have Set.  Thank Google.

As it is a National Trust building, Sonia is convinced there will be Cafe selling cakes.  She tries the main house but there is a sign say a) you need tickets and b) no dogs.  We walk on.  One of the outbuildings has been converted into a teashop and all is well in the world.

£8 worth of Tea of Biscuits

The toilets are fenced off and access is only possible through the Cafe.  An elderly lady rambler first protests "On No - How do you get to the loos" and when I explain, complains more vociferously that "This is unacceptable - my feet hurt".  We leave her to her detour.

A stretch of road walking, grabbing some nice and easy caches along the way and then we reach the next architectural highlight, with the Millennium Way taking us through the beautiful grounds of Church Farm.

Church is this way

And here it is, in the middle of nowhere

Unfortunately, the Millennium Way takes us back to the start along the roads.  Things get worse as it starts to rain - so the autographer camera has to get put out of harms way.

A final cache of the day back in the Village of Hockley Heath.  You know you are in the posh part of Birmingham when the two shops nearby offer the installation of Swimming Pools and the "Cleaning of Fine Clothes".

So walk over, interesting artefacts from history looked at and to the pub.  Sonia walks in and asks if Dogs are allowed.  You know the answer from the name of the blog.

Thank the lord for the National Trust and their lovely tea.