Cradley Tuesday Walkers

See also Walks in the Malvern Hills and leaflets sold from the heritage centre - and don't miss the walks at the end of this page.

Pictures from the Walking Group of Tuesday, 22 June 2010, led by Mary Clayburn. They show the Group walking towards British Camp then back towards the Worcester Beacon, ending up at Mary's home for a well-deserved coffee and biscuit. Weren't we lucky with the weather? 

Tuesday, 27th October's walk, 2009. We were walking along the Severn from Clevelode. Stuart & Brenda were leading the walk on a rather mild but overcast day.

March 2009 - pictures taken at Red Marley on a daffodil walk we did recently. We seem to regularly have about 20 walkers and still either go to people's houses for coffee or pub. In this case we had coffee at Staunton Garden Centre. We always start from the Cradley Memorial Cross and either walk locally or get in our cars and drive somewhere for a walk.

Cradley Walkers Christmas walk and lunch, 21 December 2004, the pictures from Bill C...

On a raw December Tuesday just before Christmas, the Cradley Walkers met, now by tradition, at Mathon Church car park for their Christmas Walk. We’d had the Christmas Cake Walk and the Mince Pie Walk and now, with the holiday only days away, we were to have the last walk before the year’s end followed by a festive lunch prepared by Margaret Ainscough.

Although rain threatened all morning, we remained dry and the paths were not too muddy. It was not a long walk - from the car park to South End, then to Old Country via the gravel pits and back down the lanes through Moorend to the car park. A glass of mulled wine was ready at Springfield and, warmed up inside and out, we went next door to Margaret’s splendid meal complete with crackers and funny hats. It was a good end to a good year’s walking.

Walk on the Black Hill - 28 September 2004.

Derek and Ann Carver organised a walk as part of the Cradley Walkers Anniversary. We all met at Cradley Church and were given instructions of how to get to the start of the walk and a menu for our lunch.

We (21 in all) set off through Hereford then on the Abergavenny Road towards Pontrilas (called Pontrilas as Pont is a bridge, tri is three and las is a river in Welsh). We then turned off and went through the lovely village of Ewyas Harold and on to Longtown.

We had coffee at the picnic spot at the base of the Black Hill. After coffee most of us climbed up and up to the top of the narrow ridge of the Black Hill (locally known at the Cats back) with wonderful views over towards the Clee Hills and the Malverns. The circular walk is about 5 miles long. Some of our members decided to go with Ann and do a slightly less strenuous walk and went along the valley to meet those coming down from the top.

After our walk we went in car convoy to a lovely old timbered farmhouse for our lunch. This was enjoyed by all and was ready waiting for us as we walked in as Ann had phoned in our requests.

We were lucky to have such a lovely day and to be able to see the wonderful views. If you would like to do the walk, please contact Derek or Ann (tel. 536) and they will give you instructions of how to get there.

The Cradley walkers may be interested in the aerial shots Stuart McLaughlan took a few days later of the Black Hill (Cats Back). The snaps, taken looking North towards Hay on Wye, were added to the web site on 5 October 04.

Cradley walkers celebrated their 10th anniversary walk on 14 October 2003 ending at the Butchers Arms Woolhope:

Cradley Walkers visit the Elan Valley - 26th /27th April 2003.

Early in the year, Barbara Gilbrook organised a weekend in the Elan Valley just over the border into Wales. There were a dozen or so of us interested and she booked the Brynafon hotel just outside Rhayader for the weekend after Easter. In the event, nine came and checked in at the Visitors’ Centre on a blustery Saturday afternoon.

Geoff and Margaret White had recce’d the walks and they led us over some wonderful country. We were quite lucky with the weather. It did rain, especially on the Saturday, and the wind was almost gale force at times, but we had some good sunny spells too, particularly on Sunday. And when the sun was out, the views were spectacular.

The Saturday walk was relatively short but quite energetic. We started along the windswept first reservoir where little waves were being whipped up into white horses. After a mile or so, we turned to climb a narrow valley up the mountain. The rain started and the wind carried it horizontally across our backs. Over the top, we were more sheltered and we walked down into Elan Village and back to our cars and a welcome cup of tea.

That night, we all sat down and enjoyed a pleasant meal in the hotel. Everyone slept well that night and we were raring to go the next morning. Ann and Derek Carver, who couldn’t make the Saturday, turned up to join us at breakfast. The enlarged group set out once more from the Visitors’ Centre. This time we walked along the other side of the reservoir, past the viaduct before climbing up onto the mountain above. The sun was much more friendly and much more in evidence. Out of the wind it was quite warm. We sat by a stream and ate our packed lunch. This was the life! But we had to get on and we were only half way up. The wind still blew hard, but it was assisting us up the slope. So no grumbles there, then.

We were back at the Centre by mid afternoon with time for tea and a cake before setting off home. Some of us went to see the Red Kites being fed at the farm near our hotel and some explored the other reservoirs, coming out high up on the mountain road to Aberystwyth. It had been a glorious weekend. A huge success thanks to Barbara and Geoff and Margaret. We all vowed to repeat it again soon. The photos show:

On Friday 30 October the Cradley Walkers had their special lunch to celebrate our anniversary. Barbar Gillbrook was able to come - she originally started our walking group. We met at the Memorial Cross as usual and then drove to Knightwick to do a walk up Anchordine Hill. It was a beautiful day and all 13 of us enjoyed the walk and then the excellent pub lunch at the Talbot afterwards. Recently our numbers have been a bit thin on the ground, due to Foot and Mouth and people being away during the Summer. We were pleased therefore to see so many people on the 30th and last week again we again had a nice group of 10 people when we walked up Oaster Hill near Colwall.

Cradley walking group was started about 8 years ago by Barbara Gillbrook who now lives in Upton. It is a very informal group of people - both men and women, who meet at 9.30 a.m. every Tuesday morning. The walks usually are no longer than 4 miles and we end up at someone's house for coffee. We vary in numbers from 3 to 20. Recently the numbers have been very low due to the problems with Foot and Mouth and people on holiday in the summer.

We decide where to go when we meet up. We either walk locally or often get in a couple of cars and walk from the Malvern Hills. Occasionally we decide to have lunch out. Every year we have a lunch in October as that was the month the walks were started, hopefully we shall be having a lunch towards the end of October.

Paths walked:

A. to Lumbridge Hill Wood, Vinesend~ Mathon,Malvern. (Walks 2,3,5.)

B. to Beanhouse Mill, Halesend, Bearswood.

C. to Beanhouse Farm, Nupend. (Walk 5.)

D. to Nupend.

E. to Hackney Cross.

F. to Mathon.

G. to Netherley Hall , Mathon (Walk 4.)

H. to Lumbridge Hill Wood.

Route 1, Cradley spider's web, Inner circle 1 3/4 miles, 1 hour. The walk is flat and easy.

The "Spider's Web Walk goes round the centre of Cradley but, as it joins all the paths leading out from the centre, you can return from different directions to make a variety of walks of different length.

1. From the War Memorial walk up the 1ane past the Church. Go through the left gate at the end and follow the left-hand hedge down to a bridge. Continue in the same direction down the next field to a stile at the comer.

Follow the left-hand hedge to a gate in to the next field.

2. To go to Stiffords Bridge turn right here and follow the hedge to a gateway. The path crosses the next field diagonally 1eft to a stile near the bridge. Go to the left along the main road past the Red Lion. The return path leaves the road along the hedge of the next cottage garden. Follow the left-hand hedge through two fields and a farm road, past Wold Farm and the cottage beyond. You can return to the inner ring here by crossing a stile on the Ieft down a little field to a foot bridge and diagonally Ieft up the opposite bank to a stile on to the drive at 3, You can continue on the loop by continuing down the bank and over a little stream. Follow the left-hand hedge to an unmade lane which comes out on Chapel Lane. Cross it to the unmade road opposite which leads past houses to the road to Westfield. Turn left down the hill and over Kingsbridge to rejoin the inner circ1e.

2. To follow the inner circle turn left past the cottage and out through a gate along the driveway to pin another drive. 10 return to the start go left to the road at a sharp bend, down the hill past the Post Office and up the bank opposite. To continue turn right.

3. Cross a stile on the left near the edge of the field and follow the hedge on the right over the bank to a stile. You can return to the start here by going left up the road to the Post Office then right up the bank. To continue turn right, then take a path on the left along the top of the bank above the brook. 111is brings you out on the Mathon road next to the school. Turn left to return to the start or right to continue past the junction With the Westfield road at Kings Bridge.

4. Go along the Mathon road to the end of a little wood on the right, where you take a stile on the left. Walk across the field to a stile near the left corner. Continue in the same direction past two ponds to the far hedge.

5. To return turn left here to a gate on to a drive. Go to the left along it past Churchfields to the road at the start. To continue cross the stile ahead and follow the right-hand hedge to the corner. Over the stile in the next field turn left for a few yards to a gale on to a drive. Cross it to a stile in the fence opposite and go down the garden hedge to a stile by a gale on the right. Cross it and walk down the narrow field past a shed and cars to a wicket gate. Go diagonally left to the gate in the comer and back along the lane by the Church.

Route 2, Lumbridge Hill and Bluebell Wood. 2 miles, 1 hour. The walk is flat but can be muddy.

1. From the War Memorial walk up the lane past the church. At the end go through the right-hand gate and bear diagonally right towards another gate with a stile beside it. Climb this stile and continue on the same line towards the stream which you cross by a wide bridge. (Immediately through the bridge you can glimpse the delightful half-timbered house of Church Stile Farm). Once across the bridge you enter a narrow field and the ground slopes up to a wood ahead of you. 100 yards straight ahead and slightly right you will see a relatively new stile marked with a footpath arrow. Climb the stile and enter the wood. Climb directly uphill; almost immediately you join a broader woodland track. Bear diagonally left and continue climbing the hill. (Church Stile Farm is now directly on your left). After some fifty yards the track forks; take the left- hand fork, climbing parallel to the fence. The track reverts to a footpath; continue to climb bearing left. After 30 yards you will see an old stile diagonally left ahead of you, climb over (or round!) the stile and the path levels and straightens ahead of you. The wood in this area contains hazel and birch. You are now once more on a track. The wood begins to thin and you can see Church Stile Farm below you on the left and beyond you can see Queenswood and the houses round Byefields, with fine views of the Ridgeway.

The track becomes firmer and directly ahead is a gate with farm buildings beyond. Through the gate is a steeply sloping field. Keep straight ahead and you will see another gate between the farm buildings. Ignore the track which leads up the hill -the footpath runs through the farm. Looking to the left you can see the Church and The Old Rectory and beyond them Westfields -a delightful view. Go through the gate and between the farm buildings. In front of the farm cottage is a driveway which slopes steeply down to the left. Go left. through the double gate and on to the lane beyond.

3. Turn right up the lane leading toward Vinesend, until you reach a T junction.

4. Take the footpath on your right I marked with a green sign Cradley. Climb six steps and over the stile. On your left are the buildings of Lower Vinesend Farm. Your route is now directly ahead. The footpath is indistinct here but keep the field fence 10 yards to your left. Directly ahead is another stile. Climb it and continue in the same direction. At the end of the field you climb another stile to enter the wood.

5. After some 75 yards you will see on your left a stile erected in memory of Olarlie Home and a sturdy bridge crossing the stream. Continue ahead. This section can be extremely muddy in winter -good boots are needed- but in Spring and Summer it is a delight. The path curves round with the stream on your left to the end of the wood. Climb the stile and walk diagonally left down the field to the bridge and retrace your steps to the start.

Route 3, Cockshut Hill, Bank Farm & Vinesend. 4 miles, 1 3/4 hours. This walk has one stiff climb. Including the Worcester Way; 6 miles, 2 1/2 hours.

1. From the War Memorial go up the lane past the Church and through the right -hand gate at the end. Cut diagonally across Jubilee Field, over the stile next to the gate in the fence and over the stream beyond by a wide bridge. Bear right along the narrow field to a stile in the top left far comer. Follow the path through the wood with the stream on your right The path can be muddy and slippery in wet weather.

2. At the comer of the wood cross the stile and bridge over the stream and climb the bank beyond to a farm track. Turn right along the track to a metal gate. Climb the bank on your left through the gate and turn left to climb the side of Cockshut Hill to an oak tree with a footpath sign. ~ not follow the farm track but go diagonally right following the line of the fence up the hill to a stile at the edge of the wood. The path winds and climbs gently for 25 yards, then begins to drop. After a few yards you join a track. Turn left. Follow it to join a wide track. Turn left along it leaving the wood through fields to a cluster of buildings.

3. Go left over the stile and through the grounds of Bank Farm close to the house, with its walled garden to your right, to a marked stile. Bear slightly right along an old hedge to another stile. This ancient track is reputed to be a Salt Way. Continue straight ahead through a young poplar plantation following a line just to the left of three old oak trees to a fence. Turn left along it to the edge of an old wood. Climb the stile and bear right over the top of a grassy slope. In 400 yards a bridle path joins from the right and you carry on down the slope.

5. When you reach the road at Vinesend turn left down it until the road forks.

6. A few yards past the bungalow on your left a fingerpost points to Cradley . Follow the left-hand hedge across two fields to the edge of a wood. Go through the wood with the stream on your left until you reach the stile where you left the wood at 2. Retrace your steps through the wood and fields to your start

7. The walk can be extended to take in a section of the Worcestershire Way Long Distance Footpath along the ridge above Vinesend. From Bank Farm follow the road downhill to a sharp right-hand bend. You join the route of the Worcestershire Way here. Go over the stile ahead and climb the opposite slope along the edge of the wood. The Way continues diagonally right to the top of the bank at the end of a strip of wood. Go down the edge of the wood to a stile into a field near Croft Farm.

8. Turn left to a gate into the wood and follow the ridge for a mile within it until the Way descends diagonally to the right

9 Leaving the Way continue along the ridge for a few yards then drop to the left down a scrub-covered slope to come out on the lane and rejoin the shorter walk at Upper Vinesend, at 5.

Route 4 Mathon 3 miles, 1 1/2 hours. The walk is flat and easy.

1. From the War Memorial go up the lane past the Church. Go through the right- hand gate at the end and head diagonally right to a small wooden gate halfway along the hedge. Go up the narrow field to a stile next to the gate at the end beyond a shed. Turn left in the paddock past the cottage garden and over a stile onto a drive. Cross the drive to a field gate ahead. Go to the right along the hedge, ignoring a stile in it, to a gate onto a farm road at Netherley Hall.

2. Go left along it through a gate. The roadway divides. Go to the right, below the hill, through a gate and across a turning area in front of a cottage. Follow the metalled drive for a short distance past a stile on the right. When the drive turns right go through the gate ahead and follow the left-hand hedge to a gate on the left near the corner of the field. Enter the field above and turn right to carry on in the same direction. A short track leads into the next field. Go through it, past the cottage at the end, and down the lane.

3. Turn right just before the next cottage over the stile and follow the left-hand garden hedge and then the brook to the gate ahead. Continue in the same direction by the brook to the road.

4. Turn right into the village of Mathon past the Cliffe Arms to visit the Church. 3. For a slightly longer walk continue along the lane until you reach a road.

5. Turn right along it past a side road on your left until you reach the drive to Warner's Farm at a bend. Go down the drive past a disused gravel pit. When the drive bends left to the farm continue to the right of a farm building down a short track to a stile by a gate on the right. Follow the left-hand hedge down the field to a bridge over a stream. Go to the right up the bank on the other side to a stile in the corner of the field above. Follow the left-hand hedge to the top. Go over a stile into a green lane. Go right down it to come out in the carpark opposite the Church.

6. From the church gate go left into the village. The footpath leaves the road on the left between two cottage gardens just before the Cliffe Arms. Cross the bridge at the bottom and a farm road beyond it. Go straight ahead across the field to a stile in the opposite hedge. Cross the next field in the same direction making for the trees in the hedge to the left of the farm buildings of Netherley Hall. Cross the drive into the next field and follow the hedge on your right to come out through a gate onto a driveway. Go to the left along it. It leads to the road in front of the War Memorial.

Route 5 Halesend and Longley Green. 4 1/2 miles or 6 1/2 miles, 2 1/2 hours or 3 1/2 hours. There are short climbs.

1. From the War Memorial go up the lane past the Church. Go through the right-hand gate and cross the field to a gate in the opposite fence slightly to your right. Continue to a Bridge over the brook. Turn right to a stile in the corner of the field beyond. Walk through the wood with the stream on your right past a footbridge to the edge of the wood. Follow the hedge on your right through two fields to come out at a road junction.

2. Go over the stile in the corner opposite. Walk down the middle of the field to a stile below. Cross the track to another stile to the left of a farm building. Go up the 00nk to a stile on to the farm track at the top of the knoll.

3. Turn right and follow the right-hand hedge down the next field veering to the left where the Dank steepens to make for a stile near the comer. Cross the main road and go to the right up it for a short distance to a finger post and stile by a field gate.

4. Climb the steep bank above to the right of the strip of wood and walk along the top of the bank to a stile in a fence. Carry on at the same level above the scrub to a stile into the wood at the end. Continue along the track through the wood past the grounds of Halesend on the left. It curves down to a metalled drive by a weeping willow.

5. Cross the drive to a track up the opposite bank. which goes past a cottage above on your right. Keep on the track along the edge of the wood until you come out on to the road to Bearswood Common at a bend. For a shorter walk turn left. Go right at the junction just down the road and the drive to Beanhouse Mill is on the left beyond the bridge at 9. For Longley Green turn right and go along the road at the bottom of Bearswood Common to its end. Take the left-hand track down to Barrow Mill. Turn left across the garden just beyond the house to a bridge over the brook. Turn right to a stile into a narrow wood. At the end of the wood the path climbs the 00nk diagonally to come out on a drive. Turn right to the road.

6. Go left down the road through the hamlet of Longley Green to a road junction.

7. Go left down a minor lane and left again at the next junction. Take the footpath on the left beyond the first hedge and follow it to the corner. Cross to the other side of the stream and follow it through two fields.

8. Cross a stile on the right before you reach the brook opposite Barrow Mill. Walk down the narrow field to a stile in the end fence. Go diagonally right to a stile in the far fence and straight up the slope to a stile in the hedge above. Follow the fence on your right to a new plantation. Cross it to the far corner and the road at Grittlesend. Turn left.

9. The drive to Beanhouse Mill is on the right at a bend just before the bridge. Go down it past the house to a gate into the field ahead. Walk straight up the field to a stile in the top corner .Go diagonally across the next field in the same direction to the opposite hedge and turn left along it to a gate in the corner. Follow the hedge down to an old farmyard. Go through the yard and up to a farm road at the side of Beanhouse Farm. Go left past outhouses and through a gate. Go down the field bearing slightly right and you will find a footbridge at the angle of the bottom hedge. The path goes through the next field parallel to the right hedge and then down to a gate to the right of a house garden.

10. Cross the main road and go right for a few yards. The path goes up the edge of a garden. to a field. Follow the left-hand hedge through two fields and across a farm road at Wold Farm. Cross the drive to the cottage beyond to a stile on the left and go down a small field to a bridge. The path goes diagonally left up the next field to a stile on to a drive. Cross the opposite stile and walk over the next field parallel to the hedge on your right to a stile at the bottom. Turn left up the road to the junction and right back to the War Memorial.

Route 6 Tanhouse Lane & Beacon Wood, 3 1/2 miles or 6 1/2 miles, 2 or 3 1/2 hours. There are short climbs.

1. From the War memorial go down the lane past the school. At the road fork turn right. Take a footpath to the left halfway up the hill. Go through the kissing gate and follow the right hand hedge to a footbridge. Go up the right hand hedge to a gate into a short lane. Walk down the field at the end to the right of two gates in the bottom hedge. Turn right and follow the steam on your right to the corner. Cross two stiles into the next field ignoring the bridge and continue along the right hand hedge to a stile by the gate onto a road.

2. Cross to the stile opposite and walk past factories up a strip of new trees. At the top turn right over a plank bridge. Walk up the field to a stile in the fence at the corner. Follow the right hand hedge past a small wood then cross on the same line to a stile in the next fence. Follow the right hand fence to a stile.

3. For the shorter walk turn right down the road to Whitehouse Farm at 6. To continue turn left to the bend. Go over the stile on the right at the start of a farm drive and follow the left hedge to the corner. Turn right along the end hedge and half way along cross a stile into a field on your left. Follow the left hand hedge as far as a gate half way down the field. Turn right across the field to a footbridge in the opposite hedge. Walk along the left hand hedge to a stile in the corner. Continue down the next field to a stile into a wood. Cross a stream and climb the bank to a gate at the end of the wood. Go straight along the next field along the slope to a stile on the end bank where the hedge changes to a fence. Continue in the same direction past the corner of the wood on your left to a stile at the inner angle beyond. Walk across the wood to a gate. Go straight down the bank until you reach a farm road. Look for a footbridge to your right over the stream below. Climb the opposite slope diagonally right to a stile in the corner. Follow the right hedge up the small field to another stile in the corner.

4. Turn right for five yards to another stile. Cross the bank diagonally left to the far corner, which is higher than the brook. Go through the gate and cross to the gate and farm bridge over the brook. Climb to a farm road and go right though a gate. Turn left up the bank to a small gate in the corner. Continue along the left hand hedge to a gate. Walk up the next field with a sunken lane on your left and past a pond to a gate on to a farm drive in front of a shed.

5. Turn left into the field then right along the hedge past the farm to a gate in the corner. Go through a gate half way through the next field and continue with the hedge on your left until you come to a stile into a tiny triangular coppice on your left. Cross it to a stile and go down the edge of the wood. At the bottom cross a newly planted area down to the road at Whitehouse Farm.

6. Cross the opposite stile and follow the boundary round the farm buildings through a gap in an old hedge, then turn right to walk down the field with the hedge on your left. When it turns left continue in the same direction to a farm bridge over the stream at the bottom. Follow the left hand hedge up the slope to a stile by a gate on to a farm road at Hope End Farm. Continue uphill past the farm to a stile on to a sunken lane. Climb it to a stile on to the main road.

7. Turn right down the lane to a stile on the left at a bend. Cross the field to a stile. Follow the right hand hedge to a gate at the bottom. Turn left down the drive to the road. Cross to Chapel Lane and go down to the brook and up to the Post Office. Turn right back to the War Memorial.