Location: Alvechurch

Leaders: Ian and Anna

Distance: About 8.5 miles with the opportunity for short cuts if adverse weather (hot or wet!)

Meeting place: Bentley Heath Car Park, leave at 9:30am

Start: Alvechurch public car park at 10am.  Tanyard Lane, Alvechurch, Birmingham  B48 7LN (The post code is for the house nearly opposite the car park entrance).

From J2 M42, go north (away from Alvechurch) on the A441. Left at the first roundabout, B4120, Redditch Road, left at next roundabout, Birmingham Road, straight on at next mini-roundabout, right at mini-roundabout next to the Red Lion. Car park is signed shortly on the left.

Description: The walk passes through the streets of Alvechurch to get to the Birmingham Worcester canal which it follows for a while. We then leave the canal, pass by the Bittell reservoirs and onto Cofton Hackett. We then rise up to the Lickey Hills, walk to Barnt Green through the shade (or shelter) of the woods, then return to Alvechurch via the canal again. There is a moderately steep climb to the Lickeys Visitor Centre, an uphill section across the motorway on return, but generally the walk is fairly flat, with a handful of easy stiles.

Lunch: Bring a packed lunch and your mats to sit on.