Kinalr four

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A country walk, lots of pasture so there could be cattle, although I only saw sheep. Pleasant water side sections all well away from roads except for a safe crossing. No services but adequate at each end plus a bus. Using Kinalr-3 and a small variation at King's Bromley makes a varied circular walk of 8 miles from Alrewas which has good on-street parking and is accessible from Derby, Burton or Lichfield.

I walked from Alrewas on Boxing Day an early start so only the keen dog walkers were met. Exit along Post Office Road but the service is no longer here. Crossing the canal a few boats are alongside the towpath, a mooring that gets crowded in summer. The large old mill can be seen but not close to.

Onto a footpath and its a raised causeway but we soon drop into the field which is soft but not flooded. This is the Trent Valley Way which I hadn’t realised had been extended beyond Nottinghamshire. The river is running very fast but keeping to the narrow course. There is standing water in some fields but the footpaths avoid it. The low sun is shining and the birds are singing what a great day to be out.

I have the paths to myself, no farms, no buildings no people. Across the valley stands Wychnor Hall and Park now a Country Club. A lone wind pump on the opposite bank and a very narrow footbridge remind me that I’ve been this way before, it’s good to be back.

The field paths eventually meet a track which takes me to the road, it’s a fairly direct crossing onto another track. At a gate our path turns to cross a cropped field, well it will be in summer but at year end it’s awaiting cultivation after harvest. This is a well walked path so easy to follow, eventually passing acres of poly tunnels before arriving by the school air raid shelterers, now used as the park store.

King's Bromley has a Co-op and Inn and a buses to Alrewas, Burton and Lichfield. It sounds a lot but in reality it’s service 12 that does it all.

The route that balances "offroad" and "direct" the best. Most of it is along the River Trent and well away from any roads. A very relaxing walk, rich in wildlife. I saw buzzards, egrets and a kestrel. There are pubs, shops and hourly buses at either end. Some steps, stiles and kissing gates en route. There's a major, if relatively easy crossing of the A513 coming in or out of Kings Bromley. Although Kinalr3 runs it close, I'd say this is my favourite Slow Way between Kings Bromley and Alrewas. Safe, relatively direct, very offroad and offering wide open space and solitude. Photos to follow.

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