Tipold two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A great, straightforward route mostly along canals, and also fully accessible for all users.

From Tipton station, we're pretty much straight onto the canal via a ramp. The towpath starts as brick, but is then tarmac for the rest of the way. We swop sides of the canal soon after, shifting from the left to right towpaths using a brick footbridge just past the boatyard.

The canal continues ahead, first through residential areas; past a mosque; over a few aqueducts and then into a wooded area; and we also cross, and pass, a couple of junctions with other branches or canals.

Moving now through a much more industrial area, once we pass a under a main road bridge, we move up the slope to the road and, after passing the police station and under the railway, we eventually arrive near the library and the bus stops of Oldbury.

There's shops at the Oldbury end; on the Tipton end, there are some not too far away. Both have nearby public transport links.

I walked this route with Mary (see Mary's review below)! I don't have much to add - it was a great route that mostly followed the Birmingham Canal towpath. I loved our diversion to the ghostly Netherton tunnel - (torch/ headlight recommended if you're planning to wander down).

Highlights include lots of nature, a wondrous aqueduct and lunch at the cosy House of Chai - a really pleasant Slow Way + a lovely day with a lovely friend!!.

A short pavement-pace from the centre of Oldbury took us past the station and the Art Deco building of BGN Boards Co Ltd to the Birmingham Canal towpath, accessed by three steps then a slope. This was generally very pleasant with a well surfaced path. It felt surprisingly rural apart from an intriguing mechanical noise from the metalwork factory by the railway bridge!
Just for fun, we diverted up a canal branch to explore the start of Netherton Tunnel, which was rather exciting. We also diverted from the route at Dudley Port Station to have some lunch at House of Chaii – highly recommended! The aqueduct and parallel viaduct there were impressive in their small way.
We crossed the canal at a footbridge just before finishing at Tipton Station. A direct, pleasant, interesting and easy route to follow.

This was a very pleasant and easy walk from Oldbury to Tipton. We started walking down the hill for a short while alongside the main road from the centre of Oldbury, but after that the route was entirely alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line built by Thomas Telford in 1827. The businessmen who commissioned Telford to build this canal wanted him to make it as straight as possible to speed up traffic, and Telford certainly delivered: the path is arrow-straight for most of the way to Tipton. There is no way you can lose your way on this route!.

A pleasantly relaxing stroll along the Birmingham Canal, followed by the pavement of an A-road into Oldbury. No main roads to cross apart from to get to the Oldbury meeting place by the bus stops outside Sainsbury's. The route connects 3 railway stations: Tipton where the route starts; Dudley Port and Sandwell and Dudley near the Oldbury destination. The route into Oldbury also follows some main bus routes to West Bromwich and Walsall. The route is reasonably direct and about as offroad as it can be. There are some really lovely sections along the canal, which is popular with walkers and some cyclists. If you wanted to, you could stay on the other side of the canal, but the towpath on that side is not paved and so is less "all weather". Some pubs and eateries are at the Oldbury end.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.