Bearing Up in Bridgnorth

Saturday April 11th - time for an Easter Saturday outing, joining Rog, Woody, Andy and Bruce for a tour of Shropshire. No sign of any chocolate or Easter bunnies, but at least the beer was flowing nicely...

• Its an early start as I make my way across to Stourbridge on a 256 Metrobus via Wombourne and Kingswinford. I do enjoy sampling the Metrobuses, and it will be a shame when they are taken out of service.
  
  
• At Stourbridge I meet with Woody, Rog and Bruce as we board the Dodger. We got a great deal on a Group Save ticket to Kidderminster, although Bruce got away without paying yet again.
  
  
• Stourbridge Junction, and we board the Worcester train in search of Andy. Bad news! He's still at Rowley Regis, and the emergency timetable has kicked in already. Luckily he's not too far behind and catches us up at Kidderminster Town Station.
  
  
• Time for some travelling in style as we hop on to the Severn Valley Railway for a classic ride to Arley. I was particularly impressed with the seats in our carriage - very comfy with recliner buttons for a bit of luxury. The journey was great, stepping back in time through Bewdley and over Victoria Bridge as Rog and Woody reminisced about exploring the riverbank.
  
  
• Arley Station: a picture postcard station, looking a delight as the sun shone brightly. Bruce gets posing with the running board and road bridge, whilst I take a selection of photos covering both platforms. The station house is particularly striking with another selection of old signs and adverts that capture the atmosphere of a bygone age. The other platform had a smaller brick shelter and lots of pretty cottage plants dotted about. Cracking stuff!
  
  
• Arley Village: we next set off to explore the village, heading down to the river past the Harbour pub - Rog seemed quite disappointed that it wasn't open, but it was only about half past ten in the morning. We cross the river on a pedestrian footbridge that offered nice views along the valley, and then investigate the main village complete with a cottage post office on the riverbank. A narrow lane takes us up to the gates of Arley Arboretum - the 297 turns around here, so we linger here for a while, exchanging rather worrying ringtones whilst waiting for the bus to arrive.
  
  
• The 297: a route linking Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, currently operated by Arriva. Bus arrives slightly late and the driver demonstrates his reversing prowess. Hopping on board, I feel we've gatecrashed a senior's daytrip as the bus is packed out - mind you, Rog and Andy never miss a chance to charm the old ladies anyway. As well as Arley, the route serves some other pretty villages, notably Alveley where I spot another traditional post office next door to the village pub, very picturesque.
  
  
• Bridgnorth: Despite the old lady sitting behind me insisting that we should try the Cliff Railway, we alight in High Town where Rog makes an excited beeline straight for the Wetherspoon's (the Jewel of the Severn). Here we savour our first pints of the day, Guinness Reds for the others whilst I try some Welsh Brains and very nice it was too. We decide to stop here for some lunch with all of us plumping for the beer and burger deal, which much to my amazement actually arrived with a decent serving of chips - I almost choked on my beer I was that shocked!!! Suitably fed, we found ourselves with a spare ten minutes before our next bus was due, just enough time for a quick drink in the Golden Lion, where Rog upsets the barmaid then downs a pint of Abbots Ale in record time.
  
  
• The 436: The bus was running rather late, leaving us wondering if we'd missed it because the bus stops in Bridgnorth had been altered. Saying that, the wait did at least give Andy chance to sort out his bladder, and the bus finally turned up just as we were about to give up on it completely. Its only a short ride to Much Wenlock, which is just as well given that Rog was starting to look distinctly uncomfortable as that quick pint of Abbots came back to haunt him.
  
  
• Much Wenlock: the late running of the 436 meant that our intended pub visit here turned into a brief toilet break before catching the 39. I nipped into the conveniences at the bus interchange, but the others got confused by a wayward sign and ended up relieving themselves in rather more open surroundings!! The 39 was soon on the scene, providing a couple of handy photos before we settled in for the ride through to Telford via Broseley, Jackfield, Ironbridge and Madeley.
  
  
• Telford: Having missed out on the pubs at Much Wenlock, a drink at Telford became quite a priority. I wasn't quite sure where the Wetherspoon's was, but did track it down via a merry dance through the Telford Shopping Centre - unfortunately there was a quicker shortcut but we'll know better for next time. The Wetherspoon's concerned is the Thomas Botfield, and I reverted to the cider whilst Rog pondered the merits of the local estate agent, Nicholas Tart.
  
  
• Shifnal: After a quick shuffle on the 891 through Priorslee, we arrive at Shifnal for a further pint, finding a cracking little pub called the Wheatsheaf. Rog and Andy were suffering with their bladders again, so Bruce was left to order the drinks and make the acquaintance of the barmaid Claire. We found a nice table outside to provide a long overdue cheers photo, before waiting in vain for the 892 to show up. With the emergency timetable once again kicking in, we drowned our sorrows with a quick pint in the Beehive before settling back down at the Wheatsheaf, our newly-appointed Shifnal local of choice.
  
  
• Thankfully the 892 at half past five did make an appearance, providing a useful connection into Tettenhall via Cosford, Tong and Albrighton. At Tettenhall I introduced the chaps to the Rock Hotel, where we had a decent meal and I thankfully managed to avoid my cousin given that Bruce was in attendance. A late running 501 got us back into Wolverhampton, where I bid the guys farewell at the end of another successful and most enjoyable outing.