130: The Clent Hills (Worcestershire 2020)

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

That's quite a climb up through the woods at the beginning, Patrick, but you were rewarded with the first spectacular view point. The four stones look amazing even if they are follies. St. Leonards' church looks a fine building, and then on to Adams Hill, and Walton Hill, again the views were marvellous. Elms church is another remarkable building, and the wood carvings inside were the works of a top craftsman! Like you say, Patrick, there's plenty of fantastic places to visit in this country without going abroad. Many thanks for this most excellent film.

[@solitaryrambler]

I remember filming this a couple of days before we went into the first lockdown at the start of Covid. It was a lovely walk to film, somewhere completely different. Glad you enjoyed watching this Ffranc, many thanks and all the best as always 👍

[@pennymalvern8689]

Just discovered your videos in 2024 Patrick, must now watch them ALL. You may not see my comment ... but I want to THANK you so much for this Clent walk. We Brummies get so fed up of the bad press Birmingham sometimes gets! But we have plenty of BEAUTY surrounding the city. I grew up in Bearwood, near Warley Woods, about 4 miles from Clent. Much of my school holidays back in the 1950s were spent up Clent with my pals, and later with my husband on long walks. We schoolgirls had lovely times hiking with our knapsacks containing sandwiches and bottles of pop or water which our mums had prepared. I even burnt my eyelids once sunbathing on one of the top ridges in the baking sun. We would sing along as we hiked and life was happy. All it cost was the bus-fare from Bearwood along the Hagley Road to Clent (a few pence then!) Thank you SO much Patrick for showing the wide open spaces around the West Midlands (which in my childhood were called Staffordshire, Worcs and Warwickshire. I hated it when they named large areas West Midlands). My childhood was spent in many open spaces with lovely views, the Lickey Hills, Cannock Chase etc. You brought back lovely memories for me of Clent - and also of the Malverns too in your other videos! You are a brilliant walking companion and narrator - and I LOVE English Churches too btw ... may they STILL be there in centuries to come! The English should value their country much more!

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you so much Penny for all your kind words and for watching, it is much appreciated. If you are planning on watching all my videos, I do recommend looking at the "Introduction to the Solitary Rambler" video which gives an overview on what to expect. I remember filming this particular walk during the very start of Covid, and going into the first lockdown just a few days later. Thanks again and all the best 👍

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

Thanks Patrick wonderful ... i dont know this area but always manage to learn from your travels loved both churchs thank you for sharing them with us ....regards and stay safe ...Frank & Lee..

[@solitaryrambler]

You are very welcome Frank and Lee, it was new to me too even though I've passed near this area many times before now. All the best. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@anndeakin1508]

The 4 stones trip and the Black County and Clent Hills walk was damp today unusual as most trips been good weather, nice to see a walkers Rees, weather on most times.Mew trip for me today looks good must try it some fine.

[@solitaryrambler]

👍

[@anndeakin1508]

Clent Hills great trip today Patrick love views too. Not been here a place to discover for friends.

[@solitaryrambler]

👍

[@shaunmckenna1923]

Another very nice walk Patrick we enjoyed it very much , Have a great Sunday take care and stay safe :)

[@solitaryrambler]

Many thanks Shaun, you too 👍

[@Angela1Elaine]

Lovely, thank you.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you for watching! 👍

[@ericellis3506]

I've viewed quite a few rambling videos on u tube, and yours are of the highest quality, both informative and entertaining.

[@solitaryrambler]

That is kind of you to say so, I really appreciate that. Thanks for commenting and for taking the time to watch :)

[@ericellis3506]

My pleasure. 👍

[@МинистерствоГБО]

tree roots look very intimidating. Thank you very much for interested video

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks for visiting :)

[@gisellebolotin8237]

So beautifully atmospheric and music to suit . Thankyou .

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you too and thanks for watching! :)

[@bigjobs5000]

About 25 years ago I read about the Clent Hills in a magazine waiting in my local doctor's surgery. I remember a lovely photograph with the article Patrick - I think it was taken from the part in your film where you were walking down the Ridge path on the south-west flank of Clent Hill. It's funny how these memories stick with you after so many years. I remember that photograph as clear as day - but not the reason I was at the doctors! Another great episode and lovely music. Thanks mate.

[@solitaryrambler]

Nice one, it's probably not changed at all then if it reminded you of that photo. Thanks for your lovely comments as usual and for watching :)

[@WyeExplorer]

Thay are a fantastic range of hills Patrick. I can see how they were easily overlooked though in favor of the conurbation. I mean just taking a look at the map and they are practically engulfed by it. I could see Halesowen. WE used to swim the Worceter County Championships there. Great memories. Well, another enjoyable episode. If ever I'm that way I'll definitely visit. Thanks Patrick. Take care and all the best. Mark

[@solitaryrambler]

Hi Mark, yes the hills are great aren't they. I've definitely overlooked them until recently when I've travelled around the conurbation. The map does make it clear about the surroundings doesn't it. Thank goodness to Google for being able to discover these often overlooked places. Great memories for you then Mark in Halesowen, I know you are a great swimmer from some of your films. Thanks for watching Mark and keep safe and well. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@WyeExplorer]

@@solitaryrambler They sure are - locals must be overjoyed. You;re right the map spells it out and google helps. Yeah, good in Halesowen - did some good swims there. Have a good day Patrick.

[@annieabfab6258]

Wonderful as usual - Thank you so much Patrick! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇦🇺

[@solitaryrambler]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@gazzertrn]

Great too see you still going , take care buddy .

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks, you too!

[@delmiller4184]

Thanks Patrick for the great video and for making us aware of the area. Keep safe.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks for watching Del, you keep safe and well too :)

[@blafred]

Your videos are so soothing.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you :)

[@andreachiovelli1109]

Thank you so much again Patrick for showing us the best of this lovely country.. Andrea (an Italian in UK)👍🏻

[@solitaryrambler]

Pleased you liked it Andrea, thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@richardchan9595]

The new theme is lovely Patrick, along with your latest masterpiece.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you Richard, pleased you enjoyed it :)

[@sandroporto3069]

Hello Patrick, I hope you are well. Congratulations on video 130, a considerable mark. I felt it was very cold and windy, which makes walking even more enjoyable. Your videos are like a gift that I'm frank in describing them with a word that you like to use a lot: WONDERFUL Keep it up. Looking forward to seeing the next one.

[@solitaryrambler]

Yes it was indeed very windy this day Sandro as you cold probably tell, but what a walk. Wonderful is a great word isn't it, it always seems to roll off my tongue! Anyway thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@davemackintosh9740]

Splendid.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks :)

[@kellyshaw7271]

Nice slip there. A lovely surprise to see another upload especially before the lockdown began. It was a great walk in a place i had never heard of either. I always tell friends that i have lots to see in the UK before traveling abroad. They look at me as if I'm mad but it's true. We have some beautiful places over here to visit. Thanks once again for your time and effort. Cheers.

[@solitaryrambler]

Another one I was lucky to do whilst I was off work before the lockdown. Yes we certainly do have lots to see in the UK. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@Ilkleyscot]

kelly shaw Absolutely that's why it's named Great Britain

[@nononame113]

Great work, as ever!

[@solitaryrambler]

Wow, thanks! :)

[@DaveFallows]

I've got my two year old watching your vids now. :D

[@solitaryrambler]

That's nice to know! :)

[@nickhall7894]

Thanks for another fantastic walk Patrick. The music was the perfect accompaniment!

[@solitaryrambler]

Glad you enjoyed it Nick, thank you for your lovely comments and for watching :)

[@paulbeachcroft3323]

Another excellent walk and film Patrick. Glad to see you are keeping safe mate. Paul Beachcroft

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you very much Paul as always for watching and commenting. Keep safe too. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@reached6050]

I thoroughly enjoy your video''s Patrick and i also see the work that you put into them, you should be on the telly IMO. Take Care ATB Dave

[@solitaryrambler]

That's really nice of you to say Dave, much appreciated :)

[@pete7179]

Perfect timing,was just looking for something to watch on the tv and couldn't find anything,and my phone pinged with this notification,you're an inspiration to get out there Pat,I don't do half as much walking as I used to,and I'm 60 now,but if I can get through this covid-19 (I'm in close contact with positive cases every day) then I will be inspired by you to do much more of these walks,thanks yet again Pat that was fab,I liked the Church near the end,all the best and keep safe mate,Pete.

[@solitaryrambler]

Glad the timing worked for you Pete, no idea now when I'll be able to get out again of course under the current situation, but happy that I could provide something to watch whilst w're in lockdown. Thanks as always Pete for watching and commenting. Stay safe my friend. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@johnsparkes8963]

Great to see you on another walk again Patrick. Very enjoyable watch as usual. thank you for sharing. Hope you are keeping safe and well in these weird times.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks John, glad you enjoyed it. I'm scraping the walls at the moment like everyone else I guess! :) Keep safe and well too :)

[@OurDaysOut]

Excellent as usual Patrick

[@solitaryrambler]

Many thanks! :)

[@chrishomer]

Found you from your Malvern videos while planning a photography shoot. Thanks for the useful info. Then this popped up, The Clent Hills! My local hills! I made a photography video up there just 2 weeks ago too, although I’m guessing from the trees in your video it was shot a little earlier in the year? Great informative videos, I’d love to do something like this myself, although it’ll be more photography and cinematography based because my narration is nowhere near this standard. Thanks for posting. Enjoyed watching. Chris

[@chrishomer]

Edit. New subscriber. The information and research that goes into these..... wow! Top work.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you so much Chris for your very kind comments, much appreciated! Nice to know that when I was in the Clent Hills recently I was on your doorstep! I filmed this on the Friday before lockdown on the following Monday, so very lucky to have got this done before that happened. By the way, just for your information, I put the month when I shot this on the end titles, as I do all my films. It's also in the description below each video. I'll have to pop over to your channel when I get the chance and take at look at your work. Many thanks again for your comments and for taking the time to watch. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@chrishomer]

@@solitaryrambler Ah, I see the date now in the description. I'm off to the Malvern Hills tomorrow actually. Looking forward to it. Again, great work. All the best to you.

[@Oscartherescuedog]

Stunning and beautifully made video (from a happy new subscriber)

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you so much for the kind comments and for subscribing! 👍

[@TR3XProductions1stChannel]

That was a nice video showcasing the Clent Hills and the village of Clent! I'm familiar with west Worcestershire, but I've never heard of this section until this video came out. The views are breath-taking, and I recognised some of the Shropshire hills, like Brown Clee Hill and the Wrekin. Those churches also interested me, especially the last one, with its old bell tower. I've been watching your channel for a few years, and haven't commented until now. These videos of your ongoing series are fun to watch and go back to, and the music that accompanies the footage is soothing. I should visit the Clent Hills once the quarantine ends. Keep up the great work! :-)

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you my friend for your lovely comments, pleased you find my films fun to watch. This was a nice walk to shoot as, like I said in the film, I've never heard of the Clent Hills until very recently. Hope you visit the area after lockdown is over. Thanks again for watching and commenting. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@mercianwanderer5953]

I was just thinking what to watch on KZbin and “ping!”, the notification came up for this walk of which is about twenty minutes away from where I live on the southern edge of Birmingham near the Maypole at Highters Heath and the most north eastern part of Worcestershire of which is the area of countryside at the rear of my house. The North Worcestershire path starts a mile away from my house at Majors Green and goes through a few fields behind where I live to Truemans Heath then onto Forhill Picnic Site, The Lickey Hills and then to the Clent Hills before going to Kingsford Country Park and then Kinver Edge in Staffordshire for a link to the Staffordshire Way. The path then finishes at the fabulous Georgian riverside town on the Severn that is Bewdley where it joins the beautifully scenic Worcestershire Way that passes through Abberley that was in your previous walk and into the impressive Malverns of which your familiar with. They are both wonderful paths and worth seeking out to see how much natural beauty there is in the county and with the North Worcestershire Path that how by being just a stones throw from the boundary of Birmingham and its other West Midland County sisters you can be so close to such wonderful countryside. This walk of and your last walk in Abberley has added a few more reasons to stay put where I live with the help of a few other peoples videos on here about what this part of the world has to offer as I was getting itchy feet to move on from where I have grown up. What with this lockdown situation as well added to the mix and myself doing my daily exercise walk around various circuits of the countryside nearby my home, my walk to and from work in Moseley, Birmingham that either takes in The River Rea Path or the path along the River Cole through the recently named Shire Country Park, I have kind of rediscovered what I have on offer on my doorstep with lovely places to visit on walks and amongst other things of particular interest to me. The Shire Country Park is also worth mentioning for the fact of Sarehole Mill of which is near to Moseley Bog, both places of a few that note to be an inspiration for J.R.R Tolkien to write his novels The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. J.R.R Tolkien’s former home is just over the road from Sarehole Mill of which the Mill has a lovely tea room and shop and you can go on guided tours and see the mill working on certain days. They have recently started to use the mill to make flour and you can also buy their homemade bread. With this lockdown on they have opened up the shop as a Community Shop for the local area to sell a few essentials including some guide books and their homemade bread. All profits for the sales of goods go back into the funding for the upkeep and maintenance of the watermill and bakery. Hope this information has been of interest for you as I just wanted to say how much I enjoy watching your excellent videos and that how much your last few Worcestershire ones have been the latest inspirational key for me to keep my feet on the ground here where I grew up. P.s Where my Brothers Wife’s sister lives near Hartlebury where I go for Christmas and visit regularly is the most amazing views of the hills of Worcestershire including the Abberley Hills and those over by the Wyre Forest. Also there are some of the hills of South Shropshire that include Titterstone Clee and Brown Clee, the latter being the highest hill in Shropshire. Take care for now and stay safe Patrick. 🌈

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you very much for all your comments David, which are very kind. You clearly love the countryside and have explored many places from what you've put in your comments. I've heard of the Lickey Hills you mention. I'm not familiar with those other places you've mentioned apart from the hills in Shropshire, although I've not visited that neck of the woods much to be fair. Anyway many thanks again for all your comments and for taking the time to watch. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@CountrysideWalking]

I'v never heard of Clent Hills before either, but so many lovely areas here in the UK to visit and pleasant to watch. The music composition beautifully produced. Camera filming very steady, but wondering if someone else filmed the distant shots of you walking? Thanks for sharing.

[@solitaryrambler]

I'd not heard the Clent Hills myself until fairly recently, but it was nice to visit this place to make this film. Glad you enjoyed the music. Everything you see and hear is all me, so those distant shots are where I leave the camera on the tripod, walk into shot, then retrieve the camera afterwards. Thanks for watching :)

[@CountrysideWalking]

@@solitaryrambler Yes. We were wondering if that's what you did with your camera, (leaving it on a tripod at a distance and walking in/out of shots). Very professional, and interesting filming techniques. Well done and thanks for explaining.

[@margerozum5010]

I enjoy your walks so much. Can you let us know at the end roufghly how far you walked?

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you Marge, really pleased you enjoy them. If you read the description below the video you can see more information about the walk. Just to make it clear, however, I do not make my films as guided walks, which I have highlighted on the "about" page on this channel, and have also talked about that in my "Reflecting back on 25 years" video. Many thanks for watching, Patrick :)

[@yvonnepinkshopdream6025]

💟👍👍

[@solitaryrambler]

👍

[@barbaralcharles]

What is that interesting mansion at 4:49? Something of note?

[@solitaryrambler]

Not sure, might that be Hagley Hall?

[@sandramowery6727]

Hello Patrick, Thank you for your lovely videos, they delight me so very much. If ever you visit America, might I suggest a fantastic place to visit. It is the Redwood National park. It is a mystically Beautiful and Enchanting place. The walking paths are natural and well maintained. To have a look; check out the following you tube video entitled Redwood National Park 4K Virtual Hike. The you tube channel is the Flying Dutchman. Happy Hiking, Sandy

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks Sandra, not sure if I'll ever get to visit America but who knows. Thanks for watching :)

[@julianbeesley5059]

Dr Who blue -Telephone box

[@solitaryrambler]

Bigger on the inside :)