04/02/23 - The Slow Way to Blackheath

The best way to get to Birmingham's finest Mexican Restaurant?  The Slow Way.

When describing the motivation behind walking from Birmingham to the Rowley Regis, I doubt many blogfans would have expected the answer to be Mexico.

There's been some high twitter praise for Bearwood's "A La Mexicana" restaurant. To complete a holy trinity for my weekend needs - on the Sandwood Road crossroads, there is also a barbers and a Good Beer Guide Tick available.

You'd also be forgiven for thinking Snow Hill, Bearwood and Rowley Regis would not provide decent walking but the Slow Ways movement have provided an intriguing route. Their aim is provide a network grid of walking routes between all of Britain's towns. I could spend a lifetime just playing with their website, let alone putting the theory into practice.

The proposed route manages to mainly avoid road walking. Instead, it finds the hidden corridors available in urban locations.  A lengthy stretch of the Birmingham Canals leads to Summerfield Park, where it is possible to pick up one of the second cities lesser known paths. The disused Harborne railway line could only provide greater pleasure, if cyclists were banned from having little bells.

Heading west along the Birmingham Canal

The disused Harborne railway providing fine walking

Only 10:30am and I have reached Bearwood. A spruce up from a Turk who has trimmed all my visible hair above my shoulders but worryingly still asks if I would like anything else clippered and I am taking advantage of the Bear Tavern's civilised opening hours. A lesser spotted 9am-er.

The fading glory of the Bear Tavern

Plenty of I-Spy potential from the exterior. Count the bears. Translate the Latin.

Photo doesn't quite capture how green it was

Tempus Fugit when counting bear heads - at least 5 more on the clock tower

Its a Greene King pub and the only deviation from their usual range appeared to be Wye Valley Butty Bach. A 10% discount, if I could have produced a CAMRA membership card. A very typical inner city chain pub, with the type of clientele you would expect, with an additional Mexican food loving rambler with a smart new haircut.

At the ding of 12pm, I am the first punter into A La Mexicana. Two firsts, a mid ramble margarita and the first time offered one as a double.

Make a change from my usual pint pots

The place soon fills up and I delighted to report that I am not the only one on cocktails. The owner, Jose, was lovely. Doesn't take much to make customers feel welcome but a few simple questions and interest in how your day is panning out goes  a long way. I will back, not least to check out the dinner menu, which is available later in the day.  A classic brunch of huevos rancheros fortifying me for the remainder of the walk.

Slightly more street walking in the second half, as I move through Brandhall. There's still Green Spaces provided by Warley Woods and Brandhall Golf Course.

Open Spaces

The walk finishes at Rowley Regis station but for those that have completed their research, three Good Beer Guide pubs are available, should you incorporate near-by Blackheath.

Post walk entertainment, worthy of a separate blog.

Walk Information

Distance - 10 miles

Geocaches - 4

Walk Inspiration - Slow Ways Network

Good Beer Guide Tick - #791