Birsut two

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I completed this walk today traveling south from Sutton Coldfield. I was surprised at just what a good route this is. I rarely give urban walks five stars, but this justifies top marks. At first I was concerned that choosing to walk towards Birmingham might not be as nice as walking away from the city, but I really enjoyed it. In fact, the closer I got to the city, the quieter the route got.

It takes in a lot of different settings from the open country-feel of Sutton Park, residential, the surreal understory to Spaghetti Jct, then industrial canals and finally into the city. The route takes you away from busy roads, which is a feat in itself considering it takes you into the heart of the city.

I definitely recommend the route, very enjoyable!.

For me, this route was immediately off to a good start, heading through the expansive and very pleasant Sutton Park Nature Reserve. It then followed the well-designed Birmingham Greenway route through a string of linear parks and lakes, often discreetly bordered by suburban housing. It was all very green, with well surfaced paths, benches, and occasional cycle barriers, and the road crossings mostly had pedestrian lights. Litter was not much of a problem.
Just beyond the half way point, we crossed the motorway via a subway, with a traditional range of graffiti and fly-tipping. This path was quite short though, and soon emerged to reach the Tame Valley Canal which was accessed next to a lock. In no time we reached the amazing Spaghetti Junction. Roads and railways flew over us at different heights, crossing in all directions. The graffiti art was quite magnificent, and often in places that looked difficult to access. I found it all quite thrilling!
The route turned off onto the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal and up a string of locks between factories, often with evidence of former canal wharfs branching into them, but still quite peaceful. It then turned again onto the Digbeth Branch and past Aston University, and then on through the Ashted Tunnel, which was fun! Well-lit with a solid fence between the canal and the towpath, so it felt safe.
After this, works for the new HS2 became apparent, then there was another, quite wide, tunnel – Curzon Street Tunnel. From here we reached the end of this branch, and emerged (via a ramp I think) onto street level, and it was only a short walk under Moor Street Station and past Bullring shops to reach New Street station entrance.
This is quite an amazing route – 10 miles through suburban, urban and motorway environments, with almost zero road walking, and loads of interest. And all with smooth dry surfaces.

This walk contains two of my favourite things, namely canal tow paths and big nature reserves. It also had the odd surprise of walking at ground level underneath Spaghetti Junction - a man was barging a barge full of grass cuttings at around 2mph down there (photo), a heron was posing (photo), and there were a couple of joggers and a man walking his dog. I found it spooky, partly because of the sound effects from the traffic overhead.

The part of the walk leaving Birmingham centre is a bit run down - the subway under Moor Street station is a little unsanitary, and the streets seem to be waiting for a fairy godmother to wave a magic wand - maybe HS2 will do this? I occasionally visited Digbeth in the 1960s for dance lessons, it wasn't smart, but it didn't seem to be abandoned the way it felt when I walked this route. It seemed a million miles from the busy shopping district just up the hill.

The first part of canal was a bit isolated, and there were a couple of long-ish tunnels, but soon it morphed into narrow-boats and locks and people on holiday with time to chat, and 'Just Eat' delivery cyclists waiting for jobs. There's still some light industry backing onto the canal.

After Spaghetti Junction the mood changes to 'outer suburbs'. There is a string of parks and green ways connecting all the way to Sutton Park - a huge nature reserve very popular with families coming for after work relaxation.

I didn't find a lot of refreshment opportunities presenting themselves, and I was very happy when I saw a MacDonalds at New Oscott, which did a cup of tea and toilets.

I found this route very interesting - its a slice through a cross-section of Birmingham which is a city in the process of big changes. I would definitely recommend it to others.

I started this walk as Birsut 1 but soon had to make my own version in order to get to Salford Junction. I would question the start as it avoids the pedestrianised centre to head towards Digbeth passing under Moor Street Station (and not accessing it). So it was there that Birsut One was closed off by HS2 and I had to improvise. The route through Digbeth to the Typhoo Basin is as clear and HS2 free as I could make it but as you leave Digbeth those are the only city centre pavements you have to pound. The route then picks up the Grand Union Canal passing under Curzon Street Bridge (pictured) before passing through the building site of the new HS2 station. After Aston University campus the route turns into the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal with Spaghetti Junction in the distance. The canal towpath here, seems popular with cyclists and makes a descent as you pass multiple locks. The canal here is still backed on to by light industry and as you get beyond Aston and towards Salford Junction the buildings space out a bit and the herons increase! As you get to Salford Junction you are directly under the M6 and if you've never experienced this I'd describe it as other-worldly. The walk along the Tame Valley Canal takes you under slip roads and dual carriageways. The rumble of the traffic is somehow distant but all around you. You leave the canal at Stockland Green walk under the lowest motorway bridge I've seen (pictured) to cross the M6 and are soon in a residential street which leads to Brookvale Park. From here to Sutton Park follows the North Birmingham Way which links parks and nature reserves with footpaths. At numerous points there are shops and links to bus routes. Personally this was an absolute revelation. I'd never been to Witton Lakes and was left wondering why. The walk continued pleasantly from the glorious isolation of Spaghetti Junction I was now in popular green spaces with people going about their Saturday. As I approached Kingstanding I must admit I was starting to tire of the green space and craved variety. It wasn't long after that I reached Sutton Park and made the 3.5km crossing to the meeting point in Sutton Coldfield. I toyed with giving this walk a 5 but it was only after I got home and looked at the route that I realised that it failed the "use existing routes but don't be distracted by them" guidance. Leaving the North Birmingham Way earlier and taking a more direct route to Sutton via Boldmere would make more sense and allow more places to stop properly. I shall submit a new Slow Way which does that. As for this one, it was one of my favourite walks. Clear, varied, friendly and in many places beautiful and a joy to follow.

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