REAL ALE RAMBLE 332 Saturday May 18

STOKE BAKERY 3 miles & 3 pubs

Our first attempt to visit Stoke Bakery failed as they aren’t open on Sundays, so here we go on another attempt to visit, this time on a Saturday.

We meet at 12 noon at TWISTED BARREL in Fargo. At 12.30 we set off along Grafton Street and then follow the cycle path alongside Binley Road, passing Stoke Green to reach the BIGGIN HALL HOTEL.

We can stay at the Biggin Hall for half an hour before starting back along Biggin Hall Crescent to STOKE BAKERY. Here we can refuel with pies and or cakes to way on our way through Stoke Green. Then we take Hugh Road to Humber Road, where we find the HUMBER HOTEL.

Here we have another half an hour’s break before setting off again along Humber Avenue to cross the old railway line, which is now a footpath. Then we walk through the housing of Lower Stoke by turning right into St George’s Road and left into Northfield Road, where we pass the old Gosford Park Hotel, now accommodation. At the bottom of thr hill we go right into Charterhouse Road, cross Gulson Road and follow Bramble Street and Grafton Street to return to TWISTED BARREL.

FUTURE EXPEDITIONS

All meeting times are 12 noon, unless specified otherwise.

June 15 SOUTHAM

July 13 DRAYCOTE WATER

Aug LADY LANE CLUB etc

Sept BIRMINGHAM SOUTH

Oct SUTTON COLDFIELD

Nov WINDMILL HILL BREWERY’S BAR IN LEAMINGTON

Meets for these walk are always 12 noon for a 12.30 start. Copies of the walks are available at Beer Gonzo, Earlsdon.

SUNDAY LUNCH WALKS

These walks all start at 12 noon. Copies of these walks can be obtained from Beer Gonzo in Earlsdon, or for more details contact moc.liamg@ttekculfg>

SUNDAY LUNCH WALK 132 Sunday May 5th

BRANDON WOODS 3 miles & 1 cafe

This month we will hopefully see a carpet of bluebells in the woods. Following the demise of the Roseycombe we will meet at the CAFE IN THE PARK, just off Birchwood Road. This was closed in March, as the lady who runs it was on holiday, so I’m hoping it will be open in May. I understand that her holidays can be somewhat extended as she returns home to Nepal!

We meet at the Cafe at 12 noon and set of at 12.30 through the park to enter the woodland. We turn right and follow the edge of the wood in an anti-clockwise direction, keeping to the broad, well trodden path. We curve round to the southern boundary of the wood. Eventually we pass small fields used for sheep rearing and then the woodyard associated with Brandon Wood.

Next a house can be seen through the trees. Coming to the eastern extreme of the wood the path turns north and soon we pass a woodland pond and bench. There are some attractively carved benches on this walk, and this is perhaps the best, with an owl at one end and a hedgehog at the other.

Then we reach the northern edge of the wood and continue with the housing of Binley Woods on our right. We pass garages, blocks of flats and then allotments before returning to the park and CAFE. Here we can rest with tea and perhaps some Nepalese samosas!

SUNDAY LUNCH WALK 133 Sunday June 2nd

GARDEN OF HOPE AND LAKES 4 miles & 1 pub

We have a delightful walk for this month, lets hope its dry and warm! We meet at the PHANTOM COACH on Fletchamstead Highway, resplendent in its new white paintwork, at 12 noon and set off walking at 12.30. At least with its new paintwork the Phantom Coach looks like a pub, rather than the previous drab grey and blue which made it look like a battleship proceeding in a stately manner down the Highway!

From here we walk through the old Canley village, past Ivy Farmhouse. Then we follow Shultern Lane and pass Canon Park Shopping Centre to our right. Next we enter the Science Park and follow Sir William Lyons Road, passing a duck pond at the junction with Milburn Hill Road and emerging into the University alongside the Lord Batty Building.

We cross Gibbet Hill Road and the RB211 fan blades to follow Scarman Road, passing the Scarman Building and turning right at the sign for ‘Lakeside Apartments’. We walk through the car park and across a grassy area to reach the footpath that follows the perimeter of the University. Here we go left and after a few hundred yards we see the furniture in the Garden of Hope through the hedgerow on our right.

The Garden of Hope is part of the grounds of St John’s church, Westwood Heath, which is visible through the trees. Here we can take a little rest and relaxation whilst meditating the wonders of God’s creation.

From the garden we take the footpath towards Kenilworth, which runs parallel to the path around the perimeter of the University. At the end of the field we turn left to re-enter the grounds of the University. After a few hundred yards again a red lifebuoy comes into sight on our left. This marks the first pond in the University. It appears to be a balancing pond, but despite the winter rains there was little water in it on my visit in April.

Then we pass larger lakes with swans, geese and ducks. We emerge onto service roads again and soon return to the Scarman Building, from where we retrace our steps to the PHANTOM COACH.

FUTURE EXPEDITIONS

All meeting times are 12 noon, unless specified otherwise.

Sunday July7 BEDWORTH Meet at the Mayor's Cafe in the Miners Welfare Park

Sunday Aug COUNDON AND RADFORD COMMON Meet at the Holyhead, Holyhead Road

JACOBEAN WEDGE Coundon Wedge starting a t the Jacobean Hotel

EARLSDON BEATING THE BOUNDS

FESTIVAL TO WHITLEY

ALAN HIGGS CENTRE