12/05/25 - West Midlands Way - Stage 6 - Part 2 - Alveley to Bridgnorth

Bathams Refused

Time to finish Stage 6 of the West Midlands Way. Back in March, I broke the walk up to allow sufficient time to enjoy Shropshire's Oldest Pub.

Which is where the 297 drops me off to resume walking.

A drop down to the River Severn through the Severn Valley Country Park. The river, my handrail until Hampton Loade.

Tranquil riverside walking

Long Distance Paths are swapped. The Jack Mytton Way taking me around Chelmarsh Reservoir and onto Astbury Hall. The C13th manor house destroyed by fire and rebuilt at the end of C19th by a carpet magnate.

Southern edge of Chelmarsh Reservoir

Astbury Hall, of course its for golf

The guidebook was written in 1972. That's 53 years and counting and isn't it lovely when the descriptions still hold true? After crossing the Severn Valley Railway at Upper Forge, it states that "you will be rewarded with a sea of bluebells, if in season".  'Tis the season.

A glade

I return to the river, where the only choice is where to drink. Not as easy as you would think. Bridgnorth is a real "Pub Town". I visited High Town last time, so off to the Good Beer Guide Black Horse in Low Town.

Take me to Low Town

The Black Horse

A very cheery welcome from the landlady and enough dawdling from myself that she could have identified me as an amateur, unsure what he wants when approaching the bar. The reason? Bathams identified among the six hand-pulled cask but so too is Three Tuns. In the interest of variety, I have turned down a Bathams.

This has never happened before.

If time had allowed, I am sure this would have been rectified, but a quick look at timetables shows my 297 departs from over the road and is in 25 minutes.

I think I need to return to Bridgnorth, just for the pubs.

Walk Details

Distance - 10 Miles

Geocaches - 3

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6 (Part 1)