11/07/19 - Bathams Pub Walk - The New Inn, Wordsley

Distance - 3 Miles
Good Beer Guide Tick - 398
Full list of Bathams Pub Walks



Wordsley - a special place in the Mappiman household.   For it was here, 25 years ago, that our first born came into this world.   In a hospital, not a Bathams pub, I should add.   It was 48 hours that will live long in the memory for being the weekend I read 1984 in one sitting, watched my only ever episode of Eastenders and helped a hugely muscled man with a pair of forceps recreate a scene from the children's book, "The Enormous Turnip".

Even my eyes watered when he put his foot on the gurney 

But there's more to Wordsley than PTSD - for there is the New Inn, the penultimate one in my "Walks from Bathams Pubs" series.

A look at the OS Map and there looks like a nice bit of greenery to the West of the pub but I couldn't really hope for as good a walk as it delivered.

Out the pub car park and the best part of a mile along Lawnswood Road - dipping into George V park for a break from the diesel fumes.

Park Life

When you reach the Roe Deer Pub, take the public footpath south, which provides access into the proper rambling country of Lawnswood.   Excellent paths through a mature strip of woodland.

Lawnswood

With Proper Countryside Views

After a lovely mile, you'll cross the River Stour and pick up the canal at Bells Mill Bridge.    Head east for a pleasant half mile or so of canal walking, which will deliver you to the Glass House - found on a previous walk from the Unicorn.

Smashing stretch of Canal Walking

Could take in the Unicorn and turn this into a proper pub crawl

Turn left, and head uphill for your deserved refreshments.

Bathams Pub #10 Walked From

I started the day reading the predictable news about how 3 pubs a day are closing down.   Sad to see the Old Cat opposite this one now derelict.   But the market is there, when the produce and the price is right.

I've never been in a Bathams pub that hasn't been busy, regardless of the time I visit.   Today, it was old boys propping up the bar, placing bets on when the thunderstorms were likely to hit.  Evens on 3pm but the bar staff will probably win with "there will be no thunderstorms today".

I saved my pennies for a proper Black Country Lunch.

Cheese Cobs, Best Bitter and Bags of Character

And I can never resist a map perusal - even when I am sure there are 11 Bathams Pubs available.

The Bathams Nine?