A wet, muddy ramble around Fradley Junction

Same walk as nearly a year ago, coincidentally, but rather different vistas opened up to us with all the rain in the past few days. Duly armed with Fradley Walks map No 3 we set off in several layers and sunglasses. Beautiful morning, chilly but very bright sunshine.

The walk meanders along the towpath south for about 2 miles and once we had left the canalside pub, cafe and boatyard area, we saw hardly anyone. A few hardy souls tending their boats, one passed us with a cheery morning but apart from that we were in isolation. There were points when it seemed hard to see where the tow path ended and the canal started as the water level was so high.
 

Kings Bromley Marina

 

 

Once we had left the towpath there was some road walking for about a mile or so and this is where we saw some wondrous sites in the fields, streams and brooks had completely burst their banks and flooded fields on either sides with cars valiantly driving too fast through flooded sideroads, determined to reach their Sunday lunch destination, no doubt.

 

 Flooded asparagus field

The last roses of the year

 

 

The walk continued down a farm track, over stiles and through very muddy fields.We came across a broken wooden bridge which has deteriorated in the past year and not been repaired. We managed to get across although the dog needed a little persuasion!

 

We passed Alrewas Hayes, a beautiful farmhouse and now hotel, not far from the Junction.

Just past the hotel we walked diagonally though a bamboo field, same as last year and still perplexed as to why it is grown there.

 

The walk ended soon after wading through the nature reserve set back from the canal and arriving out through the caravan park. It would seem churlish, having parked at the pub, not to go in and use the facilities. Thirst quenched and pork bap consumed, we wended our way home as the light seemed to be fading by 2pm. A delightful way to spend a few hours.