Oldbury (Sandwell)Smethwick

Oldsme one
Verified route

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021


Distance

4km/3mi

Ascent

50m

Descent

52m

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Oldbury (Sandwell) and Smethwick.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Oldbury (Sandwell) and Smethwick.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 5 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Oldsme one

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Information

Verified route

Route status - Live

Reviews - 5

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (5)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 4

Surveys

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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Oldbury (Sandwell)
Grid Ref SO9896489503
Lat / Lon 52.50344° / -2.01669°
Easting / Northing 398,964E / 289,503N
What3Words funded.eagles.exams
Smethwick
Grid Ref SP0200288710
Lat / Lon 52.49631° / -1.97193°
Easting / Northing 402,002E / 288,710N
What3Words fears.dark.wage

Oldsme One's land is

Urban 100.0%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews


Swebbews

15 Sep 2022 Summer

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.


Saira

08 Aug 2022 Summer

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.


David Sanderson

24 Oct 2021 Autumn

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.


Dave4

24 Oct 2021 Autumn

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


Pddys

02 Oct 2021 Autumn

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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