Walgre two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I took this longer route from Walsall a mile more. but a lot more traffic free and greener.
You start in Walsall town centre through quiet residential streets then crossing into Walsall arboretum joining the Rushall Canal for a nice long tow path route passing locks. Then cross the canal along a path to take you past a school before going under M6 through Red House Park on to Great Barr.
A very good Slow Ways easy to follow.

I completed this walk yesterday travelling from Walsall. I chose this route over the other options because of less road walking and the inclusion of the arboretum. I considered giving it just four stars due to the section through Walsall town, but I feel that would do it an injustice. It is a really enjoyable route roughly split into thirds.

The first third could be described as the route to the canal, and I was pleased that quite quickly the route left the urban centre of Walsall (photo 1) to reach the arboretum (photo 2). I wasn't expecting too much of the arboretum in mid Winter, but it was a pleasant stroll.

The middle third is the route along the Rushall canal. After reading the previous review I was expecting a muddy towpath along the whole route, but i'm pleased to say three quarters of it felt like it had recently been resurfaced with sections of permeable and impermeable surfaces (photos 5-8). Only the final section between Shustoke & Hill Farm bridges was left unsurfaced, with the worst of the muddy bit visible in photo 9.

The final third was a pleasant surprise as you leave the canal, with a nice long archway of hedgerow to walk through (photo 12) taking you to Wilderness Lane. You soon pass under the M6 and to the entrance to Red Hill Park (photo 13) which then takes you to the end of the route.

There are no gates, stiles or major obstacles en route, and felt nice walking in this direction, leaving Walsall behind, walking down the flight of locks with nice views ahead, and into the leafy suburb of Great Barr. I would definitely recommend this route.

This was a lovely route. Starting in Walsall town centre it snaked through some quiet residential streets then crossed over into Walsall arboretum. Out the back of the Arboretum, you join a long stretch of canal, then a path through a field, a tree-lined path alongside a tiny stream of water and shortly across into Red House Park.

We had a lot of rain recently so one of the fields in the Arboretum was quite waterlogged and a large proportion of the canal path was frustratingly muddy. You could bypass the Arboretum field by taking a slightly longer route on the footpath round the perimeter.

The route felt reasonably safe. Walsall town centre should be approached with some caution. And some stretches of the canal felt a little isolated but otherwise all good.

I would definitely walk this route again and/or recommend to others.

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