Fairfield, Pepper Wood and Chaddesley Wood, C Walk (BOOKING ESSENTIAL)

C WALK DESCRIPTION: Chaddesley Corbett to Fairfield Leader: Sofia Arif (+ Eva Hyde). 7.5 miles; some gentle ascents; 650 ft ascent overall.Starting at the attractive village of Chaddesley Corbett, we wander past the communal orchard and fields uphill to Chaddesley Wood, a national nature reserve and the remnant of a medieval forest (~ 1 mile). We continue past a grove of Redwood trees to the edge of the wood from where there is a view out to the distant Malvern Hills. After a short section of minor road, we continue down a wooded track, fields and more woodland to Dodford (3.7 miles). This was originally founded in 1849 as a Chartist settlement, to help working-class people to have enough land to vote and retains a grid street plan. We join the Monarch’s Way through part of Dodford and then across fields to Pepper Wood (5.1 miles). This is also a remnant of the medieval Feckenham Forest but clear felled following the second world war. It is a mixed forest, now owned by the Woodland Trust and is a site of special scientific interest (SSI). We go through the wood and then a track through fields. Leaving the Monarch’s Way we go to Bournheath, a small village (6.5 miles). If time permits, we may visit ‘The Gate’ dining pub before going along lanes and a footpath to a layby off the Stourbridge Road and the coach. The fare is £20.