UK Mountains Expedition Report

On the third Sunday in August each year there is a gauntlet of challenge thrown down by a walking club based in Kidderminster; to walk the 38 miles of the Worcestershire Way in one day.

Being of sound body but decidedly unsound mind, I decided I would take up the challenge and attempt it, and so it was that at 5:00am on Sunday 16th August 1992 I dragged myself out of my pit and prepared to drive to the pick up point.

Now this walk is extremely well organised, they lay on coaches to drive all walkers from the finish area back to the start point, so one effectively walks back to ones car - a good incentive if ever there was one! The coaches depart at 6:45am from the Kingsford Country Park near Kidderminster and drive to the start of the walk just below Malverns North Hill.

The organisers allow walkers to do one of several distances; 38 miles, 25 miles, 12 miles or 9 miles depending on their state of mind, dropping them along the way at their chosen distance. There were about 50 other walkers doing the full walk and we set off from the coach at various speeds, one of which was one of those people who takes great pleasure in telling everyone who will listen and a lot who won't of all of his achievements - yes, he said proudly to me, I have run a half marathon you know, oh yes I said, what sort of time did you do? Under two hours he replied, beat that then - well, actually I can, but decided not to pursue the topic. Oh yes, I've done all sorts of walks all over the place...blah...blah...blah. I could take no more and, pretending I had seen my walking partner up ahead, set off to catch him. I had run for several minutes and could still hear him yakking, perhaps I can't beat two hours I thought, but looking back I had covered a fair distance. In order to have a peaceful walk I decided to run for the first few miles to get clear, then walk. It was a beautiful morning and I found myself running along enjoying the scenery and the solitude and I decided I would keep running until I had enough - or was out of earshot of Mr Wonderful at least!

Along the way, there were various checkpoints, these had a dual purpose; firstly to keep track of where everyone was in case of accident or failure to finish, and secondly to provide refreshment to the participants. The first of these was at Knightwick, and as I trotted in, the Marshall was opening biscuit tins and pouring squash. I took a few biscuits and a drink. After passing the time of day and taking a breather I continued my way, initially up Ankerdine Hill (1 in 4) then running once more as I reached the top. Across the ridge towards Berrow Green I looked back and saw, some ten miles away, the Malvern range standing proudly in the summer sunshine - a welcome sight for anyone doing the walk in the opposite direction.

Onwards past the 'Admiral Rodney' - closed unfortunately - and across newly mown fields and up to Rodge Hill which provided excellent views towards Tenbury Wells and Shelsley Beauchamp where I could make out the distinct sounds of a Hill-Climb meeting being held that day, the scream of the engines breaking the otherwise silence of the day like a knife. From Shelsley the way follows wooded paths for several miles and one is not quite sure where one is, although the general trend is upwards. Eventually I emerged onto Walsgrove Hill and could look out over Abberley Hall School with its impressive clock tower, built as a folly by a local landowner some one hundred and ten years ago. The descent to the school was steep, but being dry was easily negotiated. The way actually passes through the school grounds.

From Abberley, the way skirts around Abberley village over the hill and down to the quarry where there was another checkpoint. I stopped for food and drink - sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and orange juice. It was twelve mid-day and I had covered some nineteen miles in four hours, I felt quite pleased. I rested for about ten minutes, discovering that there was only one person in front of me by about fifteen minutes.

Setting off I elected to walk for a while allowing my food and drink to digest and take a break from running. The route follows paths across fields and tracks, winding its way towards Bewdley. After walking for about twenty minutes I decided to start running again and made good time, arriving in Bewdley just after two in the afternoon. I had covered some twenty seven miles and was beginning to feel the effects. Jogging through the town centre I realised I had a serious decision to make - the pubs were open! Should I stop for a quick one? After a few minutes thought I decided that I had better not on the grounds that once stopped, getting started again would be impossible and so bravely continued on to the next checkpoint on the outskirts. Feeling proud of my willpower I gorged myself on their selection of cakes and biscuits and filled my water bottles before pressing on.

From Bewdley the way follows the River Severn and therefore the Severn Valley Steam Railway to Upper Arley, a lovely little village decimated by the number of tourists that visit it each year, partly by Steam Train, partly by car, but the shop and Tea Rooms weren't complaining! At this stage I had run pretty well the whole of the thirty two miles covered so far and my legs were beginning to complain. This was made worse by having to dodge and weave in and out of the scores of strollers and fishermen wandering along the path. I was well pleased to be leaving Arley and heading into Eymore Wood. The remaining five or six miles were all forest paths with the occasional openings, all of which were well placed for views towards Shropshire or back towards Malvern, although the Malverns were now well out of sight, last seen above Apperley.

Jogging through the woods of the Kingsford Country Park I noticed that once again I was climbing steadily and soon reached the final ridge to the finish. The finish itself is the meeting point of three walks; the Worcestershire Way, the North Worcestershire Path and the Staffordshire Way. Pausing only briefly to savour the moment I started the descent to the car park and finish area.

I finished the way in just over eight hours and was rewarded with a certificate and rucsac badge. I changed into some clean dry clothes and headed for the catering truck taking great pleasure in demolishing large quantities of hot dogs and mugs of tea.

It was a great experience, the way passes through some lovely scenery on its way. I would recommend anyone to do it, it is not arduous, although there are a number of fairly steep hills to climb. I have done it twice, once as reported here and once more leisurely over a weekend.

The organised walk is open to anyone, there is no need to be a member of the organising club - I am not and you don't need to run it if you don't want to!