So, our final instalment before Christmas, to reach "home" - Ironbridge. Once again luck was with us and, although overcast, the day was dry and not too cold.
Resuming our route at David Austin Roses, we set a cracking pace with most of our way on flat lanes. The route follows large sections of The Monarch's Way at this point and even after leaving the lane at Caynton Cottages the way uses well surfaced farm tracks all the way to Beckbury.
As you swing out over open, arable farm land, The Wrekin pops into view. A real sense of nearing home for us.
Beckbury is a super village, and although on our doorstep, again somewhere I don't remember having been before.
As we left Beckbury, we soon came to familiar territory, as several of our Ironbridge Walks head over this way and use some of the same rights of way. Now we had to make sure that we followed the route rather than walk home the way we know! Local knowledge has its advantages though we could plan a handy lunch break at Sutton Maddock church, We've shared many a break there in its wide, welcoming porch.
After the church, the route crosses a couple of arable fields. These had only just been ploughed and planted, with no worn route across, so we opted to walk around the field edge. This actually proved to be not much further (we've walked across many times) and kept our boots mud free! The route then skirts the top of the woodland so it's easy to get back on track.
None of us had been looking forward to the descent through Sutton Wood and had poles to the ready, as it is often wet and muddy. However, our fears weren't realised - it was very pleasant and reasonably dry underfoot. And it doesn't matter how often you walk a route there's always something new. None of us had used the steps on the woodland side to get up onto Coalport Bridge. It was nice to look properly at the bridge itself - it's usually just a means of getting to the pub!
Again, checking the route, as we all knew plenty of ways to our destination from there, we walked into Ironbridge through Jackfield on the route of the old Severn Valley Railway. As you approach Jackfield, the landscaping from the stabilisation works has started to settle and look more "natural". The church at Jackfield is another worth visiting, though we didn't on this occasion. The route also passes the Tile Museum, another place I haven't visited for years. You do tend to take your own locality rather for granted.
Onwards, to finally arrive in Ironbridge, crossing the bridge to visit our favourite tea shop 86'd and meet up with more Ironbridge Walkers! We'd reached our goal - Ironbridge by Christmas!
A bit of a rest now, before we tackle Ironbridge to Church Stretton in January. According to the guidebook we have now covered 103 miles of the 280 mile route. My tracker has recorded 106 miles (107 if you round it differently!) so not a bad start to our challenge! Roll on 2017!
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