Sharron and Pete's Annual Mulled Wine and Mince Pies walk started this year from the free car park at Dorridge Village Hall on Sat 14 Dec. The walk was a loop on quite roads, across some fields and along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal towpath. A good route for avoiding the worst of the mud during a wet winter period.

We enjoyed an excellent lunch in the nearby Railway Inn after the walk.

Denis led a hike of just over 7 miles (11.4 km) on Sat 30 Nov from The Red Lion, Lady Lane, Earlswood B94 6AQ (Google Maps). The route followed paths alongside Earlswood Lakes, went through woods, over Fulford Heath Golf Course and local farmland. There were also some short stretches on quiet roads.

Thanks to the Lakins for leading a walk of around 6 ½ miles (10 ½ km) on Sun 17 Nov from the small free car park off Castle Rd opposite Castle Green.  The walk largely followed the AllTrails route Millennium Way: Kenilworth Castle Circular, a beautiful circular trail across flat farmland and open countryside with many attractive views. The route passes Faerie Tale Farm Alpacas and part of it follows the Millennium Way. There was very little mud which was a pleasant surprise for this time of year!

Angus and Tracey led a hike of around 7.5 miles (3+ hours) starting at 9:30am on Sat 2 Nov from The Griffin Inn, Church Rd, Shustoke, Coleshill B46 2LB (Google Maps). 

The walk exits the rear of the pub in the direction of the Shustoke Reservoirs before heading north, crossing the railway line and picking up some minor paths through Botts Green and Nether Whitacre then returning to Shustoke via the Heart of England Way. 

If you do this walk, please park at the far end of the car park from the pub.

Mary led a hike of around 7.5 miles (12 km) from The Red Lion, Claverdon, CV35 8PE (Google Maps) on Sat 19 Oct. The route went through Wolverton and Langley and then back to Claverdon via Barnmoor Green. A map of the route, a link to a GPX file and a view of the start point in Google Maps follow below the photo album.

Adrian led a hike of 8.4 miles (13.5km) from the Car Park at Chadwick End Village Hall through varied Warwickshire countryside including a short stretch on the Grand Union Canal towpath.

Angus and Tracey led this a semi-urban Hike on Bank Holiday Monday taking in the various parks around Marston Green, mostly on tarmac and cinder paths. The circular walk is about 8 3/4 miles (14 km) long and starts and finishes at The Little Owl, Bickenhill Parkway, Solihull B40 1QA (directions in Google Maps)

Bill and Sue led a hike of around 7.5 miles (12km) from The View, Hill Farm Marina, Stratford Road, Wootton Wawen, B95 6DE (get directions on Google Maps) starting at 9.30am on Sat 10 Aug. Sue describes "a lovely route, along the canal, including 2 aqueducts, across woodland, fields, through the very pretty village of Bearley, and Bearley Church, through the Edstone Estate, with its landscaped lakes, up into Austy Woods, and returning along canals and pastureland to The View". 

Tas led this hike from The King's Head, Aston Cantlow, B95 6HY (directions on Google Maps) starting at 9:30am on Sun 28 Jul. The walk of around 10 miles passed through Alcester and some very lovely Warwickshire countryside. (This walk is very similar to one we did in August 2022: A Walk from Aston Cantlow - Hampton Walking)

Denis led this walk on Sunday 30th June starting from The Bulls Head in Barston. The route of 9.5 miles (15.3km) is through countryside and woods, and alongside canals.

Angus and Tracey led this hike from the Hatton Arms at 9:30am on Sun 16 Jun. A picturesque and varied walk through Warwickshire countryside, the route follows footpaths, a section of the Grand Union Canal, a woodland path and some bridle paths and minor roads. 

Sharron and Pete led a hike of about 10 miles on Sat 1 Jun from The Warwickshire Lad, Broad Lane, Wood End, Tanworth-in-Arden, B94 5DP.  This was a varied walk through the Warwickshire countryside along quiet lanes, fields and through woodland. 

This walk of about 7 1/2 miles was led by Wayman and Beverley on Sun 19 May starting from the Fleur De Lys in Lowsonford, B95 5HJ.  The walk went through Yarningale Common & Preston Bagot and skirts Henley-in-Arden. The route is through fields (a few with horses and many with sheep), woodland and often near canals. There are some short hills.

By popular request, Mary Coles led this hike of about 10 miles in based on her Hidden Birmingham walk in December 2023. 

Mary Coles led this walk "In Search of Bluebells" from Berkswell Village Green starting at 9.30am on Saturday 20 April.

Adrian Jones led this walk on Sat 6 Apr. By popular request this was a repeat of the the walk he led on 10 Feb and is in two parts; the first is north from Meriden and is about 4 miles long. It is mostly on footpaths, with some woodland, some short lengths of lane and 4 or 5 stiles. The second part is south from Meriden and almost all of it is on footpaths. 

This walk was led by Greg & Deb Lakin on Sun 24 Mar starting from The Black Boy, Warwick Rd, Knowle, B93 0EB (directions in Google Maps). The walk was based on this route from AllTrails: Millennium Way: Heronfield and Temple Balsall. 

Jane and Colin led this walk of around 8 miles from Perry Barr Station (Birchfield Road, Perry Barr, B20 3JE) on Sat 9 Mar. We followed walk 13 from A-Z Birmingham Hidden Walks: Discover 20 routes in and around the city which is available at "Amazon and all good booksellers".  The walk is on pavements, canal towpaths and uneven park paths and the following notes come from the guidebook:   

'There's never been a better time for Birmingham to tell its story' according to Peaky Blinders creator and opening ceremony producer, Steven Knight, on the event that will change the city's image for generations of people. The focal point of the 2022 Commonwealth Games is the renovated Alexander Stadium, which features on this walk along with the athletes' village that never was, as well as a cemetery and an iconic landmark rarely traversed on foot.

This walk of contrasts starts in the northern suburb of Perry Barr, 4 miles (6.7 km) from the city centre. You will discover a charming lock-keeper's cottage hidden from view. You will walk through Birmingham's largest cemetery with a spectacular chapel offering one of the best vantage points over the City, and where dignified graves remind us of the shared history that the Commonwealth nations have beyond sport.

Approaching along the Tame Valley Canal you will pass under north Birmingham's temple to brutalism: Spaghetti Junction- With the tangle of roads spiralling above, there is a surprising calm along the tree-lined canal-side. These are some of Birmingham's least-visited gems that offer a rewarding experience for the more adventurous explorer. 

Sue and Bill Kiely led this walk of just over 8 miles from the Railway Inn, Dorridge on Sun 25 Feb. Leaving the Railway Inn, we headed to Packwood Church before skirting Packwood House grounds and dropping onto the Grand Union Canal, crossing to the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, leaving the canal at the Drawbridge, and returning to the Railway Inn via fields, copses and lanes. Only a few stiles, but quite a lot of mud! 

The address for the Railway Inn is Grange Road, Dorridge, B93 8QA. Click the following link for directions in Google Maps. 

A walk of around 7.5 miles led by Adrian Jones. The route is in two parts;  the first is north from Meriden and is about 4 miles long. It is mostly on footpaths, with some woodland and some short lengths of lane. The second part is south from Meriden and almost all on footpaths through fields. (Note that, by popular request, Adrian repeated this walk on 6 April.)

Evan Grant led this walk of 14.2km (8.8 miles) from The Black Boy (Warwick Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0EB - directions in Google Maps) on Sun 28 Jan. The route follows the Grand Union Canal before turning up the Stratford Canal and following footpaths and quiet roads past Packwood House and St Giles Church to Dorridge Park. The route continues along Dorridge streets and through some more fields before re-joining the Grand Union at The King's Arms and finishing back along the towpath. There are some kissing gates and stiles, a couple of which are not dog-friendly. There were several places that were very muddy when we did this walk.

A walk of 8 miles / 13km , based on this route from OSMaps.com, led by Tas Hind on Sun 14 Jan from The Throckmorton, Coughton Hill, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5HX (directions in Google Maps). The route is on footpaths over fields and through woods, and on some quiet lanes. Expect a fair amount of mud in winter. 

Jane Hodge led our New Year's Day walk for 2024 from The Bear Inn, Berkswell, CV7 7BB (Google Maps). We walked 7.8 miles (12.6km) in bright, clear weather, though it was very muddy underfoot. The online map linked below shows a variation of the route which is slightly shorter at 7 1/2 miles, and avoids a private footpath we were able to use on the day of the walk.