Social News Reporter Alice Sjoberg claims to have found a 'hidden gem' as she went on a woodland walk in the West Midlands, only to find the path surrounded by thousands of bluebells
Having spent nearly two years living near the southern parts of Birmingham, I've barely scratched the surface of what this part of the country has to offer.
Apart from the occasional day trip into central Birmingham, I've made it my mission to discover more of city and its surrounding areas this year. And with warmer weather arriving and flowers beginning to bloom, what better opportunity than a forest walk to soak up some nature?
After doing some research into local walking trails, my boyfriend and I set off on a short 15 minute drive to the village of Wootton Wawen, situated just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, to explore a nearby walking route. The moment we arrived in the village, I was blown away by just how stunningly picturesque it was, with charming cottages dotted about and Warwickshire's oldest church standing proud in the middle of the village.
However, once we'd secured parking, we headed straight for the canal trail to start our walk, planning to save our village exploration for later. We began by joining the canal walk, where we enjoyed strolling alongside the water, greeting some sheep and lambs, and simply enjoying in the sunshine. We then veered right at bridge 51 and entered the enchanting bluebell forest.
Our timing couldn't have been better, as we'd arrived just as thousands of bluebells were in full bloom, and we frequently paused simply to absorb the stunning scenery surrounding us. Having accidentally set off along the walking trail in the opposite direction to most visitors, we found ourselves largely alone, soaking up the sounds of nature in the gentle early morning sun. Winding our way through the bluebell forest, we soon reached Austy Wood, a more traditional stretch of woodland.
The trail led us past towering trees and wild garlic, with the occasional bluebell still dotting the landscape. It was around this point that we began encountering fellow walkers, which largely consisted of families with children and dogs, all making the most of the walk together. As the path emerged from the forest, we were rather surprised to discover it continued straight through a farmer's field.
Sticking closely to the narrow track cutting through the ploughed earth, we took care not to stray, heeding the signs warning visitors to avoid damaging any crops. Rejoining the main route, we opted to follow the road back into the village rather than cutting through yet another field to reach the canal walk — largely because we were keen to stop at the nearby Yew Tree Farm shopping village. It proved an excellent decision.
We picked up some outstanding bakery-made pies and sausage rolls , along with what was genuinely the most delicious hot chocolate I've ever tasted, courtesy of Henley Chocolate, tucked away within the shopping village. There was also a café offering sit-down meals, which we've saved for our next visit — and with so many more woodland walks to enjoy, we're certain to be returning several times throughout spring and summer.
All in all, the walk stretched just over three miles, making it an ideal distance for a leisurely weekend stroll. It took us roughly an hour and a half to complete, factoring in the various stops we made to soak up the stunning scenery.
Walking Holidays Flowers English Nature
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