Blobro two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked from Brownhills to Bloxwich. Starting on the McClean Way at Miner Island along the old railway line named after John Robinson McClean, a 19th century engineer who operated many of the local coal mines and built various railway lines to connect to some of those pits. The track can be muddy after rain and care needed to go round large puddles, but offers views of fields and very enjoyable. Then carries on to be a good urban walk through Pelsall and Little Bloxwich finishing in Bloxwich. Good Slow Ways.

I walked Brownhills to Bloxwich. As the plot correctly shows the start goes over the route then doubles back under it. This is the McClean Way which reminds me of toothpaste so I wonder who this McClean was? Barriers along the Way may not be buggy friendly. Some interesting features remind us it was a rail line the gradient board suggests a summit that's not apparent but a board about the water supply pipe confirms it with details of the surge stack. The old picture shows just how many trees and bushes have grown along the route. Besides this green corridor of the rail land it was surprising that often the view is of fields and trees in what I considered would be an urban walk.

The walk across first Little Common onto Old Town Lane and finally passing Pelsall Village School offers a historic dream of an otherwise modern residential area. At Little Bloxwich I strayed from the plot which if studied with care will keep you safe on the south side of Lichfield Road.

The path through the cemetery was being well used but a gate did show evidence it could be locked so an alternative would require a detour to a street a little further south then a double back to the meeting point. A good urban Slow Way.

A superb Slow Way. Starting from Bloxwich Meeting Point at a busy intersection of bus routes. You are soon whisked away to quiet footpaths which take you through the cemetery. The next section follows Field Road, a busy-ish road and then turns right on to the main Lichfield Road. It's busy, but the pavement is good and its direct nature means you are not on it for long. A right turn into Foundry Lane delivers you to residential Pelsall. Its pavements take you to a green which you cross. To your left, The Old House at Home, and the last set of bus stops before Brownhill are pub and transport options. to your right are numerous shops in Pelsall. There is a short walk through another residential section before you join the best part of the walk, the old railway which has been converted to the walking success story which is the McClean Way. Wooded, peaceful and popular, volunteers have dug channels and put down duck boards in sections which are prone to flooding. There are benches along the raised sections giving you views in both directions. The Brownhills meeting place is a short walk from the exit at Smithys Forge. Direct, safe and largely offroad, I found this Slow Way a joy to walk.

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