Distance: 4 miles
Start Point: Coal Aston Village Hall (lower car park)
Description: A glorious walk through woods and meadows in the part of the Moss Valley close to Coal Aston
Highlights: Atmospheric walks through woods
Terrain: Field and woodland paths. This area can become very muddy after heavy rainfall.
Walk Description
Turn right out of the car park and head down Birches Lane. At the end of the lane turn left along the enclosed path that runs behind the allotments. When the path runs out, enter the field and continue straight up, following the hedge that borders the allotments. After entering a second field, and just after the red and white gas pipeline marker, cross over into the adjacent field and continue along the path that runs diagonally across the field.
At the end of the field take the steps down onto Cross Lane. Turn right along the lane and in around 50 m follow the track around to the left into an open field. When you reach the corner of the field immediately on your right, take the path downhill that leads into the wood. Go through the gate and follow the broad path through the wood ignoring the path that heads off to the right. Continue along this path for approx. 400 m until you reach a footbridge across the river Moss.
After crossing the river take the path on the right heading gently uphill. Continue to follow the path as it turns to the left and heads uphill more steeply. Ignore the major track that crosses your path and continue up the bank to a stile leading into an open field. Go over the stile and in around 50m pass through a small gate. Continue along the path keeping the field boundary on your left but when you reach the hedge bounding the field ahead, move into the field on your left so that the hedge is now on your right. Soon you will reach a metal gate with a stile on the right which leads into an enclosed path. Follow the path all the way to Hazelbarrow farm. At this point take the broad track on your right that follows the field boundary.
Keep following the path around the field until you reach the far corner of the field where the path divides. Take the left hand path that heads towards the woods and enter Newfield Spring Wood via the kissing gate. (At this point you can choose not to enter the wood and continue following the field boundary if you wish. Continue along the woodland path with the field boundary only a few meters to your right. Eventually the main woodland path leads you back into the field through a squeeze stile. Cut across the corner of the field and continue to follow the edge of the field with Bridle Road Wood on your left, until you reach a stile leading into Dowey Lumb. This triangular shaped meadow is noted for its wildflowers and insect life, it is also a good place for a coffee stop.
Walk down the hill towards a footbridge at the far end of the meadow. Don’t cross the footbridge though, instead turn left on the path alongside the river. Pass through a short section of woodland, cross over the footbridge and carry on up the steps to reach an open field. Walk straight up the field towards a bench at the top. On reaching the bench turn right on the path that follows the hedge. Just after the path turns left up the hill, take the path leading into the woods on your right. Follow the forestry path ignoring any branches to the right until you reach two paths close together that head steeply downhill (take your time on this section as it can be quite tricky especially after rain.) . Take the second of the two paths and follow it all the way to the footbridge over the river Moss, a distance of around 400 m.
Cross the footbridge and take the path to your left and slightly uphill. After a short distance you will reach the junction of 3 indistinct paths. Take the leftmost of these (although they will all get you onto the same path). Soon you will reach a path that runs along the top edge of the woods (part of the Dronfied Round Walk). Turn left along the path and continue until you eventually emerge into the field. (There are two points on this stretch where you can exit the woods and follow the path in the field instead.) On leaving the wood, take the diagonal path that leads to a stile in the fence.
Carry on through a further three fields. At this point the path becomes a more substantial track that leads all the way to Birches Lane. Walk up Birches lane to the car park to complete your walk.