Halrow three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Fine walk between two urban locations that manages to find the greenery available to walk. An easy urban start thrown Shell Corner (slight deviation made to see the memorial) and then down through Mucklow Hill Nature Reserve to pick up the Dudley Canal #2. Fine walking through Leaowes Park.

Crossing the dual carriageways and road in Halesowen could have been tricky but the route picks up pedestrian traffic lights.

Plenty to discover in Halesowen afterwards.

Walked from Rowley Regis to Halesowen. A pleasant and surprisingly green route, a little muddy in places.

From the meeting point at Rowley Regis station, we cross Station Road and turn left, then right down Nimmings Road and follow it to a mini-roundabout among shops. We cross Long Lane, go a short distance right and turn left along Maltmill Lane. At the next left turn (Olive Hill Road), we take the surfaced alleyway that goes diagonally half left between fences to a small park, where we continue on the tarmac path along the right edge to Olive Lane, where we turn right until we reach another alleyway on the right, where we turn right. At its end on Ridgefield Road we go left, then right down Stewarts Road, which leads to an obvious path down the hill, gravel at first. There is a profusion of paths in this area of trees, so watch the map carefully and you should find yourself meeting the Monarchs Way, which leads down to the Dudley No 2 canal. We stay on the left (east) bank, and follow the path up the hill which becomes a lane, which we follow right to emerge on the A458, which we cross using pelican crossings. We go right a short distance down the hill, past the entrance to the Leasowes park, then turn right along the right (west) bank of the old canal, which is far from navigable here and in places has no water. Eventually signs of the canal disappear and we turn sharp right down a fenced path. We use residential streets to reach Halesmere Way, which leads up to the A459 (Grange Road) where we go right to find the pelican crossings. Note that here I found it easier to divert slightly from the GPX plot and continue to the far side of.Vine Lane. A stepped path leads us down to Great Cornbow. From here the straight line the GPX file follows could be refined to someting more helpful. We follow Great Cornbow up to Bull Ring, where building work forces us to go a short distance right, then turn left. We go a short way right again on Hagley Street to find the entrance to the indoor shopping centre. We go through the centre to a hallway and take the escalator back up a level (a degree of faith is required here) to find the exit to Halesowen bus station and the meeting point.

I had linked five Slow Ways to walk Walsall to Halesowen filling a gap in my waylist. All routes already had a good review so I concur that they are good or adequate plots. The surface is generally roadside pavement and crossings of major roads are mostly good. This is urban walking no stiles or cattle but some steps. Plenty of shops along the way but no loos noted however the routes are short if used individually. The review guidance asks "would you walk it again", my answer has to be, not by choice only necessity but I did enjoy the one off exploring and found plenty of interest along the way.
The final leg Rowley Regis to Halesowen. Points of specific interest had become a little thin on the ground but there is still things that prompt a memory and add interest in that way. I'm always intrigued by the archway doors, leading to the rear of housing. Years ago operations didn't need the hugh sheds we see today, bakers, plumbers and joiners etc all managed to provide excellent service often from an outbuilding in their own garden and these entrances would be busy with materials arriving and goods leaving.
The route passes through an area of grass with play equipment for kids and a seat which would make a fine break on this Slow Way. A sign 'Public Footpath to Mucklow Hill', yes a sign, but was it pointing in the wrong direction? I would expect a climb but I'm on steep descent. A real bit of wild, not farmed countryside and the path soon meets the Monarch's Way, which Monarch I know not. The narrow path which again could be muddy soon comes alongside a canal.
Ignore the footbridge stay with the water on the right passing moored boats at Hawne Basin as the path climbs to the road. After the light controlled crossing rejoin the canal now keeping the water, what little there is, on the left. This is a bit of an indirect tour but it is the best part of the walk away from traffic, bring back the boats.
From leaving Walsall the whole walk was new territory for me, it had been a great exploration but at the end of the now invisible canal I met Hallon which I had walked from Longbridge some time back. From here Hallon 1 was a fail but Halrow offers a solution with a good approach into the town and the bus station. I'm always a bit confused by shopping centres on different levels so here the route requires an escalator ride, a first on a Slow Way for me.

Now and again, a Slow Way can pleasantly surprise you, and this was one. Halesowen is blighted with major roads but this route seems to get around that. The first section goes through the Shopping Centre. Obviously this will be shut sometimes, but the route around it isn't that pleasant, so the shopping centre, and the pedestrianised precinct beyond, is the better option. The walk down Great Cornbow is relatively quiet and safe, despite the dearth of pavement. Crossing via the pedestrian crossings above, rather than the underpass below makes more sense for this walk as it delivers you to the right side of the road more directly. It's not long before you are in a residential side street before following a wooded alleyway up to the path along the site of Dudley Canal No 2. This is where the walk gets good, it's a popular and friendly offroad option with occasional view across to the centre of Halesowen. You start on one side of the canal, but you soon have the option to walk on the other towpath as you enter Leasowes Park. On leaving the park both towpaths lead to ramps up to the pavement of Mucklow Hill. Crossing Mucklow Hill can only be achieved by using the crossing at the top of the hill. Having crossed it, you are soon lead into the woods beside the now, water filled canal. There are more views having climbed up to Coombs Wood. The last section is highly functional but direct and safe, through the streets of Rowley Regis. This Slow Way packs a lot of variety into a short distance. It makes the most of pleasant offroad options and the best of the sections by pavement. Full marks.

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