The two pubs mentioned in David's review certainly make it a 5* walk!!...

Dave4

Safety wise, it's pretty well all pavement walking but has short sections along Two Woods Lane and the very first section of Hawne Lane where there is no pavement, and road walking is needed....

David Sanderson

From Brierley Hill High Street, we turn left onto Level Street, which we follow across the A4036 and down the hill to a roundabout, where we join the canal through the Waterfront development and on through a series of bends, under the A4036 and over a footbridge to reach Blackbrook Road, which we follow uphill over another canal to reach a nature reserve. I suspect there may be easier and flatter linespaths than the GPX/right of way line, which drops down easy angled steps twice then climbs to reach Cinder Bank, which we cross, then follow New Road up the hill, continuing up Vicar Street, then right into the centre of Dudley and the meeting point by the bus station....

Hugh Hudson

We follow the canal past a flight of locks (the basin above the lowest one was overflowing a little down the towpath) and over a side branch then go up the steps onto Mill Street, which can be crossed on a zebra crossing....

Hugh Hudson

Crossing the road as it feeds into the Stourbridge Ring Road needs some care but otherwise a very safe, pleasant route....

Dave4

Mostly via pavemented roads but with a middle stretch of parkland and canal towpath. No issues, although steps at some points would probably preclude wheelchairs, buggies etc....

Dave4

Only tricky crossing was in the final section coming into Stourbridge crossing the ring road, which doesn't have many crossings....

David Sanderson

Mainly pavement but goes through Buckpool Nature Reserve along the Stourbridge Canalin the middle, so boots are advised. There are steps up out of the park at Kingswinford and over the bridge out of the Nature Reserve so not accessible to all. Easy to follow, safe and direct....

David Sanderson

The walk along the canal is very pleasant when you do, it feels a shame to leave it. If I could give this route 4.5 stars I would, because although I believe it to be the best Slow Way between Brierley Hill and Dudley I still wonder if there might be a better route using more of Canal Number One....

David Sanderson

A good mix of urban pavement, canal and nature reserve making an enjoyable walk....

Dave4

2 The footpath between SO 9580 8754 and SO 9562 8755 across the road from there has been fenced off and is overgrown (reported via Ramblers App)....

David Sanderson

The route starts well from the meeting place at Rowley Regis Station and it's not long before you're wandering the pavements of residential Rowley Regis. Despite some of the industrial and post industrial surroundings, it's a really pleasant stretch of canal with some very entertaining art along the way. It's not long before you rejoin the Dudley Canal for what is an even nicer stretch, leaving it at Lodge Farm Reservoir....

David Sanderson

A pleasant route, with a peaceful green middle section and understandably urban feeling start and finish. Not very suitable for wheeling given grassy section without surfaced paths....

Lorna Prescott

The section between SO 9367 8831 and SO 9403 8874 follows the right of way but loses the path, making it confusing and hard to follow. Use Bridud two instead...

David Sanderson

Coming out on to Blackbrook Road, a quiet lane, we soon joined the Dudley Canal No.2 for a short section and then after another footpath came out on to the pavement of the busy dual carriageway which took us to Brierley Hill. Eliminating the crossing between Vicar Street and King Street and shortening the amount of dual carriageway at the Brierley Hill end would defiinitely help....

David Sanderson