Trip 1:Kingsbury Water Park,Fazeley, February 2024.
Day 1:
This is our first trip of 2024 and we return to Kingsbury again. There is a discount for one reason and there is lots of places to walk.
This trip we intend to walk into Kingsbury but that will be on another day.
Once we were set up and we had finished our lunch we sat and chilled for an hour before heading out along the canal.
After a mile we turned around and retraced our steps, unfortunately the pub was shut so we continued down to the old swing bridge and then followed the path beside one of the lakes back to the camp site.
There were a few dog walkers about and one lady runner pushing a buggy with her new born baby tucked inside..
Day 2:
Today we left the campsite and headed for the water park. The path took us under the A42 where we joined one of the many footpaths. The previous month of rain had flooded a lot of the woodland and we ended up on a very muddy path.
Eventually we found a proper footpath and we followed it to the main car park. We were headed for Kingsbury which was the other side of some lakes. At the edge of the main lake we saw a couple of unfamiliar type geese so we got out our RSPB book to find out what they were. They were Egyptian Geese.
Unfortunately a swan had the impression that the book was a slice of bread.
The swan came right up to me so I turned my back to it and we walked away but I still had the book in my hand and the swan continued to follow me with his head inches away from my back. After about 25 metres he gave up and stopped following me. We stopped to put the book away and another young swan started to head for us. We quickly headed along a path into the woods and the swan gave up the chase.
We crossed the river Tame by a footbridge and headed into the village. Our aim was to have a look at the church and the old hall. The old Kingsbury Hall was accessible to the public and according to the internet it is in the process of being renovated.
We headed for the church but it was closed so we had a look around the cemetery before heading to the Royal Oak pub. We stopped here for a drink before making our way back to the Water Park vis another footbridge over the river Tame.
We found a bench overlooking the narrow gauge railway that runs around the woodland. We stopped here and ate our sandwiches before heading back to the campsite.
Tea tonight was Sea Bass and prawns with garlic bread.
Day 3:
Today we walked to the Outdoor Education Centre by Brooke’s Croft pool before following the path to the canal.
We followed the canal, past the Gravel Pit bridge until we got to another bridge where the footpath branched off to the bird sanctuary or over the canal towards Middleton Hall.
We headed over the canal to the hall, stopping along the way to look at the nature reserve. The path took us past a derelict farmhouse and yard. I stopped and had a nose around before taking a picture of the barn roof.
We continued to Middleton hall which was closed for the winter but the old stables have been converted to small artisan shops and a cafe and these were open.
We made our way back to the canal and headed into the bird sanctuary. We stopped at a bird hide and ate our sandwiches before continuing around the lakes before heading back home.
Today’s walk was a total of seven miles.
Day 4:
Today we walked a diffent route which took us to the river Tame. On the way the going was very muddy and you could see where the river had over flowed into the Waterpark and filled the lakes and the surrounding land.
At the bridge which carries the A42 over the river Tame we saw that some of the artwork had been updated. Particularly on the opposite bank.
We left the bridge and decided to head to the canal. The paths were very muddy because this area had been underwater in the recent floods.
We made it to the main footpaths and followed the canal towpath to the pub, The Dog and Doublet. The pub was chilly because the heating had broken a couple of days before but we persevered and had a couple of beers before walking back.
We were going to find a bench to eat our lunch but we gave in and headed for the warmth of the motorhome.
Iona’s Travels 