[1] Leave Droitwich Leisure Centre rear car park at its narrow end to reach the canal. Turn right (signed 'Reed Bed') on the towpath and walk under the bridge no.11 with the canal on your left. Note the information board here. Follow the canal under two road bridges. At a sign for Coney Meadow Reed Beds turn right and immediately left following a path beside the left-hand hedge. Look up to spot an owl nesting box in a solitary oak tree. The other path leads to a gate which is permanently locked to keep the public out of the Reed Beds.
Continue with the hedge on your left. There are marvelous views over to the right. After rain and/or cattle grazing the path can be muddy here. It is hard to believe that we are only 15 minutes out of Droitwich. Shortly turn right at a metal kissing gate to go to the bird hide or left to re-join the towpath. Note a further information board here. Once back on the towpath turn right for a short distance. Where the canal bends left fork right taking a waymarked rising path to St Michael's Church at Salwarpe.
This lovely medieval church is set in a conservation area, close to the River Salwarpe and the canal. It is a surprisingly large church for such a small hamlet (no doubt due to its proximity to Salwarpe Court, which has connections to King Harold and Warwick the Kingmaker). The church is open every day 0730 - dusk & even provides toilet facilities for visitors. The little guidebook is well worth reading.
[2] Pause a while before retracing your steps back to the Leisure Centre.