Leaving Bloxwich the side roads are quiet and comfortable to walk along.The canal tow path was a little muddy, but very enjoyable. I too made the a small detour to view and sample the Wetherspoons at Aldridge a converted 1930 cinema which is good too. Overall a good Slow Ways....

Nigel Cull

Once past that it was straightforward to the Inn on the A452 although the named Holly Lane which approaches it is not recorded as a right of way even though it looks like an old lane. I wonder if it would be a better summer walk to turn left / north along Back Lane to pick up Wood Lane at the start. Having walked Broshe-2 last September I spotted I could take the lane away from the closure and pick up that route which I did....

Ken

From Bloxwich the side roads are fairly quiet and comfortable to walk along....

Ken

It would be possible to use more minor roads as you approach Aldridge by turning into the Bar Common area and walking along Whetstone lane but I don't think this justifies a third route in this case. Overall a good Slow Ways route. There is also a very nice coffee shop at the Streetly end called Breathe as well as multiple places to eat in Aldridge....

Paul McGill

Shame there are no passing boats but the canal is navigable and linked to the nationwide canal network. Authorised in 1794 as a branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal the lock free Daw End Branch was built to serve Hay Head Limeworks....

Ken

I walked Walsall to Aldridge. The meeting place in Walsall looks fine on the map but on the ground neither the train or bus stations are apparent to a first time visitor....

Ken

The first reviewer is correct in that the beginning of the walk (Mc Clean way) cannot be accessed directly from the Brownhills miners roundabout,....

Paul McGill

The advantage of this version of the route is that it goes through Brownhills high street (plenty of places for refreshments) before joining the canal for the majority of the walk to Aldridge. Overall a picturesque walk and easy to follow slow ways route. Plenty of wildlife to see and will certainly do this walk again....

Paul McGill

As mentioned by the other reviewer the walk is lovely, well signposted and generally easy to follow....

Paul McGill

An easy to follow and enjoyable route both ways with Sutton Park being the highlight....

Paul McGill

Good route easy to follow and suitable for all users...

Nigel Cull

Needs more navigation than Aldsut one and easy to miss turn in Sutton park care needed by Golf course Still a worthy Slow Way...

Nigel Cull

I have lived in Walsall for nearly 40 years and very much enjoyed the walk which explored parts of the area you would not normally visit....

Paul McGill

This route is very similar to Walald one but modifies the route particularly in Aldridge to more include the town centre. This is a useful addition particularly if you have not visited Aldridge before. The grading will be the same as the original route....

Paul McGill

Not really any alternatives to this route due to lack of off road options. Nice views of fields along the majority of the route though. Only points to take care are the road crossings near roundabouts....

Paul Newby

I was somewhat disappointed that it completely bypassed stops, shops and bus stops of Aldridge and it lost a mark before it had really got going. There is a section of countryside which is crossed by a series of well maintained, well marked footpaths....

David Sanderson

There is a section of countryside which is crossed by a series of well maintained and well marked footpaths. A direct, and very easy section to follow with a particularly enjoyable part through Walsall Arboretum....

David Sanderson

Starting from Streetly the route takes you on a dog leg to the end of Bridle Lane to join Aldridge Road heading north. There is a section of this fast road with no pavement which you would need to follow. Dangerous and unnecessary as there are much safer options....

David Sanderson

The only tricky crossings potentially are the Aldridge Road, the roundabout at the end of Bourne Vale and Erdington Road, when you arrive in Aldridge....

David Sanderson

Once you cross Back Lane, Holly Lane becomes too narrow and the trees too low for traffic. The end of Holly Lane emerges on to the A452 Chester Road, a 50mph road which needs to be crossed with caution, especially if you stopped at Plough and Harrow. The route soon emerges on to Wood Lane and it was a section of the walk that I had not been looking forward to, as lane walking can leave you feeling unsafe. The final section leaves the lanes and crosses a field towards Shenstone, crossing a narrow bridge across a stream in the process....

David Sanderson

At the roundabout at the end you turn right into Erdington Road which you follow straight into Aldridge a few metres from the meeting place. The only places to take particular care are crossing the road at the Bourne Vale/ Erdington Road roundabout and also where you have to cross Erdington Road at the edge of Aldridge itself....

David Sanderson

Fairly late on the route takes a turn to the left which is really easy to miss. The route snakes its way through quiet suburban neighbourhood streets before coming out on to the main, Hardwick Road. The next section, Bourne Vale is a 40mph main road past Streetly Cemetery and a couple of sports grounds. You are directed up an alleyway which takes you up a hill and along a road to a spot where.......

David Sanderson

Having crossed the park, you join a lane which brings you to the towpath of the Wyrley and Essington Canal. You leave the canal and make your way around the business park west end of Aldridge. The final section crosses a park by the stream and then crossing a road into the car park of Morrisons....

David Sanderson

The McClean Way can not be accessed from the roundabout at Brownhills as marked. Also plotting of this route is poor...

David Sanderson

The bridge to cross the canal into Brownhills has stairs and a ramp so is accessible for wheelers. It's not far from there up Brownhills High Street to the meeting place in the shelter, near Jigger the Brownhills Miner....

David Sanderson

From Aldridge walk through the park and quiet back roads to join the main road. This road and the road past Bourne Vale are both fairly busy but there is a footpath all the way. Past the Hardwick Arms pub the route takes back roads to Sutton Park....

Mr Tippy