Thirteen days after joining the Severn Way on Day 27, today I left it at Ironbridge on Day 40. The Severn Way goes on to the source of the river in the Welsh Mountains. We’re not going that way on this journey but we hope to return in the future and complete the Severn Way.
Meanwhile I needed to go north from Ironbridge and for that purpose I chose the Ironbridge Way, an 8 mile path which goes from Ironbridge to Leegomery. The LDWA website describes it as including ‘open spaces, old railway lines, newly created paths and a lost village’ although I’m not sure I found that (https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Ironbridge+Way).
It sounded ideal although the initial path up from the Ironbridge was via some very step steps.
These lead to St Luke’s church, a very welcoming place with free cold drinks and gingerbread people biscuits.
The way was on the whole very well marked with its distinguishing letters, IBW. It curved up through the old town and then became a green ribbon that linked together various housing areas, nature reserves, playing fields and the old railway line of the Telford Steam Railway.
Bob met me there and we had a picnic lunch. It was another hot day. The second part of the walk was through both new and old housing areas each with its own character. There were schools and local shops. The Sikh Gurdwara at Hadley was a first for this End to End.
Day 40 marked a third of the days to be walked and it ended today near Leegomery Methodist Church. As it was very hot we took the car back to a pub I’d passed earlier, the Grazing Cow, and enjoyed a long cool drink and sat down for a rest.
Come to me all you who labour…
We come to you, Jesus,
Living Way and true guide;
Giving thanks for the satisfaction of daily progress,
The beauty of the trees and plants lining the path,
For places to rest and the refreshment
That 40 days of walking has been.
We come to you, seeking the full life you promise:
For today, grant us a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 15.05.2019
Day 40 of the End to End, Ironbridge to Leegomery Methodist Church, marking one third of the days to be walked altogether.