26/02/23 - The Halfway House, Eardington

Unexpected industrial surprises on a delightful river-side ramble.  Best walked in the afternoon.

A simple walk that brought great pleasure. Maybe it was the short distance. Maybe it was the first snowdrops of spring. Even a 2pm opener couldn't dent my morning enthusiasm, when I had timed the walk to finish bang on midday.

The Halfway House will need to wait for their car-parking money.  

From the pub carpark, it's downhill through the outskirts of Oldbury to pick up the river Severn at Daniel's Bridge.  A lovely surprise awaits - nestled in the shadow of a mighy Severn Valley viaduct is a fully working C18th Watermill. If engineering isn't your thing, then maybe the tea rooms are.

Geocaching on the way to Daniel's Bridge and Mill

Daniel's Mill

The Severn Way runs downstream under Cliff Coppice, exiting at the sewage works. You don't need to consult the map to know when to head inland along Slade Lane and back across countryside to the Half Way House.

River Severn, under Cliff Coppice

Back to the pub. Prominent signs about opening hours meant that I had already got over the disappointment of strange weekend opening hours. Maybe they change in the summer season, where a steady stream of customers from the on-site camping site will be available.  What else can campers do other than booze the afternoon away?

Caravan and Camping HQ - The Halfway House

My guide book tells a little of the history. A 1620 coaching house that was formerly knows as the Old Red Lion. One day in 1823, Queen Victoria was travelling between Shrewsbury and Great Witley and stopped to change horses. She asked how much further. 

You can guess the reply.

I'll have to guess at what beers replace Woods. A significant and depressing brewery victim of Covid.

  

Shropshire Lad No More

Walk Information

Distance - 4.75 Miles

Geocaches - 7

Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks for Motorists, Shrops, Staffs and West Mids - Walk 14