Broalv one

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This is an excellent walk. There are some sections on country lanes, with some short sections that don't feel comfortable, but these are minimised on a well considered route and the off-road sections and views offered more than make up for a bit of tarmac pounding. I very much enjoyed it.

I set out from Bromsgrove on a chilly Saturday morning, not before taking an obligatory photo of the Housman statue. Despite being a resident, I was very quickly on a footpath I'd never walked before and enjoyed the quick escape from town along the footpath towards the golf course. Crossing over the busy, fast A38 (take care!) I was a little stuck for the path on the other side (tip:turn left and stay on the verge for 50 yards) . I went through a gap in the wall and into the golf course, turned left and hugged the woods. Before long I passed the footpath gate leading from the road verge which is the way I should've come. There were no golfers out on a frosty morning and the footpath route is well-signposted to keep you from straying into the bunkers. After reaching the top of the rough track the footpath breaks out into a field with wonderful views to the North. Particularly stunning on a bright, chilly morning. You break back into the golf course before descending to the edge of Burcot. A pleasant village but with probably the most hazardous bit of road walking as you head out of it at the North Eastern end. The footpath from here to the railway embankment is not brilliantly maintained and quite narrow and you end up in a sheep feeding station which would no doubt be a bit of a quagmire were it not frozen over. But it's a short stretch and then you're out to the road again to shake off your boots. The walk under to railway arch bridge is uncomfortable for the lack of visibility so don't dawdle here. The next section is the longest stretch of road walking, there is no verge or shoulder here and it is narrow but there were only two cars that passed me. The road takes you round Blackwell Adventure campgrounds owned by the Scout Association. It is remarkable then that there are footpaths criss-crossing Blackwell Golf Course but there is no public access across the Scout's land. Very disappointing from an organisation devoted to encouraging outdoor pursuits. Anyway, onwards. On this sunny winter's morning, the sun was peeking through the trees of the golf course and it was very beautiful. I continued my way past some horses and over the frozen fields to emerge onto the road by Wheely Farm. A short section of road then a turn left for the final flourish to a lovely walk. After crossing a few fields and over another road you stand above Alvechurch as the hills fall away from your feet. It is a beautiful, tranquil spot and a lovely finish. Head down the hill and past the cottages, arriving at The Crown by the canal on the edge of Alvechurch. Its a short walk along quiet streets of pretty houses to Alvechurch centre.

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