The section from Droitwich Road , under the A449 was not clear- field planted, path lost, difficult to find route...

HelenT

A walk which provides an alternative to a mainly canal walk between Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove, instead exploring field paths. The route leaves the canal at Astwood Lane. These issues aside, the route provides field paths with attractive views (Photos 3 & 4)....

Martin Ellis

An enjoyable walk which takes in a stretch of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. The Slow Way follows the Worcester & Birmingham Canal towpath for much of the way into Droitwich Spa (Photos 1 & 2)....

Martin Ellis

We couldn't locate the path near the railway crossing and had to cross over the railway bridge and then rejoin the path jumping over a fence....

Graham Lindsay

A good reasonably direct route,with some sections of parkland(Hanbury Hall n/t)canal towpath and fields of both grass and crops some being sprayed out but not all ,some walkers appear to being walking field edges to avoid this.Walked this route from Droitwich to Redditch,the first section being mainly canal towpath and then soon mature parkland passing Hanbury church to Hanbury there is small section of pavement walking passing a craft centre which is safe but with care (large lorries use this road)A small section at Forest farm is very overgrown but usable.Approaching the edge of Redditch the Pitcher oak wood area was difficult to establish the correct route.This route route uses both bridleways and public rights of ways and some muddy areas will be experienced but generally it’s a good walk plenty of views and unspoiled countryside....

J w ollid

It has a good quantity of paths through pasture so there could be cattle, sheep and horses. There are also crops where the path crosses the field and at the time of my walk the route was not apparent on the ground. Meeting the road the plot isn't clear about using the road or footpath so I head for the church which is very hospitable, providing a perfect lunch location out of the unpleasant weather. The well used path was very evident across the cropped fields but again the plot fails to confirm the route I should take. There may be a permissive path direct to the Jinney Ring but I stayed on the footpath to the road where a pavement offers some protection from the heavy traffic. The plot yet again suggests a permissive path to avoid the road but the pavement continues with evidence of incursion by unfriendly large tyre tracks. Back onto the safety of field paths the countryside remains pleasant with a mix of pasture and arable but the paths show less signs of use so the now good plot is essential. Another short section of road then a bridleway, initially with a good surface to serve an isolated house. After a major struggle along what is now the course of a shallow stoney stream I spotted a footpath in the adjacent field, a far superior route for the Slow Way....

Ken

An enjoyable and easy to follow route. The route continues along a main road before a series of footpaths take you through a residential area....

David Sanderson

The walk along the Droitwich Canal was new to me and it's a peaceful pleasant way to walk. 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 least enjoyable part of the walk was the walk along Hindlip Lane, which has no pavement, and which is quite busy with fast traffic. Overall it's a good walk, slightly spoilt by a couple of bits of poor plotting....

David Sanderson

We follow the B road to the Worcester and Birmingham canal. Turning right onto the canal towpath, we follow the canal for about 4 km until just after it crosses the railway, then cross a bridge and a few fields to the marina....

Hugh Hudson

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. We then follow the canal past Salwarpe to emerge onto the road near Porter Mill. 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....

Hugh Hudson

A pleasant walk, took a similar diversion to R Bradley...

Max

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....

Max

Walked this early May (lovely weather) a nice rural walk particularly enjoyable section walking past Hanbury Hall and the Jenny Ring shops/cafe is lovely if open. There was two fields I decided to circumvent due to cows (you can see in the Strava below and here: https://www.strava.com/activities/7103127350) a steep hill before the church can be tough but I believe the road to the left can get around that but worth the climb for the views. The park area as you leave Redditch can be confusing but I believe most paths head in the right direction and a GPX on your watch will help....

mxh989

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

grifftinfoilhat

We walked this route from the Railway Station having caught the train to Bromsgrove rather than starting from Bromsgrove Centre. You then follow the John Corbett Way which is very well signposted to the Chateau Impney hotel and then crossing the railway bridge to bring us back onto the Slow ways route into Droitwich....

R Bradley

I recommend this route as part of Slow Ways as a starting route. There is a field that this route crosses that starts with a style that has a large unavoidable puddle, it had been raining before my walk. I will attempt to upload a more tidy version of this route and upload to Slow Ways as a slightly better alternative....

D

It includes the short but necessary deviation along Hindlip Lane to access the underpass under the A449 (good Monarch's Way signing here)....

JxD

Much of the route is along an attractive stretch of the Worcester and Birmingham canal....

salty