Brierley Hill — Halesowen
Brihal three
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Brihal here.
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Brihal here.
By Steve Litchfield on 07 May 2024
Description
This route is provided as a correction and improvement to Brihal one, through more accurate plotting - particularly through Saltwells Wood. This route also provides a necessary diversion around the inaccessible footpath through Lodge Forge industrial estate in Cradley.
This route really benefits from the Saltwells nature reserve and Mushroom Green sections
This route is provided as a correction and improvement to Brihal one, through more accurate plotting - particularly through Saltwells Wood. This route also provides a necessary diversion around the inaccessible footpath through Lodge Forge industrial estate in Cradley.
This route really benefits from the Saltwells nature reserve and Mushroom Green sections
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Brihal three
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 1
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Brierley Hill
Grid Ref
SO9187087150
Lat / Lon
52.48222° / -2.12114°
Easting / Northing
391,870E / 287,150N
What3Words
affair.taken.agenda
Halesowen
Grid Ref
SO9648083422
Lat / Lon
52.44876° / -2.05321°
Easting / Northing
396,480E / 283,422N
What3Words
impose.dice.leader
| Brierley Hill | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SO9187087150 |
| Lat / Lon | 52.48222° / -2.12114° |
| Easting / Northing | 391,870E / 287,150N |
| What3Words | affair.taken.agenda |
| Halesowen | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SO9648083422 |
| Lat / Lon | 52.44876° / -2.05321° |
| Easting / Northing | 396,480E / 283,422N |
| What3Words | impose.dice.leader |
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review
Steve Litchfield
07 May 2024I completed this route yesterday walking southeast from Brierley Hill. It was actually an attempt to complete Brihal one, but turned into Brihal three due to poor plotting and an inaccessible footpath in Brihal one. When researching which route to take, I noticed that reviews for Brihal two seemed to suggest that route was not as attractive but good in poor weather.
As I had decent weather I decided to try Brihal one, and i'm glad I did. The highlights are definitely the Saltwells nature reserve and Mushroom Green walks. It n narrowly misses out on five stars due to the busy pavements mainly at the Brierley Hill end.
Leaving the centre of Brierley Hill behind, the route then takes you around the very busy Merry Hill shopping centre complex. Whilst circumnavigating the huge retail destination, I pondered how many people might have nicknamed it 'Merry Hell' although perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised it was busy on a bank holiday Monday.
Before long though I was crossing the busy dual carriageway (photo 1) and immediately into Saltwells Wood Nature reserve, a place of stark and lovely contrast. The pretty footpaths through the Woods were lined with flowering wild garlic (photo 3) of which the distinctive scent filled the air. The route crosses Black Brook to the Saltwells Inn car park, and then another route from the car park takes you back across the Black Brook though the Woods and up to Saltwells Road.
The route crosses Saltwells Road and then continues on another off-road section (photo 5) towards the delightfully named Mushroom Green and across another footbridge over Black Brook (photo 7). Eventually you cross the brook for one final time and leave the woodland section behind before reaching a public footpath through a residential area (photo 8) which takes you to Cradley Heath railway station.
I had to wait at the level crossing for a passing train (photo 9) before continuing. When you get to the end of Littehill Crescent in Cradley, there is a flight of steps (photo 10) to get you to Butchers Lane. At the end of Hillside Avenue, there is the last section of unpaved footpaths in the route (photo 12) which at the end has a few more steps (photo 13) to get you back on paved ground.
The route then takes you on pavements to Bath Meadow where a footpath takes you through the estate to the Stourbridge Road. The rest of the route then winds through the suburbs to Halesowen bus station.
I'm glad I walked this route, and considering i'd class it as an urban walk, there are some lovely rural feeling sections. There are a couple of gates, some footbridges as well as some steps. There are also some hilly sections, but nothing bad. Definitely recommend.
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