PID360 / VideoGuard 360
I walked much of this route in reverse, when completing the Droitwich to Hartlebury Rail Trail. It was a disaster of overgrown paths with terrible signposting. I really shouldn't have bothered this Slow Way, but someone has to review them.
To save repeating my moaning, I will simply put up my Slow Ways review.
This is a disaster - particularly around the east side of the A449 around Stinton Pool and Acton Farm.
Before I start listing the problems, I think I have worked out that these slow ways have been developed on line and no one has actually walked them until they are on the website. I am the first to review this one.
I started at Stourport and ended at Droitwich. I have previously walked much of the route in reverse and it was a disaster then.
The issues? The paths are badly overgrown, signposting is minimal and in many places impassable.
52°18.606'N, 2°13.352'W - path disappears, Dense vegetation. Impossible to follow on the public right of way.
52°18.106'N, 2°13.099'W - a new solar farm. Approaching from the North - there is a clear path between the two fenced off solar farms. Later on, the path completely disappears at a brook. When approaching from the South, I wasn't even able to find my way through. Then, in the middle of the PROW at the co-ords, there is a machine. I have googled it. It is a PID360 / VideoGuard 360. On approach, it sparks up an alarm akin to an air-raid warning, which sounds twice. Lights come on and a very sinister Northern Irish Voice tells you that "Your approach is being recorded. The police have been notified". I am exaggerating when I add "So they have". I have seen the film Aliens. I thought it would shoot me.
52°17.986'N, 2°12.955'W - path disappears at a thicket brook. If you are approaching from the South, you won't even get this far. Forced to battle my way through.
Once (if?) you reach Doverdale Church - its plain sailing on lanes until 52°16.376'N, 2°11.516'W - the Monarchs Way at Nunnery Wood. There is high wheat in the fields. The farmer has left a path but not accurately where marked on the OS Map. Easy to lose it - and I ended up going around in circles on existing tractor tracks, trying not to make a crop circle.
I have reported the issues to Worcestershire County Council Rights of Way Management.
I seriously recommend that no one else attempts this walk.
Seems I am not the only rambler to fall foul of this device. Check out this BBC Story.
For what it is worth - here are the photos.
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| The Monarach's Way - Not quite where it is meant to be |
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| Westwood House, on the approach to Droitwich |
It's not all misery. The Hop Pole Inn is still serving a choice of Bathams beers in perfect condition.
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| 12 miles of misery for this |
And the 133 bus - which only runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - was bang on its 13:30 departure time.
I was the solo passenger.
It was like a big Uber.
Walk Details
Distance - 12 miles
Geocaches - 0
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