Distance - 11 Miles
Geocaches - 4
Pubs - 4 - Good Beer Guide Ticks #678-680
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2
Third and final stage of the Wolverhampton Ring. A reminder - it's an unofficial, unmarked path that completes a 28 mile circular walk around the City. It's been a fine way to tick off less obvious Good Beer Guide Pubs and this stage is no exception. Four on route - two more close by (I'm not that greedy) and three that are new to me.
An epic, but painless 2 bus, 2 train journey to Compton. The route runs along the canal but alas, the towpath is currently barricaded for repair works. There's not even a gap in the fencing to break through. The Smestow Nature Reserve, running parallel to the canal along a disused railway, providing a suitable alternative.
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| Look at that lovely new towpath |
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| Former railway line, now well signposted. |
Easy walking, which leads to some urban streets until the countryside is found at Penn. Proper countryside. With cows (out of shot, use your imagination).
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| Walking in Wolverhampton |
Ignoring the first pub available - a Miller and Carter on the Stourbridge Road - I arrive at the Barley Mow, Penn Common - a regular in the Good Beer Guide. I needed to be on my planning toes, as it's in Staffordshire. This is a two county, Good Beer Guide Ramble.
A former farmhouse dated from 1630, where the ceilings are a health hazard for anyone above hobbit height.
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| Tricky to find... shared drive access with the Golf Club. Lucky Golfers |
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| Proof of Age. We can always trust dates on pub signs. |
Beer choice required a test of my loyalties. Sensing the betrayal in my eyes, they poured my Three Tuns Cleric's Cure into a TT Landlord Glass. For the record, I'm also a big fan of HPA and Enville Ale. It was a win-win-win-win visit.
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| With much ticking to do, I only had the one. |
More countryside through Park Hill and the heights of Ettingshall Park. If I had stuck to the road, rather than the infinitely superior countryside, I could have had ticks at the Mount Pleasant and Clifton.
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| Six pubs on a walk is pushing it. |
A different approach to Sedgley civilisation but I am soon reminded of my bearings.
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| Its only the Beacon Hotel, home of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild |
A repeat visit, so blogged there with plenty of photos.
More or less directly opposite the Beacon is another Good Beer Guide Tick, the White Lion. From its unassuming exterior, its hard to know how they can compete with such an iconic, destination pub.
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| Put preconceptions aside |
The answer? How about Thornbridge Jaipur on cask through a sparkler. Superb pint.
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| Modern Classic |
Not much further to the finale at Coseley Train Station - along hidden lanes - to a final Good Beer Guide Tick.
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| Old Chainyard, Coseley |
A cash only, community pub that has an eclectic customer base but covering most of the Black Country boozer bingo card.
- Pensioners discussing upcoming Benidorm holiday plans. Tick.
- Old boy coming off the puggie to check his racing winners. Tick.
- Black Country's Number 1 Stiff Little Fingers Fan. Who'd been on the Jukebox. Unexpected.
Digging out my emergency tenner, I was able to choose one of the two Salopian real ales on offer.
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| Pub Life: Black Country |
Two minutes to the station and that's Wolverhampton walked. Not a bad way to spend three Saturdays.
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