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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOODDerek 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 |
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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:
- www.streetmap.co.uk, -
Start: from Drayton Bassett Village 419305/300165, -
Finish: at Whitacre Heath Village 421920/292855, -
via: Kingsbury Water Park 420515/296035. (Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Button).
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.
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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2007 Devised: September 2007 |