This was a surprisingly nice route, with lots of off-road sections, including a disused canal, and with safe road crossings....

Mary Oz

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

I tried cycling this route and I’ve succeeded, but boy, was I in for a ride. There are multiple flights of stairs, so using a wheelchair on this route is completely out of the question....

Urzum

Fine walk between two urban locations that manages to find the greenery available to walk....

Mappiman

I walked Romsley to Halesowen which offers a downhill route with excellent views while walking through pasture. A mix of gates and stiles and some mud at the crossing points but generally an easy walk even after snow and lots of run off. The two Romhal Slow Ways follow different paths so I highly recommend both which used together offer a good 5 mile circular walk starting at either Halesowen or Romsley....

Ken

This route has very little to recommend it.Flytipping overgrown paths busy roads to try and cross.Reasonably direct it passes a few points of interest(Walked 5th Feb 2022)...

J w ollid

I started this route from my house rather than the centre and went through the pool lane underpass, through Seth Summers Park and up the underpass onto Manor Way which avoided having to cross MW at all, which I much preferred (especially having my dog with me). The route was really well sign posted and easy to walk and definitely one I'd do again....

Lizzy Norman

From the meeting point at Rowley Regis station, we cross Station Road and turn left, then right down Nimmings Road and follow it to a mini-roundabout among shops. We cross Long Lane, go a short distance right and turn left along Maltmill Lane. At the next left turn (Olive Hill Road), we take the surfaced alleyway that goes diagonally half left between fences to a small park, where we continue on the tarmac path along the right edge to Olive Lane, where we turn right until we reach another alleyway on the right, where we turn right....

Hugh Hudson

From the meeting point, we follow the bus station left round the corner and use a pelican crossing the Queensway then turn right onto Hagley Road. At the top of the hill we can use a pelican crossing to cross to the south side of Hagley Road, then we turn left onto Quarry Lane, where views of the Clent Hills soon emerge. On the edge of the village the direct way forward is blocked by a locked large metal gate, and we take the path left that leads out past a scout hut onto an open playing field, which we cross to an alley that we follow right to St Kenelms Road, which we follow left to the Romsley meeting point....

Hugh Hudson

I had linked five Slow Ways to walk Walsall to Halesowen filling a gap in my waylist. All routes already had a good review so I concur that they are good or adequate plots. The review guidance asks "would you walk it again", my answer has to be, not by choice only necessity but I did enjoy the one off exploring and found plenty of interest along the way. From leaving Walsall the whole walk was new territory for me, it had been a great exploration but at the end of the now invisible canal I met Hallon which I had walked from Longbridge some time back....

Ken

It's a very pleasant route but sadly, because of some short, very uneven sections, not one for anyone using wheels and anyone having mobility issues would need to take particular care.....

Dave4

A series of roads bring you to Stourbridge Junction Railway Station and the Seven Stars Pub (recommended). The last section is via a footpath which you join in a residential area, after which it takes you under the railway and eventually to the meeting place outside the Bus Station and Stourbridge Town Railway Station....

David Sanderson

A very challenging walk!...

Saira

Obviously this will be shut sometimes, but the route around it isn't that pleasant, so the shopping centre, and the pedestrianised precinct beyond, is the better option. This is where the walk gets good, it's a popular and friendly offroad option with occasional view across to the centre of Halesowen. On leaving the park both towpaths lead to ramps up to the pavement of Mucklow Hill....

David Sanderson

The first inkling I had that this was not going to be plain sailing was the strange decision I had made to go the long way round Honeybourne Road....

David Sanderson

The crossing of A456 is the best crossing I've used into the south of Halesowen, but that's not a high bar. Once in Halesowen, the route is direct over hill to the meeting place by the Bus Station....

David Sanderson

We encountered considerable obstacles ranging from brambles, broken bridges, blocked paths, and very busy road crossings on this route. Although we managed to complete it, I cannot recommend Hanlon One as a good example of a Slow Ways route....

Lynn Jackson

We took a small diversion towards Illey House Farm where the OS marked path didn’t seem to exist. From Illey to Illey Hall Farm there is a (mostly) well marked diversion sightly to the east of the OS marked footpath, starting with a fence stile without its step, and ending with an excellent new double stile....

Mary Oz

The route left Longbridge through a landscaped area, under the main road, and along a paved dual carriageway. Then it followed a cycle track, and passed through some housing, all pleasant enough until the entrance to the fields was reached, which was blighted by fly-tipping....

Mary Oz

Just before the end in Birmingham, the route passes through another shopping centre (this can be confusing, but it's just a straight shot through the mall (including down some escalators))....

mtormey

Just before the end in Birmingham, the route passes through another shopping centre (this can be confusing, but it's just a straight shot through the mall (including down some escalators))....

mtormey

1 At SO9783 8105 we followed the path as the right of way is marked, only to find it impossible to follow (dense tree growth blocked the way). Retracing our steps we discovered that the actual path follows a slightly different route as you can see from the first picture....

David Sanderson

There was quite a lot about the area that was gorgeous, and Hallon two is a perfectly good route....

mtormey

This walk starts well with open paths through a new development on the old Austin car site. Safe passage under the busy road and perhaps a walk up the Rea when development is finished but for now it's alongside the noisy dual carriageway. A short section of cycle route, then a scramble across a ditch before a labyrinth of paths between houses through New Frankley, frankly not an easy route to follow. After passing under the M5 along a short section of road the route heads towards the border into Dudley Metropolitan Borough where new issues raise their head with paths not quite where they are marked on the map....

Ken

The footpath through residential neighbourhoods is actually quite nice and pleasant, but the final bit just before the countryside opens up was overgrown and there was a big pile of fly-tipped trash to navigate through as well!...

mtormey

The first section through Longbridge is easy to follow, is well served for shops and eateries but has a short section where it follows the pavement of the busy A38, which might not be to everyone's taste. There is a climb, not an arduous one through fields up to the top of Frankley Hill which affords some good views looking back across the area. Having crossed a stile onto the pavement of the very busy A456, you follow it to a mini roundabout and then cross the two roads at the "suggested" crossings....

David Sanderson

Some issues have now been investigated by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, see details below. After passing under the M5 along a short section of road the route heads towards the border into Dudley Metropolitan Borough where new issues raise their head with paths not quite where they are marked on the map so follow the plot not the OS map. Follow up from Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council see maps in pictures. Footpath H97 at Bartley Green Football Club, the land occupier assumed that the path had been diverted when the footpball pitch was laid out. Currently the correct line shown red on the map is unavailable an available route follows the green line. Here the route shown green offers a safe bridge....

Ken

A nice direct route from Halesowen to Romsley. I walked this from Halesowen where the exit is direct and easy navigation with a light controlled crossing of the major road in the town....

Ken

Leaving the canal at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (more shopping, eating and drinking opportunities in the main foyer here) the route follows a clear pedestrian/cycle way to the A4040 (another general store just before reaching here). Having crossed the A4040 the route follows a very pleasant walkway alongside the Bourne Brook (there is a better entrance to this pathway a few yards further up the A4040 - see Halbir2)....

Dave4

The route out of Birmingham via the Birmingham and Worcester Canal is sound but does pass through the Mailbox which can be closed on occasion. You leave the canal at University Railway Station (yes, the University of Birmingham is “University” in the rail network). A road takes you over the M5 and you enter what was my favourite and then least favourite sections of the walk....

David Sanderson

See my review for Halbir1...

Dave4

The route out of Birmingham via the Birmingham and Worcester Canal is sound but does pass through the Mailbox which can be closed on occasion. You leave the canal at University Railway Station (yes, the University of Birmingham is “University” in the rail network). Reaching the outer ring road you follow it down, crossing it at the pedestrian crossing then going through the main entrance to the walkway beside the Bourne Brook....

David Sanderson

It was fun to go off the beaten track and explore new ways of getting places. Unfortunately this route is needs some adjustments....

Mieke

An alternative route RomHal2 was explored in the reverse direction, using the crossing about 500m west opposite the exit of Quarry Lane. 2 Photo (review photo 1). Kissing gate onto unpaved path around rear of gardens. 2A photo of path. 3 Photo (review photo 2). 5 Photo (review photo 3). 7 Photo (review photo 4). Approx position of gate with narrow plank bridge 50 cm; at field boundary 9 Photos (review photo 5) Approx position Gate and waymark Approx position gate with rough approach which would be very muddy if wet Approx position of kissing gate; very rough would be muddy if wet; the path ahead is not clearly defined Gate in left fence after about 50 yards joins track leading into Quarry Lane and the end of RomHal2 alternative route with slightly safer road crossing See RomHal 2 route for alternative crossing...

Helenix134