Aldshe one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Having read the reviews I had gone prepared for the nettles but things were not simple as soon as I left Aldridge. The plot took me to a fence around the cricket ground. Inspection of the OS map showed that I needed to head up to the club house and then return. I was also a little concerned that two paths marked on OS had an unrecorded gap but on the ground this section is waymarked as public footpath. Once past that it was straightforward to the Inn on the A452 although the named Holly Lane which approaches it is not recorded as a right of way even though it looks like an old lane.

Nettles yes and then along the edge of a field with flopped oil seed which was all rather unpleasant compared with the walk so far. I wonder if it would be a better summer walk to turn left / north along Back Lane to pick up Wood Lane at the start.

Wood Lane was extremely quiet, one car, four cyclists and one adult with child in pushchair so I enjoyed this long stretch of tarmac more than I had anticipated. The one car was perhaps explained by a sign at the junction with Footherley Lane telling me that the road was closed 'No Through Route'. Two cyclists confirm that it was closed even to pedestrians. A hazard of travel that can't easily be foreseen. I couldn't turn back to Aldridge so I needed to find a diversion that suited someone on foot rather than the signed diversion for motor traffic.

Having walked Broshe-2 last September I spotted I could take the lane away from the closure and pick up that route which I did. So how do I review this? You are welcome to comment if you disagree.

We walked the route from Aldridge. As mentioned by the other reviewer the walk is lovely, well signposted and generally easy to follow. We walked the route in June and the footpath once we crossed the Chester Road was heavily overgrown and full of nettles for a few hundred yards over an open field. The GPX file and good signage ensured we did not go wrong, however. I would recommend long trousers to avoid stings. Apart from that the walk was well worth it. Shenstone is a picturesque village with a general store and a couple of good pubs.

I started this from Aldridge. The meeting point is slightly outside the centre and is not exactly adjacent to where most buses stop (I've suggested a better meeting point) but when you are there it's on a set of benches by a church and a war memorial. The route whips you out of Aldridge to the north joining a well used and friendly footpath, frequented by dog walkers, which skirts a golf course. Apart from looking out for the occasional stray ball the path keeps you away from the golfers and your right of way is never an issue. Beyond Druids Heath Golf Course the footpath narrows and passes through a series of fields and then a motorcross course. As you reach the top it's worth keeping an eye out for cars as the dirt biking centre receives visitors via the narrow dirt lanes. Once you cross Back Lane, Holly Lane becomes too narrow and the trees too low for traffic. The end of Holly Lane emerges on to the A452 Chester Road, a 50mph road which needs to be crossed with caution, especially if you stopped at Plough and Harrow. On the other side of the road the footpath passes a private residence and I must say I was impressed by how well marked the path was to prevent me from straying. Beyond the first property there was work going on and the footpath seemed to be in the process of being moved by a matter of yards. Saying that, I was able to navigate around. The route soon emerges on to Wood Lane and it was a section of the walk that I had not been looking forward to, as lane walking can leave you feeling unsafe. My fears were soon allayed as the lane was open, had verge to the sides, and very good lines of sight. This was the section with the best views, across the tops of the low hedgerows. As I got closer to Shenstone, with each new lane which joined, the busier it became, although that was not particularly busy. The final section leaves the lanes and crosses a field towards Shenstone, crossing a narrow bridge across a stream in the process. Having gone past the back of industrial units you come out onto the main road, which you have to cross and make the short walk to Shenstone Station. This Slow Way was an unexpected gem. It's direct, very easy to follow, safe, has a pub which serves food halfway and is beautiful. Full marks.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.