Colton Hills and Sedgley

Times are tough and there isn't much positive news around at the moment so we have to take our pleasures where we can. Friday 25th September saw me counting my blessings when a beautiful autumnal day presented the chance for some Colton Hills exploration and a pint or two over Sedgley way...

- Bradmore Bowling Club -

We may all be living under further restrictions again but at least I can't fault the weather, glorious sun-filled skies smiling down as my walk begins in Bradmore. The local recreation ground is starting to get a crunchy carpet of leaf fall as befits this time of year, with berries on the bushes and fruit in the trees, although there hasn't been much activity at the bowling club of late. St Philip's Church is having some repair work done and Beckminster Road has a sleepy quality as I prepare to pick my way past Penn. 

- Colton Hills Countryside -

One of my recurring lockdown themes has been to seek out corners of Wolverhampton I hadn't visited before, whereby the open spaces near Colton Hills School certainly fit that brief. Goldthorn Crescent and Coton Road combine in bringing me to a public footpath that effectively flanks three edges of the school boundary - on one side you can see playing pitches and educational buildings, to the other are charming views towards Penn Common and Sedgley Beacon.

- Colton Hills Community School -

My only previous encounters with Colton Hills Community School had involved seeing it from afar when nosing around the Goldthorn Park estate, so this change of angle works rather nicely. As a mixed secondary and sixth form facility, the school has been based here since 1975 and has its main entrance down a long driveway off Jeremy Road. I get a picture or two of the CHCS crest and then track down my next footpath, this one passing the back of the Ramada Park Hall Hotel and carefully plotting a course between private land near the Beacon Centre for the Blind. 

- The obstacle course awaits... -

Unsure where this path was going to come out, I'm pleasantly surprised to emerge at the Northway from whence Greenleighs can connect me onto a further footpath bound for Hickmerelands Lane. When spotted in the A-Z this looked like an ideal shortcut into Sedgley but in practice it turns out to be a tricky narrow right of way pressed tight against garden fences, ducking through undergrowth and hurdling farm stiles - not as straightforward as I'd hoped! A wary fox watches me from a safe berth as I scramble beneath more low branches and eventually breathlessly extricate myself onto Ettymore Road West. 

- Bring on the Dark Ruby! -

Almost midday in the centre of Sedgley and folk are queuing at suitable distances waiting to get into the Clifton Wetherspoons. I however have only one watering hole in mind, the Beacon Hotel being a place of WME pilgrimage where I must pay homage to the wonder that is Sarah Hughes' Dark Ruby Mild. Abiding by instructions to wear my face mask when not seated, I put the NHS Covid app to the test and successfully check in - all very surreal but if the reward is classic Black Country ale and a pack of scratchings any minor inconvenience is worth it, plus I can't fault the pub's efforts to provide as virus-free an environment as possible. 

- A Moden Hill Moment -

The Dark Ruby is on typically excellent form in readying me for a Cotwall End detour, my intention being to enjoy more pastoral scenery on the fringes of the Black Country. Catholic Lane serves as base for the Brockswood Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organisation that rehabilitates sick and abused animals - I recall coming on trips here when I was at infants school many moons ago. Moden Hill has me fearing a steep climb but it isn't quite as arduous as anticipated, the views soon making up for any aching muscles. 

- Journey's end at the Jolly Crispin -

All of which brings me to a Jolly Crispin conclusion in Upper Gornal, this former shoemaker's cottage having become renowned for quality beer with links to the Fownes Brewing Company (which started life in an outhouse here prior to relocating to Brierley Hill). Crispin's Ommer is the fresh-as-you-like house ale while I also succumb to Titanic temptation courtesy of a rollicklingly good pint of Raspberry Wheat. The months ahead are likely to be particularly difficult for our pubs so please support them if you can, and of course stay safe and Covid alert in the process - cheers!