Gresut two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Walked from Sutton to Great Barr. I enjoyed the Sutton park section but found the rest, almost all on pavements, rather monotonous, though overall it is a good and fairly direct route with no steps or stiles.

Leaving the meeting point at Sutton Coldfield, we follow Upper Clifton Road down the hill and turn right onto Park Road, continuing through the gates into Sutton Park. The route through the park is direct, easy to follow and surfaced throughout (though I admit I used the grass at times to spare my feet). We go over a hill and past a car park to Longmoor Pool, beyond which we pass another car park to leave Sutton Park. We use the staggered pelican crossing right to cross Chester Road North, and go straight on along the right hand side of the wide tree-lined Banners Gate Road. At the wide Kingstanding roundabout we follow the obvious marked crossings around the south side (noting the decorative benches and shops), cross Kingstanding Road and turn left down the hill.

At Old Oscott Hill we turn right and follow this road past the schools and round the bend to a roundabout, where we turn right into Dyas Road. This leads to Aldridge Road, where we go right a short distance to a pelican crossing, cross and turn left down Maidhouse Lane. We turn right onto Booths Lane and go straight on on a surfaced path where it turns left, passing another two residential streets before turning left down another surfaced path, which passes some interesting excavated walls (see David's review - the sign is now almost illegible), leads under the M6 and crosses Turnberry Park. We go straight on up Calshot Road until it ends on Walsall Road, where we turn right and use the pelican crossings at the Scott Arms crossroads to reach the Great Barr meeting point.

Good direct route though Sutton Park, easy to follow and suitable for all users.

Direct route along pavements and through Sutton Park. There are crossing points for the main roads and plenty of local shops on route.

I started this route from Sutton Coldfield. Starting from the Town Hall, I was soon in Sutton Park saying hello to friendly fellow walkers as I passed them on the well ordered, easy to follow routes through the park. At the other end (passing a rank of e-scooters) I reached the wide leafy pavements that you follow for the rest of the route. At the highest points I could see ahead as far as West Bromwich and beyond it, Rowley Bank. The route is really easy to follow and all the road crossings are via pedestrian crossings with the exception of the M6 which is by underpass. There are shops, takeaways, restaurants and pubs dotted throughout the section from Kingstanding to Great Barr which is the majority of the route. There are also multiple access points to the bus network. An interesting surprise in the route was just before crossing the M6 via "Forgers Walk". Passing along an alleyway beside some very modern housing on Booths Lane, at the top, I discovered that the remains of the Farm where William Booth, a forger, after whom the Lane is named, have been left. The sun bleached board gives the full story of the last person in England to be executed for a non-capital offence. The only problem I had with the route was on Calshot Road where my GPX told me I was off the route when I clearly wasn't. I don't know if it's the proximity of the motorway which causes the problem but it's worth looking out for. I'm also not convinced that the meeting place is in the best spot as it's at a bus stop with no external bench and is only served by one route. As luck would have it, it was perfect for me as I was able to get my no.5 back to Sutton in no time! In summary, it's direct, very safe, very easy to follow, very well served by food and transport services and beautiful in parts. Full marks.

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