LOCAL EXERCISE WALKS IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS

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LOCAL EXERCISE WALKS IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS - APRIL 2020

With the country gripped by the Corona Virus - Covid 19, everyone is allowed to take only one daily form of outdoor exercise. I've decided to try and take as many varied and interesting walks as possible in my local area and record these so that anyone living in the Marlbrook and Lickey area can try them.




NUMBER ONE - "CHRISTMAS TREES AT EASTER"

This walk is about two and a half miles long and should take up to 60 minutes











Follow footpath down and across Birmingham Road. Re-join footpath down to Halesown Road A38. Turn right and then almost immediately left into Woodrow Lane. After a short distance, take the footpath which is signed on the right hand side of the road. This view is looking back from the path to Woodrow Lane.




Cross a stile, turn right and walk parallel to the M5 Motorway. Here we have Christmas trees at Easter with a good display of blossom.


Enjoy the view from the footbridge over the M5. At 2.00 p.m. on Easter Saturday the M5 was almost deserted. Thankfully, most people have heeded the government's instructions to "Stay home"


Re-trace your steps back to Woodrow Lane where you can either, return by your outward route, or take a slightly longer way back to Tesco's.

For the longer route, turn right as you reach Woodrow Lane and walk down past Catshill Village Surgery until you reach Green Lane. Turn left here and then left at Golden Cross Lane. Cross the A38 into Braces Lane past the playing field until you arrive back at your starting point.





NUMBER TWO - CARRY ON UP YOUR ALLEY


This walk is about two miles long and should take about 45 to 50 minutes


Starting again from outside Tesco's Marlbrook, turn left up Old Birmingham Road for a walk to explore the little known alleyways of Marlbrook. After about 100 yards (91.44 meters) turn left at the footpath sign at the end of Cottage Drive


At the end of the alleyway, turn right into Beaumont Lawns and walk to the junction with Marlbrook Lane. Turn left and, after a short distance, turn left down the narrow alleyway between houses 33 and 35


After you leave the alley, follow the road around to the left and turn right into the cul-de-sac




Turn left on to Cottage Lane and almost immediately right join the next alleyway at the footpath sign.


The path tracks a stream at the lower end and then exits on to the Braces Lane recreation ground. Walk along the left hand hedge and join Braces Lane


Turn right and walk down to the A38 Marlbrook crossroads. Turn left and walk towards Bromsgrove. Just after you pass Marlgrove Court turn left at the footpath sign by Marlbrook Auto Centre


A short sharp climb up the alleyway leads to Old Birmingham Road. Cross the road and turn down the next alleyway indicated by the footpath sign alongside 66 Old Birmingham Road




At the end of the path, turn left on to Staple Flat. Just after the road bends to the left you pass Round Hill allotments. Just before you reach the crossroads, turn left, pass through a swing gate and walk up the path through the allotments


At the top of the last climb of the walk, carry on straight ahead down the path which goes through a small copse on the edge of Round Hill


Exit the path on to Old Birmingham Road, turn right and arrive back at Tesco's.




NUMBER THREE - THE FAMOUS FIVE - PLUS ONE - PLUS ANOTHER

This walk is about three miles long and should take about 60 to 70 minutes


This walk starts, as usual at Tesco's Marlbrook although, as it is a circular walk you can join and leave it at any point.

Walk up Old Birmingham Road (OBR) to pass five locations with associations with five famous people - A "King", a Baron, a racing driver, and grand inquisitor and a football administrator. - PLUS ONE A Yatchswoman - PLUS ANOTHER An Author

Just after the junction with Lickey Rock is the Lickey Hills Garage. If the garage is open you should see "The King" ELVIS PRESLEY waiting to greet you. The garage was previously Gracelands Garage and Elvis lived on the flat roof.
Thanks to Mike Dodman for this picture

Continue up OBR and walk past the entrance to Grange Park. Lickey Grange, built in 1860, stands on this site and it was the home from 1910 to 1941 of HERBERT AUSTIN the famous car maker. It was later taken over as a school by the Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind from 1953 to 1977




The first house on the left after the junction with Alvechurch Highway was, in the 1970s, the home of the racing driver and garage owner DAVID PROPHET (1937 - 1981) David took part, without success in two Formula One races but was more successful in other forms of motor racing.

Just a short distance further on is Tranquil House (formally known as High Lea) which was the childhood home of JEREMY PAXMAN "Paxo" attended the Lickey Hills Prep School on Rose Hill. This was later taken over by the Hillscourt Hotel and Conference Centre






Go into the churchyard and cross to the hedge running alongside Warren Lane. Here you will see the final resting place of Herbert, 1st Baron Austin and Lady Austin. A short distance away is the grave of our fifth famous person on this walk, SIR BERT MILLICHIP (1914 to 2002) Sir Bert had a long career in football culminating in the chairmanship of the Football Association from 1981 to 1991


Leave the church and re-join OBR. Walk downhill and just after the Harvest petrol station on the left is Clayton Gardens.

I've long had a suspicion that this newish road had a connection to Lisa Clayon, the round-the-world yachtswoman. It turns out that my suspicion was right.


After this walk was published I was contacted by two friends and stalwarts of the local community - Mike Brooke of the Lickey Hills Society and Mike Adams of the Lickey Community Group. Both have an extensive knowledge of the area and confirmed that Clayton Gardens was built on the site of the Clayton family home. I have, therefore, added LISA CLAYTON as the PLUS ONE to MY FAMOUS FIVE
Lisa Clayton, later Viscountess Cobham, was the first British woman to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. She set out in September 1994 and returned on 29th June 1995 after 285 days at sea. Her yacht was "The Spirit of Birmingham" and is seen here on display outside the Council House shortly after her return.


Continue down OBR and just before you reach Lickey School is the childhood home of the PLUS ANOTHER to MY FAMOUS FIVE - JONATHAN COE the author of "The Rotters’ Club". Thank you again to Mike Adams for this local information.

Continue down OBR for an easy stroll ramble back to Tesco's.





NUMBER FOUR - BLUEBELLS IN BEACONWOOD

This walk is about three miles long and should take about 70 to 80 minutes


As usual, start from Tesco's Marlbrook, walk up Old Birmingham Road and turn left into Marlbrook Lane. Continue up Marlbrook Lane, over the Alvechurch Highway cross-roads and start walking up Beacon Lane.


When you reach Beacon Farm, follow the footpath signpost and turn left to walk through the farmyard.




Enjoy a lovely walk down through the woods, passing a woodland memorial stone to Alderman Jack Wood





DON'T PANIC! The footpath really does go straight through someone's garden and down their drive

Turn left at the bottom of the drive and walk about 500 yards along Birmingham Road to the junction with Alvechurch Highway. Turn into Alvechurch Highway and after about 300 yards, turn right at the footpath sign. Go through the metal gate, walk down the path between the houses and through the kissing-gate into a field.






Pass through the gate and over the bridge into Cottage Lane. Turn left and follow the road back to Tesco's





NUMBER FIVE - FIELD FOOTPATH AND FORMULA ONE

This walk is about two and a half miles long and should take about 60 minutes

From outside Tesco's Marlbrook walk down Braces Lane, cross over the A38 and continue down Golden Cross Lane for just over half a mile to reach the mini island at Gibb Lane.




Take the tarmac path ahead and almost immediately turn left up a bit of a gulley to join the field path running alongside a hedge


After 60 or 70 yards, fork right and take the path directly across the field heading for the right hand edge of the small wood on the horizon


As the path leaves the wood, head for the gate on the far side of the field. Pass through the gate and continue along the path parallel to the M42 Motorway


Walking through a small copse finally leave the path on to the A38 at the motorway junction. Cross the road and turn up Old Birmingham Road


Stop and have a look in Paul Matty's garage at the Lotus cars. At the time of writing he has a Lotus 24 BRM V8 Formula One car for sale ( P.O.A.) This car was originally driven by David Prophet See Walk Three - The Famous Five

Continue walking up OBR and just at the brow of the first hill you will see two new small detached houses on your left.



Thanks to Mike Dodman for this picture

And now, after being carefully dismantled, they have been rebuilt at the Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings at Stoke Heath


Keep walking up OBR to reach Tesco's Marlbrook.





NUMBER SIX - HERE WE GO ROUND THE MARLBROOK TIP

This walk is about two and a half miles long and should take about 45 to 55 minutes


As usual, start from Tesco's Marlbrook, walk up Old Birmingham Road and turn left into Marlbrook Lane. Towards the end of the houses on the right there is the first glimpse of The Marlbrook Tip as it looms on the horizon


After the last house, the road bends to the left and crosses the culvert carrying the Marlbrook stream which emerges into the open on the left hand side of the road. The culvert carries the stream from its source on the Lickey Hills, together with the overflow from the balancing ponds that run down the eastern side of The Tip.

Continue up Marlbrook Lane to the crossroads and turn right into Alvechurch Highway. A steep drop (16%) takes the road to a bridge crossing the Marlbrook. After heavy rain, the road often floods, as it did in February 2020 after storm Dennis hit the area


At the bridge, pause for a while and gaze at the magnificent sight of the Marlbrook Tip Reservoir! This expanse of water, mud and sundry undergrowth is officially "An Impounding Reservoir" as defined under The Reservoirs Act 1975


On the horizon is an abandoned JCB type digger. It has been parked there, without moving, since at least February 2012 as this image shows.


Carry on up the steep rise and then pass the main entrance to The Marlbrook Tip on the right-hand side of the road. Marvel at the rustic and bucolic charm of the abandoned plant and machinery, caravans and other sundry junk enhancing the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.


Continue along Alvechurch Highway and down a dip past the Hazy Hill Reservoir - a proper one this time.


A short climb leads to the junction with Old Birmingham Road


Turn right, trundle down OBR and enjoy distant views of The Tip on the right-hand. After just under a mile, arrive back at Tesco's





NUMBER SEVEN - MANOR, MOTORWAY AND A MERRY MONARCH

This walk is about six and a half miles long and should take just over two and a half hours, including a stop for an ice cream

This is a "proper" walk and you will probably need some sensible walking shoes or boots, some Kendal mint cake and a flask in your rucksack. You will, however, be rewarded with beautiful scenery and a walk through 370 years of local history


This walk starts at the Tesco Express store at 199 Old Birmingham Road Marlbrook.


From the store, turn into Cottage Lane and walk to the end where it turns sharp left where you will see a footpath sign on your right. Join the footpath and cross the bridge over a small stream and pass through the kissing gate into the field.


Walk uphill along the hedge until you see a footpath sign on your left. Leave the field and join the footpath. A small stream follows the course of the path, but it is fairly easily passable.










Catch a glimpse of Chadwich Manor on the right and pass the entrance to the Chadwich Manor National Trust property. Chadwich Manor is a Grade II listed property built in the late 17th century.


Continue up Manor Lane until you reach the turning on the left for Lizzies Farm. Walk up the farm track and stop and, if you feel like it, buy a home-made ice cream from the farm shop ( Lime and ginger is especially recommended!)


As you entered the farm track you joined the Monarch's Way Long distance footpath. This path (615 miles) traces the route taken by King Charles II after his defeat by Oliver Cromwell at the battle of Worcester in 1651. It goes from Worcester via Bromsgrove, Bristol and Yeovil to Brighton where the King made his escape to France

The path enters Bromsgrove along Stoke Road, Charford Road and Worcester Road. The King is believed to have stayed the night at Ye Olde Black Cross public house near Hanover Street It then continues out through Dodford and Fairfield.
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Almost immediately, turn left into a small copse to walk alongside the farm barn. The path has way-marks on the trees to direct you.


Emerge at the bottom of the copse and cross over a stile into the field TAKE CARE the bottom step of the stile may still be loose and wobbly


Turn right and Follow the path through the field. Pass under the M5 Motorway by means of the conveniently located tunnel


Follow the path across the field and over the stile on to the (usually) busy A491 road. The fingerpost sign points the way to Wildmore Lane opposite.


Walk up Wildmore Lane and continue the walk along the Monarch's Way to the junction with Top Lane. At this point the Monarch's Way leaves the route as it veers off over fields through Fairfield and back to Bromsgrove.


Carry on along Wildmore Lane for a short distance before turning left up a footpath that is initially a farm track. Head for the stile by the farm building and cross this into a field with a hedge on the left hand side.




Cross the stile and follow the path along a very pleasant row of trees before walking past a view of the local sand and gravel workings on the left.




Cross the stile and follow the path alongside the M5 and cross the Motorway by the footbridge





Turn left at Woodrow Lane to return by your outward route, or you can take a slightly longer (fully paved) way back to Tesco's. For this route, turn right as you reach Woodrow Lane and walk down past Catshill Village Surgery until you reach Green Lane. Turn left here and then left at Golden Cross Lane. Cross over the A38 into Braces Lane and walk past the playing field to arrive back at your starting point.

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