14/11/20 - Dowles Brook, Wyre Forest and River Severn for Butcombe Goram IPA

Distance - 9.5 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, Oct 2020, Walk 8

Following the advice this week - so a short drive for a long walk.

Parking to be found at Dowles Brook at the end of Dry Mill Lane, Bewdley.

This walk is on very familiar paths to me, so I tried to imagine it through the eyes of a newcomer.

They would have been impressed with the easy walking along Dowles Brook - with stops at the information boards detailing the history of the former mills.

Knowles Mill on...

.... Dowles Brook

Autumn is the time to walk in any woodland and the Wyre Forest is no expection.   A decent ride up to the scar left by the water pipeline and then over into Pound Common at Button Oak.

Forest Walking

Route finding across Pound Green is hard work - there's myriad paths and even with a GPS, none of them seemed to bare much resemblance to the OS Map.  If you are heading North East, you should reach the delightful Severn Valley Station at Arley.

No Trains Today

Its at Arley where I pick up the River Severn for easy navigation on dreadfully muddy paths all the way back to Dowles Brook.

The River Severn

Under Victoria Bridge

And turn right when you reach the disused railway line along Dowles Brook

Not a bad walk within four miles from home.

But what about the Real Ale, Mappiman?

If you do this in either normal times or under a functioning Government, you would have the choice of three pubs - technically promoting this walk into Pub Crawl category.

Traditional Banks's at the Button Oak

Winner of Shropshire's Stupidest Pub Name - Ye Olde New Inn

Where you can enjoy a Virtual Cavery

The Pick of the bunch - The Harbour Inn, Arley

In full on boy scout mode, I came prepared for closed hospitality.  

Chicken Baps, a gooey Scotch Egg all nicely washed down with a Butcombe Goram IPA.