Bednun one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route southwards from Nuneaton yesterday. I tagged it onto Covbed one which made for a good 10 mile walk. The majority of the walk is along the canal, which the towpath seemed in excellent condition - even following a few days of rain. The rest of the walk is on tarmac either on pavements or pathways though Riversley Park in Nuneaton.


All road crossings in Nuneaton are safe and Riversley Park is a nice way to leave the town centre. There are some wide steps getting onto the canal towpath from the Coventry Road in Nuneaton (photo 6). You need to keep your senses peeled as you cross the road bridge (photo 12) just after leaving the canal at Marston Junction as there is no dedicated footpath, the road traffic is controlled by lights so you can use these to give you a bit of confidence as you cross.

Got to say though, I think whoever designed this route missed a trick by not utilising the Wharf Meadows route immediately on the left after you cross the Marston Jct road bridge. The Wharf Meadows route on the opposite side of the canal would actually be marginally quicker, as well as miss out on a few of the residential streets in Bedworth. Perhaps one for someone to include in a Bednun two revision. The given route here does work though and is recommended.

A straightforward route which largely follows the Coventry Canal. Starting in Nuneaton town centre the route soon leads into Riversley Park, before passing the Pingle Athletic, Track and heading along Coventry Road toward the canal. Once on the canal the towpath leads directly to the outskirts of Bedworth at Marston Junction, where the Coventry Canal and Ashby Canal meet. Once off the canal the route goes along some residential streets towards Bedworth town centre.

Easy to follow, direct and safe route. Starting in Bedworth, the route to the canal is via quiet residential streets rather than the main road. To get to the Coventry Canal you have to cross a single lane road bridge with no pavement. This was the only part of the walk where I felt less than comfortable. Once on the canal, the route is flat and easy follow, the towpath was in good condition when I walked it. In seemingly no time you are in the outskirts of Nuneaton and then a set of steps take you up to street level. The route through Nuneaton is at first along a pavement and then through parks. The second of which I feel, the route could have made more of, rather than joining the pavement of the main road. Overall a good Slow Way and very worthy of approval.

We undertook this route today. The route starts by the public library and takes you through Nuneaton on footpaths on to a canal. You join the towpath down a small flight of steps, not challenging but if cycling you need to be aware of them. The canal's towpath is hard surface with the occasional puddle / wet spot. Bridge 18 the towpath is about 4' wide with the bridge's arch impinging slightly. Quite safe but something to be aware of if walking or cycling at night.
As you approach Bedworth's outskirts you leave the footpath, join a public road at a bridge. The traffic is regulated by traffic lights, you do need to exercise some care while crossing the bridge as you can't see both sides at the same time, the lights will help you to cross even though they don't have a pedestrian cycle. The rest of the route is on footpaths on residential roads.
The only changes I would make to the route is to perhaps start it at Nuneaton's train station, which is only few minutes walk from the start point, and end it in Bedworth town centre (still passing Bedworth's train station) which is only a couple of hundred yards beyond the train station.

A simple route, no great elevation changes and pleasant along the canal side but would be very difficult for wheelchair users.

Route initially threads its way through quiet residential area roads for the first mile or so. The next section was alongside the Coventry canal, initially through countryside and then alongside residential areas on the outskirts of Nuneaton. Underfoot the path had areas where uneven and rutted by cycle use. These had created puddled areas after recent rain which were easily negotiated by a walker in appropriate footwear but would have been more difficult for pushchair or wheelchair users. Another short section of road walking then led to a pleasant walk through Riversley Park. From the end of this it was a short distance of roadside walking into the town centre.

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