Halbir one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A really solid Slow Ways route between Halesowen and Birmingham.

I walked it in that order, starting with a pass through a shopping centre and winding through some major roads. The crossings at Manor Way are dicey and uncomfortable but manageable. After a short section of gorgeous rolling fields, most of the rest of the route follows a shared use path through a dedicated green corridor and a canal towpath, both of which were quite pleasant. Just before the end in Birmingham, the route passes through another shopping centre (this can be confusing, but it's just a straight shot through the mall (including down some escalators)).

Overall, a great walk.

We started this route from Birmingham. The route out of Birmingham via the Birmingham and Worcester Canal is sound but does pass through the Mailbox which can be closed on occasion. The walk down the canal is very pleasant but can get busy with cyclists. You leave the canal at University Railway Station (yes, the University of Birmingham is “University” in the rail network). You then follow an old footpath and cyclepath which have had new roads built around them which are yet to appear on OS maps. Reaching the outer ring road you follow it down, crossing it early to go down an easy to miss alleyway which links with a walkway beside the Bourne Brook. You follow this until entering Woodgate Valley Country Park, a lovely wooded walk, paved for most of the way but got a bit boggy in the unpaved sections. This is the longest section with no stops or shops. 5km between the last convenience store in Metchley , and a pub on Carters Lane. A road takes you over the M5 and you enter what was my favourite and then least favourite sections of the walk. The first section is a well marked, mostly well maintained footpath through a horse farm with the Clent Hills to the left and Halesowen to the right. At some stages you can see well beyond, to Wednesbury and even the Wrekin. Having walked past the ruins if St Marys Abbey you come out on the pavement of the 50mph dual carriageway A456 road which you follow to a roundabout and cross with extreme caution. There are no traffic lights, only drop kerbs and pedestrian islands. The next section follows the road and then passes through a subway, although we couldn’t as it was flooded to well above ankle level so we crossed another dual carriageway. The road rises to the start of the pedestrianised shopping area and the centre of Halesowen has a pretty square with benches. However, this was not the meeting place which the route reaches via the indoor shopping centre which, like the Mailbox, must be locked shut more than occasionally. In summary, this route is well worthy of approval but could be improved if the A456/A459 junction could be avoided. To make it more 24/7, avoiding going through buildings would improve it too.

This is a most enjoyable and varied walk. It begins through the city centre, entering the Worcester Canal via The Mail Box shopping mall. Around the entrance to the canal there are numerous bars and eating places. Leaving the canal at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (more shopping, eating and drinking opportunities in the main foyer here) the route follows a clear pedestrian/cycle way to the A4040 (another general store just before reaching here). Having crossed the A4040 the route follows a very pleasant walkway alongside the Bourne Brook (there is a better entrance to this pathway a few yards further up the A4040 - see Halbir2). There may possibly be an opportunity to use more of the earlier section of the Bourne Brook pathway from the hospital area but this needs investigating as it is not on the OS map, On reaching the Woodgate Valley Country Park the route follows a very well defined path to the right of the brook but there is also a wider, hard surfaced walkway on the left of the brook. These paths later merge and there is some road walking taking you over the M5. From here the route becomes field path based and there are lovely views across Worcestershire to the Clent Hills and beyond. After reaching the busy A456 dual carriageway there is a traffic island to negotiate in order to follow the A459 into Halesowen. There are pedestrian dropped kerbs, dotty paving for the visually impaired and safety barriers at the central reservation but it is a busy fast road and the crossings need to be undertaken with care (I'd have given this route 5 stars otherwise). There do not appear to be any easy ways to avoid this junction. Fairly soon the centre of Halesowen is reached and a walk through the shopping mall takes you to the bus station. A really good walk.

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