Next walk: Birmingham Canals and Christmas Market, 8 Dec 2024

Our December walk takes us round some of the canals in Birmingham City Centre and out towards Winson Green on the Soho Loop. We finish back at Brindley Place from where it is only a short walk to the German Christmas Market in Victoria Square.

The route is just under five miles long and flat and easy throughout. No walking boots needed, but the towpaths may be a bit slippery so please wear suitable shoes.

There is a nice spot for lunch if we want to take a break, alternatively we could just have a quick drinks stop and eat at the market.

Please remember to bring a packed lunch and something to sit on.

The walk is suitable for dogs, but they will need to be on a leash for most of it.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Next walk: Aston to Erdington, 10 Nov 2024

Our November walk is an urban route, but with a countryside feel, and lovely at this time of year.

We will walk over to Erdington from Aston, passing Brookvale Park Lake and the Witton Lakes on the way.

Please note that this is not a circular walk and is best accessed on public transport.

We will start our walk in Aston, setting off along the canal. We walk towards Spaghetti Junction, one of Birmingham’s major landmarks and an impressive feat of modern engineering.

We then continue along the canal for a bit longer and finally leave it to walk over to Brookvale Park Lake. The end of the lake almost borders onto the beautiful Witton Lakes where we will stop to have lunch on some of the benches.

Suitably refreshed, we will continue over Perry Common and on to Erdington. Our walk concludes at the station.

This is a pleasant, well-paved and mostly flat route of 8km length. No need for walking boots but you should wear sturdy shoes. Most of the route is lovely and green, and particularly beautiful in the autumn.

From the end of the walk, there are trains and buses back to Birmingham City Centre.

Please remember to bring a packed lunch.

The walk is suitable for dogs, but they will need to be on a leash for most of it.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Join the Boot Women Organising Team!

Boot Women has a long history that spans more than three decades. It is extremely rewarding to see that, in a much changed LGBTQ landscape, Boot Women still has its place.

We are determined to build on our success and keep the group going – and maybe make it to another thirty years! However, we need rejuvenating support to be able to continue.

The current organising team consists of a number of women who have been actively involved for many years. None of us are getting any younger and some of us would like a bit of a break.

We are therefore asking for expressions of interest to join us. It is not a big job. In return for investing a bit of your time you get to hang out with a lovely bunch of people at the infrequent planning meetings.

If you have a bit of time to spare and are interested in joining the organising team, please get in touch.

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Next walk: Stratford-upon-Avon, 13 Oct 2024

Scenic view of the River Avon in Stratford-Upon-Avon

We’ll explore a bit of Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding area this month.

Starting from Stratford railway station, we’ll follow the route across the fields from Stratford to Shottery, the walk that Shakespeare probably took as a teenager when visiting his future wife!

From Shottery we’ll continue on to the banks of the River Avon. The last section of the walk is a lovely walk across meadows and parkland beside the river.

The 5 mile walk is generally flat on field and riverside paths.  Parts could be muddy so wear suitable footwear.

Please remember to bring some lunch / drinks and something to sit on.

Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Next walk: Solihull, 11 August 2024

Our August walk starts at Solihull Station. Because of the Marathon, it is strongly advised to travel by train to the start of the walk although paid parking will be available in Solihull town centre at Park Mark Car Park.
The walk will go through the town to Brueton Park. We will then visit Tudor Grange Park. On our way back we will stop at Beech House pub for drinks and snacks – but it could be busy because of the Marathon.
The walk will take at least 1.5 hrs. Please wear comfortable shoes.
The weather should be perfect for an exciting and adventurous walk!

Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Next walk: Wombourne to Compton, 14 July 2024

created by dji camera

The July walk is a 9 mile-long pleasant trail that starts at the old Wombourne station  and follows the disused railway line to Compton, which closed in 1965.
The trail is popular with walkers, cyclists and runners so can be busy.
The route has a combination of surfaced paths with some rough sections that can be very muddy so appropriate footwear is advised.
At Compton, we will take a break at the local pub before heading back along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal to the famous Bratch locks, built by James Brindley in 1772.
Leaving the locks, we follow the road back up to the car park but not before we take a look at the pumping station built to look like fairytale castle.

Please remember to bring some lunch / drinks and something to sit on.

Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Next walk: Shire Country Park, 12 May

The Shire Country Park is a local nature reserve along the River Cole Valley, with a mixture of wetlands, grasslands, woodland and heath. The park was named to honour the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien who lived within its borders as a young child. Tolkien’s childhood adventures in the park are said to have inspired some of his later works.

Our 5 km circular walk starts at Sarehole Mill, an eighteenth century watermill. The walking is generally easy and there are no stiles.

As on all of our walks we will stop for a break so bring something to eat and drink.  Dogs are welcome but may need to be kept on a lead.

Sections of the walk may be muddy so wear appropriate shoes or boots!

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Next walk: Castle Ring, 14 April

Our April walk is an 8 mile figure of eight loop, taking in Hednesford Hills and Castle Ring.

There are a few inclines and some sections may still be muddy, so appropriate footwear is essential.  Well behaved dogs are welcome, but there is a section where they will need to be on the lead.

Please remember to bring some lunch / drinks and something to sit on.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Join us!

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Visit to Boscobel House, 10 March 2024

Over the years, many of our walks have crossed onto the path known as the Monarch’s Way. It is Britain’s second longest trail at 625 miles long. The route follows the journey of King Charles ll from Worcester to Shoreham on Sea and takes in some of the places he hid during that time. Boscobel House is one of them.

A former hunting lodge where the king took refuge following his defeat at the battle of Worcester in 1651. The house and gardens, now fully restored, share the secrets and stories of Charles’s escape from Cromwell’s soldiers and his eventual fleeing to France.

A short stroll from the house and gardens  you can see a descendant of the oak tree in which the king hid for a day.

We will tour the house, gardens and visit the oak tree and then take a break at the tearooms before walking down to the priory. The ruins of the 12th century priory, where the king stayed disguised as a woodsman are approx. half a mile from Boscobel house.

If you would like to join us on our visit to Boscobel House, you will need to book a ticket online.

Please note that 10 March is Mother’s Day.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

Contact us for details on where and when to meet us.

Join us!

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Next walk: Baggeridge Country Park to Himley Hall, 11 February 2024

Smooth paths and gentle grades make this a relaxing walk. On leaving our starting point, we cross a field into the woodland following a clear and well maintained path.

We will pass a number of pools which are a linked chain of different shapes and sizes, allowed to grow naturally and teeming with wildlife.  At the final pool, Himley Hall will come into view. Passing the Hall, we will complete a circuit of the great pool before heading back to the cafe and toilets where we will take our lunch break.

Retracing the route back to the car park will complete our 4.5 mile walk.

Contact us for details on how to go to the start of the walk.

We are still collecting for Women’s Aid, and optional donations of 1£ (or more) will be welcome.

The walk is suitable for well-behaved dogs.

Join us!

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