Smebir one

Verified Slow Way

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A really enjoyable route along the canal, we walked as a group from Brum to Smethwick after work, great to have the vast majority of an urban route off road.

Completed this walk today from Smethwick heading east into Brum. As others have mentioned, it is a surprisingly nice walk considering the built up surrounds. The majority of the walk along the delightful Birmingham Canal, with it's unique bridges and historic architecture. Thomas Telford's Steward aqueduct is an impressive structure dating from 1828. Depending on your taste, the graffiti may or may not appeal. Personally I think much of it is well presented and brightens the place up.

The trickiest part of the whole walk has to be the footbridge at Smethwick as it is steps only and has no wheeled access. The general walk though is easy throughout, with just the footbridges to navigate. One of the bridges has particularly low sides which I wouldn't want to test out after a heavy drinking session. At just 4 miles long it's easily doable within a couple of hours.

We started this walk from The Mailbox in Birmingham, so it was entirely along the canal towpath apart from the very last part into Smethwick. It seems unbelievable to be so close to the centre of Britain’s second city while enjoying so much peace and quiet and seeing ducks, geese, moorhens and herons. There is so much to like about this walk.

I walked this route on 6.08.22. I don't have much to add to the reviews below. It's a beautiful, interesting route that follows the Birmingham canal all the way to Smethwick! I've walked this route many times on my way to Oldbury, and am sure I will walk it again. Smethwick is a great place place to explore, with a fantastic Punjabi music shop, library and stunning Gurdwara.

A really beautiful, relaxing, direct route. I walked this on a 30 degree day from Birmingham to Smethwick. The route takes you to the canal via Newhall Street and the edge of the Jewellery Quarter. I had wondered whether it could have been better to seek a more direct route to the canal, maybe via Gas Street Basin but I realised that in the opposite direction, this route gives you access to the pubs, cafes and shops of Newhall Street, Bennetts Hill, New Street and Temple Street which might be very welcome. Once you have joined the Birmingham Canal, it takes you most of the way. Starting in the regenerated apartments of Ladywood it moves into the post industrial zones and then into countryside reclaimed from former wharves. The canal is very popular with cyclists and dog walkers. Wildlife abounds and I saw herons and cormorants. As the route comes to leave the canal you ascend a series of steps then climb on to a bridge to take you over a railway and dual carriageway to deliver you into Smethwick High Street with its multiple independent shops. Direct, beautiful, offroad. Full marks.

A n unexpectedly scenic route given the urban, industrial areas it traverses. I did this from Birmingham to Smethwick on a very hot day and was surprised to see not only the usual ducks, Canada geese and so forth but a cormorant and a heron. The route is accurately planned, straightforward, easy to follow and very pleasant to walk.

An interesting and varied walk, particularly enjoyable if you are interested in industrial architecture. The route begins close to Galton Valley Pumping Station, now a heritage centre, though it is only open one Saturday per month so worth checking if you want to include a visit as part of your walk. The first two miles of the walk take you along a quiet, attractive stretch of the canal where you can watch the herons fishing. Grafitti is much in evidence but helps to brighten up some of the more 'grey' sections. As you get closer to the city centre you see more narrow boats and pass a section where the Canal and River Trust have planted a linear orchard, along with extensive planting along the path. Having passed the series of locks you reach the city centre, passing some interesting buildings on the way to the station. An easy walk with plenty to see on route.

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