Romhal one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I started this route from my house rather than the centre and went through the pool lane underpass, through Seth Summers Park and up the underpass onto Manor Way which avoided having to cross MW at all, which I much preferred (especially having my dog with me). The route was really well sign posted and easy to walk and definitely one I'd do again.

A really pleasant walk. I started this from Romsley. I joined the ample verge and ignored the very early offer of a bench for the short section of road. The footpath which takes you crosscountry to the edge of Halesowen is very well marked and from the height of Romsley offers some superb views of the Black Country. The closer you get to Halesowen, the boggier the ground becomes. There were a few fields to cross which had had livestock and the mud was wet and thick, but in walking boots it was passable. The crossing of A456 is the best crossing I've used into the south of Halesowen, but that's not a high bar. Once in Halesowen, the route is direct over hill to the meeting place by the Bus Station. It sweeps around the pavement of the main road, rather than cutting through to the stops and shops of the town centre, it's maybe an opportunity missed, but not one worth losing a star for. Overall, this a marvellous Slow Way, direct, safe, enjoyable and mainly offroad. Full marks and well deserving of its snail.

A nice direct route from Halesowen to Romsley. Roadside pavement at each end and pleasant countryside between with views of the Clent Hills. Boundary crossing are mostly gates, some mud and horses. This Slow Way with Romlon, in my view, offers a superior link between Halesowen and Longbridge with only a little extra distance.

I walked this from Halesowen where the exit is direct and easy navigation with a light controlled crossing of the major road in the town. The crossing of the A456 was easier than anticipated but will depend on times and conditions. A gap in the barrier and stepped approach makes clear this is intended for pedestrian use but perhaps it's now time for lights to stop the traffic.

A pony paddock spoils the path surface and the gate points are very muddy but after that it's pleasant passing the landing strip of the model aircraft society, a none flying day as I passed. A field edge diversion than I missed the gate hidden in the overgrown hedge so care is needed.

The route meets the road at Hunnington, more ribbon development than a village. Then a pavement walk into Romsley where an Inn and shops may offer services if you are going onward using Romlon to Longbridge.

This was a pleasant walk on 4 May 2021, not suitable for wheelchair users or pushchairs. We walked from Romsley to Halesowen and did not check waymarking in the opposite direction. Approx 25% on road, 75% pasture and arable. Some indistinct paths, all clearly waymarked. Stiles, kissing gates and steps. A few very rough patches. Hazardous crossing of busy A456 dual carriageway; there are advance warnings to motorists but the footpath exits are not very obvious to drivers. We and two other pedestrians were able to cross after waiting for a break in the traffic, but there may be times when there is more traffic making this difficult.
An alternative route RomHal2 was explored in the reverse direction, using the crossing about 500m west opposite the exit of Quarry Lane. That has warning signs for motorists in each direction, short white/red poles marking each exit from the central reservation, and a barrier at the end of the Halesowen footpath. Google map view of RomHal2 crossing - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.4408955,-2.0609721,3a,75y,93.17h,94.17t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHP1prHVN__LBi2wHNFH5GQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DHP1prHVN__LBi2wHNFH5GQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D335.8354%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en-GB&authuser=0
It should be possible to cross from route 1 to route 2 as indicated in note 14, though we did not walk this part. It would increase the distance and the amount of ascent/descent through Halesowen.
Detailed description follows. The numbers relate to observations recorded on a GPS track through Viewranger, which should correspond to notes and photos which are due to appear in a survey soon. The numbers in brackets relate to the photos posted with this review.

1 Photo
Limited layby parking on Bromsgrove Road. Some on street parking along St Kenelm’s Road
Bromsgrove Road has footways on both sides; suggest use footway on left which is initially further from traffic (not as indicated on route map)
2 Photo (review photo 1)
Clear footpath sign to left just before row of houses
Kissing gate onto unpaved path around rear of gardens.
2A photo of path
3 Photo (review photo 2)
Stile into field with trodden path. No wheelchair or pushchair access.
4 Photo
Kissing gate; left along edge of ploughed field.
5 Photo (review photo 3)
Waymark right along field border; ploughed on right pasture on left
6 Photo
Waymark pointing back, with model aircraft warning
7 Photo (review photo 4)
Waymark for path beyond farm. Would be muddy if wet. 0.85 mile
7A Photo
Path condition and sight of Turners Hill masts above Halesowen
8 Photo
Gate. Approx position of gate with narrow plank bridge 50 cm; at field boundary
9 Photos (review photo 5)
Obstacle – rutted, roots, narrow, steps down through dingle
10 Photo (review photo 6)
Flight of steps up from bridge
11 Photo
Trodden path along field edge
12 Photo
Approx position Gate and waymark
13 Photo (review photo 7)
Approx position gate with rough approach which would be very muddy if wet
14 Photo (review photo 8)
Approx position of kissing gate; very rough would be muddy if wet; the path ahead is not clearly defined. Gate in left fence after about 50 yards joins track leading into Quarry Lane and the end of RomHal2 alternative route with slightly safer road crossing. There is more of a hill to climb into Halesowen on that route and the added distance has not been calculated.
15 Photo
Open gateway with step
16 Photo
Path leading up to main road A456
17 Photo (review photo 9)
1.9 miles. Busy dual carriageway with pedestrian way through central barrier. There are advance warnings to motorists but the exact position of the crossing is not very obvious to drivers (speaking as a local motorist). Traffic was not too heavy when we were there although it was moving fast (derestricted). There could be times when it would be dangerous or impossible to cross. See RomHal 2 route for alternative crossing.
Steps up to suburban road on far side, can be seen in distance in photo.
17A Waxland Road is quiet and level
18 Photo
Summer Hill goes down quite steeply to pedestrian lights crossing to Halesowen centre and the bus station.
18A End of route. Halesowen Bus Station.

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