Grebir two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Really nice walk. There were no bits of the walk I didn't enjoy and it was great walking through some parks (especially Handsworth Wood). It was nice ending next to the Scott Arms because a bus stop is right next to the meeting point. It was a great walk :). Would be happy to recommend to any walker in the area!.

Direct, varied and well served Slow Way. I walked it from Birmingham to Great Barr. It starts by connecting New Street Station to Snow Hill (should be a Slow Way in itself, like Euston to Kings Cross!). It then heads down Livery Street and crosses Great Charles Queensway by subway. This is safe but can be a bit smelly, there's a footbridge further up which does the same job, but adds a couple of minutes to the journey. A road under the railway then leads to a crossing which eventually gets you on to Summer Lane. The road which will take you to Aston. The surroundings are very post industrial as old factory units are gradually replaced by apartments. There are some architectural gems along the way. You get to the Bartons Arms in Aston (first proper stopping option outside of the first 2km) and then follow the pavement along the A34 Walsall Road as far as Six Ways. From there there is a short other section of pavement by the dual carriageway before you head into the victorian terraced neighbourhoods of Birchfield. As you come back on to the A34 you emerge into Perry Barr, at time of writing under massive development for the Commonwealth Games. Here are a multitude of takeaways and small supermarkets. I'm pleased to report I was able to follow the route across all of the crossings despite the temporary nature of some of the travel flows. Having passed Perry Barr railway station (currently closed for refurbishment) you come to One Stop Shopping Centre where there is a massive range of shops, access to a multitude of bus routes and a pub. The route goes around the outside, so as to not be dependent on the centre being open and avoids the crowds. At the back there is a gateway through to Perry Hall Fields, a massive green space, where you follow tracks between trees and sports fields before joining the River Tame and following it under a railway bridge. You cross the Old Walsall Road and continue on into the park opposite, eventually crossing the river again and emerging opposite Hamstead Railway Station. You are leaving Birmingham here and entering Sandwell. Hamstead is an old mining village and offers multiple food, drink and rest options. Rather than continuing along and up the Old Walsall Road you continue along Hamstead Road before crossing and heading up a parallel road, Spouthouse Lane, which passes under Spouthouse Aqueduct. On the other side there is a turn to the left and then a turn into a cul de sac. An alleyway off to the right leads you to Gorse Farm Wood Nature Reserve which was a revelation to me! Beyond the wooded paths of the reserve are the residential pavements of Great Barr and an alleyway leads you out on to the Queslett Road opposite the meeting place. Direct, safe (crossings for all busy roads), well served (at Aston, Perry Barr and Hamstead), links to major arterial bus routes and three railway stations. Beautiful in parts. I'd walk it again! Full marks!.

A nostalgic walk as an ex N. Birmingham resident! I did the route from Birmingham to Great Barr. It is straightforward, accessible and accurate. It manages to avoid most of the obvious, direct A34 road. It is clearly an urban route but nevertheless has quite long stretches through open green land at Perry Hall Park and woodland tracks through Gorse Farm Wood Nature Park. There are regular opportunities to link up with buses and the it passes both Perry Barr and Hamstead railway stations (Perry Barr is currently closed for reconstruction). The Perry Barr area is currently (Aug 2021) being redeveloped in readiness for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. The plotted route was accessible through this area but it may be that there are minor diversions at times during the redevelopment. An enjoyable walk.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.