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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD


Derek Harwood's Walking Records

If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com

              HEART OF ENGLAND WAY

                      Drayton Bassett to Whitacre Heath

Monday 27th August 2007 ...........................Walk No. 700
27th August 2007 - Heart of Endland Way No.5 - Kingsbury Water Park - Warwickshire - Map Courtesy www.streetmap.co.uk

HEART OF ENGLAND WAY  No. 5           Total 35.5 miles


Time Taken:  4 hrs         Distance:      Enjoyment:     Weather:  Sunny Intervals
 11:55 pm - 3:50 pm         9.5 miles           85%     Very Occasional Threat of Rain

Temp:    Cloud:      Rain:     Visibility:   Ground Conditions:   Wild Life: Heron
 18oC       90%         None        Good              Very Good              Blackberries

Total AA:      Total MH:    Total LD:       Total AW:     Other:     Total Distance:
 1027.5 mls    931.5 mls     1859 mls        162 mls     1108.5 mls     5088.5 miles

Companions:  (Derek)   

Points of Interest and LINKS:
Heart of England Way     Drayton Bassett Village     Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Kingsbury Water Park         Kingsbury Village                                Hurley Village
Foul End Village                  Highland Cattle                      Whitacre Heath Village

Moving Barges on Birmingham & Fazeley Canal:
1) Louise - Napton.  2) Perfect Solution.  3) Karma.  4)Tara.
5) Kate Elizabeth - Warwick.  6) Malleus (Hammer).  7) Ambition (Fibre Glass Hull)
8) George & Rita - Amazon.  9) Shangri-La.  10) Falstaff.  11) Essington Swan.
12) Suzanne.
Description:
Parked van at back of Swan Inn car park, Whitacre Heath at 11:05am and cycled to Drayton Bassett Village for start of walk, passing Bodymoor Heath Training Ground. My childhood favourite football team, Aston Villa. Locked bike to steel pipe on wall of St Peter's Church. Awkward start to the walk along narrow twisty lane, passing many desirable residences. Great care required. Crossed busy main road A4091 to Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Drayton Swivel and Foot Bridges. Novel footbridge, very unusual towers on each side of the canal, housing the steps and supporting the footbridge. Steady walk along the towpath towards Curdworth Bottom Lock. I was amazed at the number of barges using the canal, passing 12 moving barges on the 2 mile stretch to the Lock. All the occupants enjoying the tranquility of the canal and the sunny weather. Good views across the River Tame Valley to Dost Hill. I left the well kept towpath at the bottom lock and walked alongside the Canal Pool of the Kingsbury Water Park. The weather had brought out the Bank Holiday day trippers to the water park also. There were people enjoying themselves in all directions. Fishing, cycling, walking, skating, boating, etc. Not to mention a pic-nic. The children were very happy, not having to worry about traffic. I followed the signs and Heart of England symbols through the park to the tunnel under the M42 motorway. After the motorway a sign recommended a detour through the park. As the weather was so good and time wasn't pressing, I decided to take the extra loop to the visitors centre and the narrow gauge railway station. I chatted with a local couple from Kingsbury Village who frequented the park several times a week. They explained how high the water was during the recent floods. I passed several railway steam engines on the winding path to the station. At the station there were more steam engines. Not a surprise except that many of the engines were working miniature steam rollers. Just before I reached the footbridge out of the park to Kingsbury village I noticed a heron only a few feet away. Obviously trying to escape the crowds of people enjoying the August Bank Holiday. As I approached the footbridge I was side tracked to the pool with the speed boats. More excitement. Walked into Kingsbury Village and remembered my last visit walking the 'West Midlands Way'. See 'Long Distant Paths'. Walked down Coventry Road, passing The Royal Oak Public House to an overgrown footpath leading to the railway and the Military Firing Range. Hurried past the Warks Firearms Club, Midland Counties Rifle Club, Local Army Cadet Force (Kingsbury Platoon), etc as the sounds of firing echoed around the area. Steady climb through the fields to Camp Farm and Hurley Village. Welcome rest at the bench on Dexter Lane, just before Foul End Village. Strange but delightful place for a bench on a quiet single track lane. Path difficult to follow through huge field after lane from Foul End. Head South/West to Spinney occupied by Highland Cattle. More very desirable houses off lane from spinney towards Windmill Hill. Interesting conversation with the owner of a house who was building a decorative brick entrance to his property. Short walk across a couple of fields into Whitacre Heath. Crossed bridge over railway into village. Took a short cut down the very steep embankment of the bridge to the van (KP Equipe) at the Swan Inn. My weight accelerated me down the slope faster than I wanted. I almost lost my balance. My legs buckled. Not 21 years old anymore.


Location:

Hazards:
Take extra care walking the road between Drayton Bassett Village and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. Also take extra care around the Military Firing Range after Kingsbury. Observe the signs.

Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Bike Parked in Drayton Bassett Village
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Drayton Foot Bridge & Swivel Bridge on Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Barge Named Karma on Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Barge Named Kate Elizabeth on Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Holiday Makers Enjoying Barge Named Kate Elizabeth on Canal
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Unique Fibre Glass Barge Named Ambition on Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Derek's Walking Homepage
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Canal Pool by Curdworth Bottom Lock
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Kingsbury Water Park Trail Path
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Kingsbury Water Park Narrow Gauge Steam Train
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Kingsbury Water Park Steam Tank Engine No. 5541
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Kingsbury Water Park River Tame Canada Geese
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Kingsbury Water Park River Tame Swans
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Bridge from Water Park to Kingsbury Village
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Heron in Kingsbury Water Park
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Kingsbury Water Park Scale Steam Roller
27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Vintage Fire Engine at Swan Inn in Nether Whitacre Village 27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Highland Cattle near Nether Whitacre Village 27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Derek on Bench near Foul End Village 27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Military Firing Range near Kingsbury Village 27th August 2007 - Heart of England Way - Royal Oak Public House in Kingsbury Village

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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2007
Devised: September 2007