Swanning about with Towpath Turpin

What better way is there to spend a warm summer's day than to go for a country walk, stop off at a couple of pubs and finish up at a beer festival? That certainly sounds rather perfect to me, and that's exactly what 'Towpath Turpin' and I enjoyed during a visit to Brewood and Wheaton Aston on Thursday 11th June...

- St Mary's Catholic Church, Brewood -

Leaving the Stagecoaches behind in Warwickshire, Nick joins me in Wolverhampton ready for a ride on Arriva's 76 Stafford bus which will take us to Brewood. The route now calls at the i54 development on the Wolverhampton/South Staffordshire border, providing handy connections to Jaguar Land Rover and Moog. Coven is also encountered before we arrive into Brewood, alighting at the Swan Hotel and immediately investigating landmarks such as Speedwell Castle and St Mary's Catholic Church.

- Sighting Swans at Belvide -

Our chosen walk encompasses lanes, fields and waterways with Nick being retitled 'Towpath Turpin' in reference to our intended investigations of the Shropshire Union Canal. Setting out from High Green Bridge, we soon reach the mobile homes of Shutt Green and branch off towards Belvide Reservoir noting the West Midlands Bird Club car park. There is momentary debate about the relative definitions of houses and cottages as we negotiate woodland and wheat paddocks, emerging onto a farm drive with views of the reservoir. Belvide was originally constructed in the 1830s to service what was then the Birmingham & Liverpool Junction Canal, and these days serves as a nature reserve noted for rare species of bird; access is via permit or club membership only.

- Bridge 18, Shropshire Union Canal -

Crossing the busy A5, we make our way through a working farmyard with inquisitive cows watching our every move. A sequence of bridle gates then bring us to the Monks Walk, an ancient path that prompts Nick to imagine himself as part of a historic monastic order. The track is said to have been part of a route that connected the priory at Lapley with White Ladies at Bishops Wood; today it links us to Bridge 17 of the Shropshire Union for our final approach into Wheaton Aston.

- Look at what you could have won! -

Bridge 17 is swiftly followed by numbers 18 and 19 as we reach Long Street where the Hartley Arms stands opposite the atmospheric village garage, a place that continues to provide diesel supplies for passing narrowboats. A farm, a chicken coop and the local pharmacy all feature as we head further into the village, pausing at the Coach & Horses for a refreshing half of Banks's Bitter and a chance meeting with 'Bully' from  Bullseye. Nick was admittedly somewhat bemused by this experience but I always say "you can't beat a bit of Bully" and at least we didn't end up winning a speedboat!

- A Stop at Stretton -

It would have been remiss to do one pub and not the other so we had a half in the Hartley Arms as well, Towpath Turpin eagerly grappling with a Cocky Blonde as we sat outside munching scratchings and peanuts while looking out over the moored boats below. We were now suitably refreshed for the stroll back to Brewood, this time going directly along the canal with Stretton Aqueduct proving a particularly notable feature. The structure was designed by Thomas Telford to carry the cut above Watling Street.

- Supping in The Swan -

It is definitely a day for doing things at a leisurely pace as by and by we arrive back in Brewood. The Bridge pub is positioned next to Bridge 14 as we account for respective halves of New World IPA and Jennings Dark Mild. We then decamp to the Swan Hotel, an atmospheric old coaching inn where I have to mind not to bash my head on the low beams. Theakstons Black Bull Bitter trades with Three Tuns XXX to set us up nicely for the return ride on the 76 as we ponder puzzling text messages about an unknown 'Judy'.

- Anyone for Ale? -

Our evening appointment is at the Wulfrun Hall as it plays host to the 40th Wolverhampton Beer Festival. Ken joins us there as we sample the wares including Holden's Park Ale (a recipe resurrected as part of the brewery's centenary celebrations), Kinver's Bob (brewed in tribute to the sadly-departed Bob Jones) and Morton's Life Begins (brewed especially for the festival as part of the 40th anniversary theme). Ken in turn rides Kinver's Light Railway and uncovers some Shropshire Gold, whereas Nick succumbs to a Blonde Obsession - need I say more? A cracking day out with an excellent event to finish!