Brownhills, Chasetown and Rushall

A nice weekend spent with Rog exploring across Walsall way and sampling a few pubs as we went along. Here are the highlights...

• We started off with the shuttle train from Wolverhampton to Walsall, giving Rog chance to catch up with my recent thumbnails and get RSI in the process.
• From Walsall it was onto the 394A for a proper Metrobus ride up to Brownhills West.
• Brownhills West - a look at the Rising Sun and Crown pubs then a walk through the estate to Brownhills West Station, part of the Chasewater Railway. A nice little station with a heritage feel, good to have a proper look.
• Chasewater - a walk around the reservoir, bringing back childhood memories. We had a quick look at Anglesey Basin (the terminus of the Wyrley and Essington Canal) before crossing the reservoir dam as we headed for Chasetown.
• Chasetown - time for some pubs and a bit of lunch. We started in the Uxbridge Arms before making our way to the Crown, both were decent locals. Food involved pasties and sausage rolls at the local park, and I even got a bonus shot of the 61 bus before the return walk back to Brownhills West.
• Rising Sun - a landmark pub overlooking the roundabout, I felt it had a slight ranch feel to it. We quenched our thirst whilst experimenting with the sepia and negative settings on Rog's new camera.
• Walsall Wood - after a run for the 56 bus, we found ourselves in Walsall Wood, giving me chance to check out the old shed library and its new replacement before joining the canal down to Black Cock Bridge.
• The Black Cock - after a bit more walking it was time for another pint, and I wanted to satisfy my curiosity having taken photos of this pub during previous outings. It was worth the visit, with Rog commandeering the jukebox and the chance to watch the Epsom Derby. It seemed one of the regulars had reason to celebrate...
• Rushall - late afternoon saw us head down to Rushall to track down the Manor Arms, reputedly one of Walsall's oldest pubs, before heading up to the Royal Oak to watch F1 qualifying whilst Rog annoyed Pedro the parrot. With the Daw End Canal and the Park Lime Pits Nature Reserve to explore in future, this was a good marker for further investigation.
• Wednesfield - after a quick visit to Willenhall, we finished Saturday night off in Wednesfield playing Yahtzee and drinking real ale in the Vine pub. I think the Vine was actually my favourite pub of the whole outing, friendly and traditional with a bonus bag of proper scratchings.
• West Park - the weekend continued with a mini-outing on the Sunday morning, beginning at a glorious looking West Park with a look at the lake and a stroll around the Steam & Vintage Rally.
• Penn - a final few pints to round off a nice weekend, with Rog taking the chance to familiarise himself with some pubs at the Wolverhampton end of the 256 route. The Spring Hill gave us chance for more camera experiments, this time trying to get the timer to work, whilst the Rose and Crown provided a final chat before Rog's bus home.

A fine weekend's exploring action there, making the most of some good weather as it felt like summer had well and truly arrived. I got plenty of photos, Rog got plenty of aches and pains, and poor old Pedro the parrot got thoroughly traumatised. Lets hope the good weather continues and that further outings are to follow.