Romhal two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Romhal here.

Route RomHal 1 includes a hazardous crossing of the busy A456 dual carriageway, not marked to motorists. This alternative route RomHal2 was explored in the reverse direction, using the road crossing about 500m west opposite the exit of Quarry Lane. This has warning signs for motorists in each direction and short white/red poles marking each exit from the central reservation. There is still no marking on the road surface to indicate the crossing, and it is possible that heavy traffic conditions will provide hazards.
It should be possible to move to route 2 from route 1 as indicated in note 5 below, though we did not walk this part. The distance and the amount of ascent/descent through Halesowen is greater on route 2 but the difference is not measured. The full route 2 is completely separate from route 1.

A detailed description follows, linked to photos which will appear in the survey. The numbers relate to observations recorded on this GPS track through Viewranger.

Walked from Halesowen to Romsley

1 Start from Halesowen Bus Station
1A Photo
Hagley Road steadily uphill, not much traffic
2 Photo
Quarry Lane quiet level suburban road
3 Photo
Footpath downhill off Quarry Lane just before Inkberrow Road
4 Photo
Footpath doubling back from Blakedown Road steeply downhill to A456
4A Road crossing A456
This crossing has no road markings but there are advance notices to motorists in each direction warning that pedestrians may be crossing. Each exit from the central reservation has short white and red posts. There may be times of heavy traffic which make the crossing hazardous.
5 Photo
Waymarked stile at start of right of way beside stream. There is an option at this point to continue on the track to a footpath/track on the left which leads back to the original RomHal1 route, going through a gate on the left into the field with kissing gate at Waypoint named 14 on that review/survey
6 Photo
High and awkward stile leaving farm track. This path is shown on the OS map but not when the scale is enlarged. It is clearly waymarked at intervals. There is a lightly trodden way across pasture. 0.9 miles
7 Photo
Affirming waymark along undefined path
8 Photo
Rough ground and mud around stile, leading to steep steps up 1.12 miles
9 Photo
Approx position clear path ahead
10 Photo
Stile and waymark as path ascends gently
11 Photo
approx position of stile and waymark 1.45 miles
11B-20210502_165754 Walton and Adams Hill
12 Photo
Stile and waymark as ascent continues
13 Photo
Short length of path through corner of large field with distant cows.
14 Photo
Very narrow (leg width) gap in boundary fence instead of stile
15 Last photo due to low battery
Last photo due to low battery. Typical of the rest of the clearly waymarked route which includes waymarked gates and stiles
16 River Stour
Wide track over bridge very rutted by cattle tracks would be extremely muddy when wet
17 No way through Fishery
Potential link to start or RomHal1 route through Hunnington Fisheryclearly marked as Private - No Right of Way
18 Narrow
Very narrow (leg width) gap in boundary fence instead of stile
19 S W
Enter wood edge over waymarked stile along clearly defined path
20 S W
Exit wood to left as path joins from right, up short steep steps and continuing steady ascent well waymarked 2.16 miles
21 S W Junction
Turn left at cross track at rear of Back Lane Farm into clear enclosed path
22 K W
Route end at layby with village noticeboard

Route RomHal 1 includes a hazardous crossing of the busy A456 dual carriageway, not marked to motorists. This alternative route RomHal2 was explored in the reverse direction, using the road crossing about 500m west opposite the exit of Quarry Lane. This has warning signs for motorists in each direction and short white/red poles marking each exit from the central reservation. There is still no marking on the road surface to indicate the crossing, and it is possible that heavy traffic conditions will provide hazards.
It should be possible to move to route 2 from route 1 as indicated in note 5 below, though we did not walk this part. The distance and the amount of ascent/descent through Halesowen is greater on route 2 but the difference is not measured. The full route 2 is completely separate from route 1.

A detailed description follows, linked to photos which will appear in the survey. The numbers relate to observations recorded on this GPS track through Viewranger.

Walked from Halesowen to Romsley

1 Start from Halesowen Bus Station
1A Photo
Hagley Road steadily uphill, not much traffic
2 Photo
Quarry Lane quiet level suburban road
3 Photo
Footpath downhill off Quarry Lane just before Inkberrow Road
4 Photo
Footpath doubling back from Blakedown Road steeply downhill to A456
4A Road crossing A456
This crossing has no road markings but there are advance notices to motorists in each direction warning that pedestrians may be crossing. Each exit from the central reservation has short white and red posts. There may be times of heavy traffic which make the crossing hazardous.
5 Photo
Waymarked stile at start of right of way beside stream. There is an option at this point to continue on the track to a footpath/track on the left which leads back to the original RomHal1 route, going through a gate on the left into the field with kissing gate at Waypoint named 14 on that review/survey
6 Photo
High and awkward stile leaving farm track. This path is shown on the OS map but not when the scale is enlarged. It is clearly waymarked at intervals. There is a lightly trodden way across pasture. 0.9 miles
7 Photo
Affirming waymark along undefined path
8 Photo
Rough ground and mud around stile, leading to steep steps up 1.12 miles
9 Photo
Approx position clear path ahead
10 Photo
Stile and waymark as path ascends gently
11 Photo
approx position of stile and waymark 1.45 miles
11B-20210502_165754 Walton and Adams Hill
12 Photo
Stile and waymark as ascent continues
13 Photo
Short length of path through corner of large field with distant cows.
14 Photo
Very narrow (leg width) gap in boundary fence instead of stile
15 Last photo due to low battery
Last photo due to low battery. Typical of the rest of the clearly waymarked route which includes waymarked gates and stiles
16 River Stour
Wide track over bridge very rutted by cattle tracks would be extremely muddy when wet
17 No way through Fishery
Potential link to start or RomHal1 route through Hunnington Fisheryclearly marked as Private - No Right of Way
18 Narrow
Very narrow (leg width) gap in boundary fence instead of stile
19 S W
Enter wood edge over waymarked stile along clearly defined path
20 S W
Exit wood to left as path joins from right, up short steep steps and continuing steady ascent well waymarked 2.16 miles
21 S W Junction
Turn left at cross track at rear of Back Lane Farm into clear enclosed path
22 K W
Route end at layby with village noticeboard