Social News Reporter Alice Sjoberg has shared her experience of a 'hidden gem' walk located just 40 minutes from Birmingham, which takes visitors through a 'magical' bluebell forest. Having lived on the southern border of Birmingham for nearly two years, Alice set a goal to explore more of the region this year. With warmer weather and blooming flowers, she decided to enjoy a forest walk and nature.
A Picturesque Village Start
After some research, Alice and her boyfriend drove to the village of Wootton Wawen, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. The village itself was perfectly picturesque, with cute cottages and the oldest church in Warwickshire. They parked and headed straight for the canal walk, saving village exploration for later.
The Canal and Bluebell Forest
The walk began along the canal, where they enjoyed waterside views, greeted sheep and lambs, and soaked up the sunshine. Turning right onto bridge 51, they entered the magical bluebell forest. They arrived at the perfect time to see thousands of bluebells blooming, often stopping to admire the scenery. By accidentally walking the trail in reverse, they had the forest mostly to themselves, enjoying the sounds of nature in the early morning sunshine.
Austy Wood and Farmer's Field
Continuing through the bluebell forest, they reached Austy wood, a traditional woodland with trees and wild garlic, and still spotted bluebells. They began crossing paths with other walkers, including families with kids and dogs. Following the path out of the forest, they were surprised to find it led through a farmer's field. They stayed on the narrow path, careful not to damage crops as signs instructed.
Yew Tree Farm Shopping Village
Instead of walking through another field back to the canal, they headed down the road to the village to visit Yew Tree Farm shopping village. There, they bought bakery-made pies and sausage rolls for about £3 each, and enjoyed the most delicious hot chocolate from Henley Chocolate. A café offering sit-down meals is on the list for their next visit.
Perfect Weekend Walk
The entire walk was just over three miles long, taking about an hour and a half to complete, including stops to enjoy the scenery. Alice and her boyfriend plan to return several times this spring and summer for more walks through the forest.
