I completed this walk two days ago travelling south from Tipton. It's a fairly perfunctory route which improves mainly after leaving the busy Birmingham New Road behind along what felt like an old dismantled railway route. There is some interest provided by the zoo and the castle at the Dudley end....

Steve Litchfield

This is a good route, though the pavement walking out of Dudley is a little tedious. My reason for not going to 4 stars was mostly the amount of pavement walking, and now that the canal path has been widened, it looks possible that the west end of DUDOLD 1 could be combined with the east end of this one to make a more satisfying route....

Hugh Hudson

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

The direct route along Hawes Lane would be infinitely easier, and i'd love to hear opinions as to whether the reviewers think the 'diversion' is worthwhile....

Steve Litchfield

The last section of the mapped route along the canal here is not actually allowed as this short section is privately owned by the 'Dudley Canal & Caravans co.' (photo 12), but the different route is only a 200 metre diversion and as such I don't think warrants a whole new route being created....

Steve Litchfield

Starting by looping north out of the bus station and touching the main A459 route, rather than continuing along the main road, it turns off and follows quieter back roads towards Tividale. The next section through Kates Hill follows the pavements of a predominantly residential area before coming out at a crossing of the A4123....

David Sanderson

The route through Tipton Green is quiet and residential, before joining the main road, Hurst Lane. In summary this is a good, direct and enjoyable route but could do with leaving the canal at a better place....

David Sanderson

Having left Castle Hill and passed the Zoo car park, the footpaths are a nice way to get to the edge of Tipton Green....

David Sanderson

Route started well in Dudley, the detour to avoid following the main road didn't seem too arduous. 2 Having got in to Canal Park, rather than following the reasonably weather proof cycle path, the route goes down a boggy uneven footpath by the side of the canal (not a towpath)....

David Sanderson

Having started along the High Street, it detours slightly to avoid following the main road. The last section before the final walk along the main road into Kingswinford, includes probably my favourite part of the walk....

David Sanderson

You cross Parkes Hall Road and enter Mons Hill and then Wrens Nest Nature Reserve. The final section of the walk is pretty well all pavement into Dudley....

David Sanderson

The rest of the walk consists of the residential streets of The Straits, Lower Gornal and London Fields, alternating with parks and nature reserves. It consists of quite a few climbs too, but the views are amazing! This route is safe, direct, offroad, where it can be, varied in nature and with quite a few stops and shops in its undulating 10km....

David Sanderson

The route uses the towpath of the privately owned Dudley Canal and Caverns. The footpath between the Hippodrome building and martial arts school can not be accessed either...

David Sanderson

Having walked down a couple of residential streets with pedestrian crossings, where necessary, the route comes out at the A4123, a very busy road which needs to be crossed with great care. When I walked it, Castle Hill was closed for construction of the Metro (tram) route....

David Sanderson

Starting from Rowley Regis, I found the climb towards Rowley Regis (the meeting point isn't really in Rowley Regis itself and I think needs moving) reasonably direct but gentle, along the pavements of the main road. However, the rise and fall of the footpath section in Tippity Green, enjoyable as it was, felt like unnecessary exercise in what was always going to be quite a hilly route....

David Sanderson

A route based on a walk that two of us did when trying to follow Seddud one. This section of the route in Wrens Nest is easy to follow and is incredibly peaceful as it's such a sheltered place, BUT, it does have a lot of climbs and descents, some exceedingly steep....

David Sanderson

2 SO 9611 8791 - Footpath behind fences is completely overgrown and can not be accessed 3 SO 9513 8863 - Footpath has animal enclosure built across it and is marked as "Private Property" (reported via Ramblers App)...

David Sanderson

At SO 9377 9152 the route follows a right of way but there is no path up the steep bankside there....

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

I wouldn't have felt safe on my own, so was grateful to be in the company of 3 other Slow Ways route reviewers while walking this route....

Lorna Prescott

I would walk it again but not for pleasure, merely as a means of getting from A to B in an area where I can't imagine there are significantly better alternatives....

Dave4

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

This is a varied and interesting route, taking in quiet streets, green open space and woodland walks, as well as a number of pathways between and around housing. There are some great views, quite a few hills, and a couple of flights of steps (one around 15 steps). It was enjoyable both for adults and a 12 year old who helped review it....

Lorna Prescott