Bromal one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Bromal here.

I agree with Genevieve (the first reviewer) - this is potentially a good walking route, but there are a few big problems. This is my review as it stands, but I will upload a new revised route shortly (when I can test it after my holiday).
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I live in Malvern and was dropped off in Bromyard after work on Friday 24 May 2024 and started walking at 6pm on a lovely sunny evening.
Sad to see The Hop Pole - the market square pub in such a state.
The start is straightforward, along the road and across a huge ploughed field.
It isn't too long before you get the first view of the Malvern Hills - so you always know you are heading the right way!
The first issue is on joining the B4220 for a short section. (don't bother detouring north to the pub - it shut many years ago)
The route quickly leaves the road to head East. There is NO sign of the route. It actually passes through the front yard of a house & stables. Be careful here - there is a very nervous old lady living there, terrified of walkers! (probably removed the signposts). The route goes through paddocks with horses. Obviously very seldom walked. The next issue is a couple of fields further on. The path is a plank bridge to a stile - overgrown & impassable. The alternative route is through a small patch of woodland with lots of KEEP OUT signs! But no choice...
The walking is now really nice and varied although quite a lot of tarmac lanes.
The next problem is the route wants to take you down a private drive to Bean House. Signs make it very clear that you are not welcome!
So I had to carry on round a bend and over a stile to find an alternative route to the A4103. A bit of a trudge along the grass verges of a busy A-road brings you to Stifford Bridge and the Red Lion Inn! The light was starting to fail by now. Too late for pub food unfortunately, but a nice landlord (Steve) let me camp in the overflow carpark. Lots of Led Zeppelin and cider later a good sleep was had.

Saturday 25 May - some pathways, orchards and horses until we get to Cradley village. Just after the old Post Office the route nips into a residential road and follows a brook. A council sign warned that the path was closed due to subsidence. I ignored that thinking I could get through - WRONG. Overgrown and the path is completely collapsed into the stream - no way through. Back-tracked and picked up path after Saint James' Church.
NB - the church is very welcoming to walkers with water and coffee-making facilities.
After that, it is plain sailing to the Malvern Hills, over the top and down into the town. (and home for me!)

I will upload a revised route shortly.

Potentially, a lovely long walk, with the Malvern Hills in the distance to orientate yourself the whole way. There are places where routes are unclear, signs are missing or paths are not currently maintained, and we had to ask for directions a couple of times. The first half of this route seems less used and some of the fields to cross have been ploughed over. Much of the walk though is helped by yellow way markers.

Highlights include the views over rolling countryside, a variety of terrains, and stopping about half way at the Red Lion in Storridge.

Low points include: crossing the fast A44 road on a bend out of Bromyard; a half mile section along the B4220 without a pavement; two arable fields without access left for walkers; a fallen tree over a path exit making it currently inaccessible; a private drive with no sign for the public path through their buildings; a couple of wobbly stiles.

The estimated time to complete the walk was about 5 hours. Not including our pub stop, we took 7 hours and clocked up 12 miles.

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