Oldsme one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 87.50% of reviewers

This is a great route, but I feel I need to fail it because of a towpath closure which has existed for ten months and Canal and River Trust have still not given a date for reopening. See Oldsme Two for the diverted route, and further details.

A good straightforward route, mostly using the canal. But, as we'll see, it's foot-only.

From the centre of Oldbury, where there are bus stops and shops, we walk past the railway station, then down a road between the car park, Network Rail and the police station. The pavement on this road lacks ramps at the crossings, so it's not good for wheeled users. At the end of the road, down a ramp and we're onto the Birmingham Canal.

A good tarmac footpath, although muddy in places, we swop sides at the next footbridge. At time of survey, just past the motorway, the towpath ahead is closed due to a dangerous building; there is a diversion in place that takes us along the higher branch of the canal, beneath the motorway viaduct. We rejoin the route from the next road bridge, a ramp down to the towpath.

It's a pleasant walk along a deep canal cutting, with buildings and trees above our heads. Underneath Galton Bridge, we enter a tunnel; it's not too long, but it is a little dark. Once at other end, we walk as far as the pumping station (now a museum), where we go up steps to the higher branch. More or less straight after, another set of stairs to the road. As the road turns, we take a footbridge over the railway and main road (with steps), which brings us to the end near shops, bus stops and the local gurdwara.

A good, short canal walk, but a multitude of steps does mean it is foot-only, as already mentioned.

I walked this route west from Smethwick today. The route is predominantly along the canal and has lots of interest along it's relatively short distance. Most of the pavement walking is done on the Oldbury side after leaving the canal, and is the only reason I haven't given this five stars.

After leaving the start in Smethwick (photo 1), a footbridge with steps (photo 2) seems the only way to get to the canal towpath. The towpath can be reached via either exit from the Brasshouse Lane road bridge, but I took the west path towards the 'New Smethwick Pump House' (photo 3) to take a closer look. You have to take a further ramp down to the deeper Telford canal (photo 4) to follow this route.

As soon as you exit the Galton Tunnel, the route takes you under the impressive Galton Bridge (photo 5). As mentioned by previous reviews, the short section between the Steward Aqueduct (photo 7) & Spon Lane junction is still closed at this time , with the easy to navigate detour still in place (photo 8).

The route is quickly regained and takes you under the tall M5 bridge (photo 9), before soon arriving at the bridge to take you to the opposite side of the canal (photo 10). You leave the canal at the A4034 bridge (photo 12), and the final two thirds of a mile take you past Sandwell & Dudley rail station (photo 13) on the way into Oldbury town centre.

The walk is relatively straightforward, with even the detour not providing too much hassle. There are plenty of steps involved, and some of the ramps to bridges on the towpath were a bit greasy in the wet, so care is needed on the inclines. An enjoyable enough walk along the canal, which I can recommend.

Although this route is very much in the heart of the Black Country, it was a delightful walk along the canal that was for the most part very quiet.
Previous reviewers noted the temporary closure of the footpath between Spon Lane and Steward Aqueduct; as of mid-September it’s still closed, and shows no indications of reopening any time soon. The diversion along the older (pre-Telford) canal was however very easy to follow, and did not detract from an enjoyable afternoon.

I walked this route on 6.08.22. It's a brilliant Slow Way and I don't have much to add to the below reviews! The tow path was temporarily closed between Steward Aqueduct and Spon Lane due to a crumbling wall, but you can easily rejoin the path at Spon Lane. This route is lovely, lots to see and sensory in many ways - tunnel light and acoustics, sound of water and birdsong. Magic! Would defo recommend.

I can't add anything to the reviews above by Pddys and David - a really good Slow Ways route. Thoroughly enjoyed walking it.

One of the best Slow Ways I've ever walked! A joy to walk and scores highly in the qualities a Slow Way should have. The walk out of Oldbury is fairly functional along the main road but having the passed Sandwell and Dudley Railway Station (direct trains to Edinburgh and London, not just local stations) you walk down the side of the car park and follow a track to the towpath of the main branch of the Birmingham Canal. The walk from there was incredibly relaxing. The faint sound of the M5 (even as you walk under it) and the occasional clatter of passing trains on the early evening autumn wind accompanying a walk through the wooded scene. Nature abounds, and it was particularly joyous to see our first cormorant of the day. That's the walk basically, until you get to Smethwick where you take steps to climb the bank, cross a road and then a pedestrian bridge on to the High Street. Smethwick offers some good food options, (there was a queue at the Sweet Centre). In 4km, 3 of which are offroad, you access bus routes, 3 railway stations (Galton Bridge is accessible via steps from the canal and Rolfe Street is at the end of the route), wildlife, industrial history (Galton Valley Pumping Station) and it's one of the easiest Slow Ways I've ever had to follow! Magic! Full marks.

A short and sweet route mostly following canal towpath.

The route passes many significant pieces of urban canal infrastructure - both modern and historical. This includes going underneath the M5 and the Spon Lane junction, underneath Smethwick Galton Bridge, through the Summit tunnel, underneath the Summit Bridge, and past the Galton Valley Pumping Station, and some Ironworks bridges.

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