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Verified Slow Way

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We started from Droitwich. The route starts well, using underpasses to cross roads. At the railway station, the plotting suggests leaving the pavement but the suggested direction would involve entering the station, and there was clearly no way to cross. This was the first sign that maybe this route had been tracked rather than plotted as following the pavement, the black arrow didn't leave the route. The walk along the Droitwich Canal was new to me and it's a peaceful pleasant way to walk. Leaving at Porter's Mill involves a short lane walk including over a narrow bridge. This soon turns into an enjoyable ascent up a wooded track. In Fernhill Heath, the route leaves the Monarch's Way, which it had followed since the Droitwich Canal. The diversion passes two pubs which wouldn't have been our choice as a walk, but is good Slow Ways methodology as it is at 6km, which is roughly half way in this 13km walk. The view towards Worcester from the edge of the village is marvellous, although following the line of the plotting across the field proved a lot harder than following the right of way, which is what we did. Like at Droitwich Spa station, this was an annoyance, but not enough to constitute a failure. The least enjoyable part of the walk was the walk along Hindlip Lane, which has no pavement, and which is quite busy with fast traffic. However, the sight lines are good and it isn't a long stretch. Having passed through an industrial estate which seemed to double as a vehicular graveyard (or an episode of Hoarders) we joined the enjoyable, friendly and popular Worcester and Birmingham Canal for the last section. The route does seem to stay on the canal for a little longer than it should. It doesn't take any of the direct links from the canal towards Foregate Street. The detour via busy main roads doesn't appear a selling point, although I think I may have seen an interesting, more cosmopolitan, side to Worcester that I wouldn't have done otherwise. Overall it's a good walk, slightly spoilt by a couple of bits of poor plotting. Mainly offroad, not overly indirect but safe and enjoyable. Worthy of its snail.

Second half of a two route walk from Bromsgrove to Worcester with David Sanderson. A few minor issues but overall a sound route, mostly easy to follow.

Starting at the meeting point on Victoria Square, we follow the road west, then continue straight on under an underpass. On the far side there are a few steps, which can be avoided on a ramped path to the left. We follow Ombersley Street West and Station Street, then turn left to find the underpass under Ombersley Way. From here we use the pavement to cross the railway (this is a little unclear on the GPX file but there is no alternative), then follow the surfaced path across Salwarpe Road to Ledwych Road. Follow the route through the housing estate to emerge onto the Droitwich Canal. On the OS 1:25000 map the route appears to swim in the canal, but the GPX file is probably more accurate than the map, judging by the position of the little bridge used to cross to the north/west bank. The GPX line looks much better on OpenStreetMap!

We then follow the canal past Salwarpe to emerge onto the road near Porter Mill. Here we follow the Monarch's Way up hill on a charming old lane. The logic behind the decision not to follow the Monarch's Way through Lower Town becomes clear later when we pass a couple of pubs in Fernhill Heath. This is reached via Kennel Lane, then a shortcut path straight on. There are steps on both sides of the railway crossing - if these are a problem the road can be followed instead. We turn right along the main road, and see the two pubs near the A road junction. We continue past a little park to rejoin the Monarch's Way on a path that turns sharply left from the main road.

The line across the field was clearly visible to us on the remains of the harvested crop but may be less so when the crops are high. At the bottom of the field we follow the hedge right to find an underpass under the main road to the left, then turn left again, then right at Holy Claines farm, along a lane which passes through a lorry park and eventually leads us to the Worcester & Birmingham canal, which we follow into Worcester, crossing to the West bank about halfway, then using pavements with pelican crossings to reach the meeting point at Foregate Station. The route here could be straightened and shortened, so its logic was not clear to us.

Nice route, lots of canal towpath and walking through Fernhill Heath give a chance to get food and drink from the SPAR. The field just south of Fernhill Heath should have a footpath cut across it (according to the map) but its just full of crops. I ended up walking round the edge on the west side of the field, as presumably the owner of the field watched me from a distance. However, the rest was very pleasant.

Lovely peaceful Canalside (for the most part) route. Well plotted and easy to follow. Would definitely do again.

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