22/12/18 - Leasowes Park and the Waggon and Horses, Halesowen

Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 2
Walk Inspiration - AA 50 Walks in Warwickshire and West Midlands
Good Beer Guide Tick - 354


This country never fails to surprise.   A West Midlands walk that's in the shadow of the M5, is completely rural and reveals the ruins of a C13th Century Abbey.

You simply wouldn't have expected this from the start - the centre of Halesowen, opposite a collection of light industrial units.

Leosowes Park provides access to a derelict canal for easy walking.

Disused Canal

Overlooking Leasowes Park

This is part of the Monarch's Way and once over the ridiculously busy A456, I'm into the countryside.   I can't get too close to the abbey, now part of the farmhouse but its still impressive from a distance.   Fine views over the Clent add to the walk's quality.

Bits of St Mary's Abbey are still standing after Henry VIII destroyed it

The Monarch's Way

Clent Views

A straightforward walk.  Now onto the pub.

The Waggon and Horses is part of the Black Country Ales Chain - so I know what to expect.  An electronic board offering unusual choices of ale from all over the country.  Not only is it in the Good Beer Guide, its also a Pub of the Year prize winner for the Stourbridge and Halesowen area.

It's a bit of a classic and long may these gems continue to exist.

Two Gs on my Waggon

It feels like multiple houses knocked together, with the frontage showing multiple blocked off doors.  The real access is from this side street, called Islington, with the over door advertising proclaiming Ales.

Inside, it's perfect.  Three real fires to complement the 11 real ales.   A narrow bar with a violently sloping floor.   Some ancient pub paraphernalia, with my favourite being a tray emblazoned with the Red Triangle and the slogan "Bass for Men".  There's also a counter in centre of the bar showing that they have had 1113 different ales on this year.

Its a work of art

A first Black Storm Brewery Porter... all the way from the North East to the West Midlands.

I'll be looking out for their beers again and will certainly be revisiting the Waggon and Horses.