West Bromwich — Smethwick

Wessme three
Not verified

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Wessme here.

By Mary Oz on 14 Jan 2024

Distance

5km/3mi

Ascent

-

Descent

-

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Description

WesSme Two looks excellent and I’d like to try it sometime, but I also love walking canals and seeing their heritage, so I have uploaded a corrected version of WesSme One. Not only does it improve accuracy, but it includes a towpath diversion that was in place when I walked it, and it provides correct access to the canal at the Smethwick end. It may look as if the route expects you to walk along the M5, but the towpath is actually beneath the motorway

WesSme Two looks excellent and I’d like to try it sometime, but I also love walking canals and seeing their heritage, so I have uploaded a corrected version of WesSme One. Not only does it improve accuracy, but it includes a towpath diversion that was in place when I walked it, and it provides correct access to the canal at the Smethwick end. It may look as if the route expects you to walk along the M5, but the towpath is actually beneath the motorway

Status

This route has been reviewed by 1 person.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Wessme three

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.

Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 1

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (1)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 1

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 2X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 2: Mostly smooth and compacted surfaces, but there may be some loose gravel, muddy patches or cobbles.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.		 Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Maybe present Vegan restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (1)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Maybe present Train station (1)
Not present at time of survey Bench (1)
Not present at time of survey Picnic table (1)
Present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Not present at time of survey Very slippery (1)
Maybe present Very muddy (1)
Maybe present Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Not present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Not present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Not present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Not present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Not present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Maybe present Potential falls (1)
Maybe present Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Not present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Not present at time of survey Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 80.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 19.0% (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 19.0% (1)

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

There is no data on how much of this route is on roads

There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night

Thereis no data on amount of route paved

There is no data on muddiness

There is no data on rough ground

There is no data on long grass

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

2X January 2024 by Mary Oz
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

West Bromwich
Grid Ref SP0046791013
Lat / Lon 52.51702° / -1.99454°
Easting / Northing 400,467E / 291,013N
What3Words quick.axed.drips
Smethwick
Grid Ref SP0200288710
Lat / Lon 52.49631° / -1.97193°
Easting / Northing 402,002E / 288,710N
What3Words fears.dark.wage

Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.

review

Mary Oz

14 Jan 2024 (edited 15 Jan 2024) Winter
Report

The route left West Bromwich bus station making use of some residential roads and a roundabout that was a little tricky to cross, but kind drivers let me go past. Access to the canal involved three steps and a ridged ramp.
I soon reached Spon Lane Junction then continued under the M5 and Stewart Aqueduct. Here I had to go up a ridged brick slope to reach the old canal line (built by Brindley). After a quick look at the aqueduct (what a confusion of canals, railway, and motorway!) I followed the old canal, literally underneath the motorway.
The towpath of the new canal (built by Telford) has been closed for 10 months so far, due to an unsafe wall towering above it, and Canal and River Trust are still not sure (as at January 2024) when it will reopen. See https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/21698-towpath-between-stewart-aqueduct-and-spon-lane-new-mainline.
A slightly confusing route crossed the canal and some dry land beneath the motorway to exit onto Spon Lane via a kissing gate. A short way along the road there was a slope down to the new line of canal again.
After a while I walked through Galton Valley, all very interesting with its double level railway station, high bridge (used by WesSme Two) and short canal tunnel. I passed below Galton Valley Canal Museum and under the next bridge, and left the towpath up shallow steps to the old canal line again and out onto the road.
A footbridge over the busy A457 and the railway (with very interesting views) brought me to the Smethwick meeting point.
A thoroughly interesting and enjoyable route.

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Other Routes for West Bromwich—Smethwick See all Slow Ways

West Bromwich—Smethwick

Wessme one

U U

Distance

5km/3mi

Ascent

55 m

Descent

65 m

West Bromwich—Smethwick

Wessme two

1 Y

Distance

3km/2mi

Ascent

-

Descent

-

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