"The Lakes" to Alvechurch (6.5 miles) 01/05/21

Members Present: K Maguire, H Maguire, H Jones, R Jones, J Roberts, M Sadler, N Graham, M Simmonds, D McDonnell, P Cotterill and M Farkas. (11)

Not just one of the first out of lockdown walks this year but also a Saturday one. This walk commenced at The Lakes Station rather than the advertised Earlswood station due to a footbridge over the railway being replaced. The train stopped here at The Lakes with all of the doors actually "missing" the Harrington Hump so we still had the long jump down onto the platform. 
A quick Covid briefing before setting off North down a lane and then across fields and pathways heading towards the busy A435 at Portway. We crossed this and then through the hamlet of Pink Green and reached the summit and the trig point at the top of Hob Hill. Lovely views were to be had here. We then descended via  lots of Bridleways, quiet pathways and lanes before walking the last climb up into Alvechurch.
Arrival at the pre booked Weighbridge pub was some 20 minutes behind schedule due to the relatively slow pace of the walk.(why rush a good thing)
A welcome change to the recent constraints of the lockdowns and finally being allowed to socialise again.
Karl