The climb can seem quite intense at times, but the views from Four Stones makes it all worth it....

David Sanderson

It's direct and is as off road as it can but the main problem is with delinquent landowners who have left stiles to rot and break apart....

David Sanderson

Poor stiles, a failure to reinstate across plough, traffic noise from the motorway but there are also some good bits especially the excellent views on the approach to Romsley. The crossing of Sandy Lane (A491) was perhaps hampered by the road works creating slow moving and blocks of traffic. Money Lane was quite busy, it had a verge but this did involve criss crossing to the best on offer. Approaching the second motorway crossing there is an attractive clump of trees on a hill which suggests an ancient burial mound....

Ken

I walked Romsley to Halesowen which offers a downhill route with excellent views while walking through pasture. A mix of gates and stiles and some mud at the crossing points but generally an easy walk even after snow and lots of run off. The two Romhal Slow Ways follow different paths so I highly recommend both which used together offer a good 5 mile circular walk starting at either Halesowen or Romsley....

Ken

From the war memorial in Catshill, we follow the pavement over the M5 bridge, then take the path right (we have to cross a crash barrier) into the field. We go sharp left at the farm then right to cross fields to reach Mill Lane, which we follow right round the corner then take the path straight on by the stream. At the A491 (Sandy Lane) we cross and follow the verge right (the old lane straight on is too overgrown to be useable)....

Hugh Hudson

A straightforward, easy to navigate route with a steepish climb (we started from Romsley) onto the Clent Hills where there are magnificent views. Some muddy stretches today but nevertheless pretty easy underfoot. A really pleasant walk....

Dave4

From the Romsley meeting point, we head west along St Kenelms Road, then take the path right that crosses a playing field and continues between fences (this section can be very wet and muddy) then crosses St Kenelms Road again to Ivy Lane, which we follow (no pavements or verges, but the road is quiet and fairly wide). We emerge by a pub, follow the road straight on for a while then take a well used path right between fences that leads easily along fields to the edge of Hagley....

Hugh Hudson

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....

Lizzy Norman

We follow the lane right over the south top of Romsley Hill, then down left at the junction with Winwood Heath Road. We turn right onto Bromsgrove Road, then cross and turn left up a surfaced lane. The map suggests that the right of way goes straight through the farmyard, but this route is blocked beyond the farm and the new but inadequately signposted Monarchs Way route follows the lane right of the farmyard then through a wood left and over a stile to rejoin the old "path", which goes through muddy fields to an obvious underpass under the M5. Beyond the motorway we cross a stream left then turn right across an open field to reach the busy A491 (Sandy Lane). The GPX plotting is lazy here - we follow the Monarchs Way sign left immediately beyond the junction and cross the car park to find the path right that leads back to the stream, where we go left and follow the path, crossing more slightly awkward stiles to emerge on Mill Lane, Here we go straight on and follow the road round to the right. Our path leaves the farm road to the right earlier than the GPX file suggests, and goes right along the far side of the first field (planted with vegetables when I did it)....

Hugh Hudson

From the meeting point, we follow the bus station left round the corner and use a pelican crossing the Queensway then turn right onto Hagley Road. At the top of the hill we can use a pelican crossing to cross to the south side of Hagley Road, then we turn left onto Quarry Lane, where views of the Clent Hills soon emerge. On the edge of the village the direct way forward is blocked by a locked large metal gate, and we take the path left that leads out past a scout hut onto an open playing field, which we cross to an alley that we follow right to St Kenelms Road, which we follow left to the Romsley meeting point....

Hugh Hudson

There is road walking with no pavement at the Romsley end, but this is a quiet road with little traffic and there are verges to escape onto. The roads at the Hagley end are busier but have pavements. The countryside on the Clent Hills is superb....

Tim Ryan

There is a turning to the right and you soon pick up a cycle path which joins the Rea Valley Way as far as Frankley, where there are the last shops until you get to Romsley. Having left the Rea Valley Way, the route then joins the route of an old railway. The countryside is gentle, the paths pretty easy to follow and you soon see the hill you have to climb to get to Romsley....

David Sanderson

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....

David Sanderson

But at SO 9825 7885 in a stretch of old railway you are directed straight ahead when you should be directed to take the steps to the side of the cutting....

David Sanderson

A nice direct route from Halesowen to Romsley. 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....

Ken

Minor deviations from the definitive / plotted route but easy to follow. I could see no purpose in the road route around the retail park so transferred to Slow Way Hallon and continued along the cycle route to Longbridge station....

Ken

Although starting and ending along roads, this is an excellent route taking you to the top of Clent Hills, which is National Trust Land. This is the scenic way between the 2 villages....

rachelcgen

An alternative route RomHal2 was explored in the reverse direction, using the crossing about 500m west opposite the exit of Quarry Lane. 2 Photo (review photo 1). Kissing gate onto unpaved path around rear of gardens. 2A photo of path. 3 Photo (review photo 2). 5 Photo (review photo 3). 7 Photo (review photo 4). Approx position of gate with narrow plank bridge 50 cm; at field boundary 9 Photos (review photo 5) Approx position Gate and waymark Approx position gate with rough approach which would be very muddy if wet 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 See RomHal 2 route for alternative crossing...

Helenix134