Wolbil two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Walked Wolverhampton to Bilston pleasant east route. From Wolverhampton train station, cross the tram tracks then follow the blue cycle signs under the road signed towpath towards Birmingham. You have to walk along the pavement at the top of the ring road, then use the pedestrian crossing and you’ll see the canal. You then turn back on yourself once on the towpath, going under the road you have just crossed. Signed Birmingham and Bilston. Because you can’t get straight on the canal from the station you then pass it on the lower canal towpath. This is clearly marked on the route.
When you get to a canal off to the left you need to use the towpath bridge over it and stay straight on.
You come off after going under Millfileds Bridge which is the main road you walk along. Do cross to the other side as this avoids the busy double roundabout.
All the canal section is quiet, safe, lots of birds and attractive rushes on the other side. This is most of the walk. The humpback bridges are a bit steep and brick or some cobbles but the rest is tarmac. I saw people happily cycling and this is part of National Cycle Route 81.
Only the last 0.8 miles are on the road. There is pavement on the main road. Once you pass the roundabout you are on Bilston High Street which is partially pedestrianised. You can finish at the bus station or get the Metro from Bilston Central which is next to the finish too.

I walked this route yesterday from Bilston. It's a really good route which takes in a lot of industrial heritage along the towpath. It was a relief getting off the busy Millfields Road out of Bilston, but then it was a breeze walking the rest of the route. I quite enjoyed the industrial feel to it, and in places I was almost transported back to Victorian times past the many old buildings. No access issues and I felt it would be good for wheels.

Starting from Bilston Bus Station (near the Metro too) this route soon transports you through the cornucopia of cafes and takeaways along the pedestrianised High Street. The next section is along the nice wide pavement of the A4039 which takes you to the ramp on to the towpath of the Birmingham Canal. The walk from there is a reasonably peaceful stroll through a modern light industrial landscape. Leaving the canal to get to the meeting place at Wolverhampton Railway Station involves a brief bit of pavement pounding and a couple of easy crossings but it is worth noting that the location of the meeting place takes you away from the stops, shops, eateries and pubs of Wolverhampton other than the Costa, the cafe and the shop at the station. Overall this route is safe, step and stile free, reasonably direct and relaxed. I'd struggle to suggest a better route between theses places.

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