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Every one of Oldbury (Sandwell)’s five Slow Ways has a route that’s been walked and reviewed positively at least three times, and surveyed. Scroll down to explore them, or help connect another place

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Oldbury (Sandwell)

West Midlands


Slow Ways linking Oldbury (Sandwell) and Dudley, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich

England / West Midlands / Oldbury (Sandwell)

Oldbury (Sandwell)’s five Slow Ways are 100% checked

Drawn: 5/5
reviewed: 5/5
verified: 5/5
and surveyed: 5/5

Help connect Oldbury (Sandwell)

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Oldbury (Sandwell)’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Oldbury (Sandwell) from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Dudley—Oldbury (Sandwell)
Dudold one Review me Distance 9km/5mi Ascent 97m Descent 47m
Dudley—Oldbury (Sandwell)
Dudold two

Enjoy me Distance 6km/3mi Ascent 36m Descent 88m
Oldbury (Sandwell)—West Bromwich
Oldbwes one

Double check Distance 3km/2mi Ascent 29m Descent 18m
Oldbury (Sandwell)—West Bromwich
Oldbwes two Enjoy me Distance 3km/2mi Ascent 34m Descent 23m
Oldbury (Sandwell)—Smethwick
Oldsme one

Enjoy me Distance 4km/3mi Ascent 50m Descent 52m
Oldbury (Sandwell)—Smethwick
Oldsme two Verify me Distance 5km/3mi Ascent - Descent -
Rowley Regis—Oldbury (Sandwell)
Rowold one Pioneer me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 161m Descent 140m
Rowley Regis—Oldbury (Sandwell)
Rowold two Enjoy me Distance 4km/2mi Ascent 27m Descent 42m
Tipton—Oldbury (Sandwell)
Tipold one

Double check Distance 5km/3mi Ascent 45m Descent 34m
Tipton—Oldbury (Sandwell)
Tipold two Enjoy me Distance 5km/3mi Ascent 103m Descent 92m

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Oldbury (Sandwell) and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Collective progress

75% of Oldbury (Sandwell)’s five route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

10/10

drawn

9/10

reviewed

6/10

surveyed

5/10

verified

11 people have contributed to Oldbury (Sandwell)’s Slow Ways

1 people have pledged to walk and review a route

6 people have surveyed a route in Oldbury (Sandwell)

43km out of 49km have been walked and reviewed

145km of reviews have been shared in Oldbury (Sandwell)

Latest Updates

From the centre of Oldbury, where there are bus stops and shops, we walk past the railway station, then down a road between the car park, Network Rail and the police station. We rejoin the route from the next road bridge, a ramp down to the towpath....

Hiking Historian

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This is a great route, but I feel I need to fail it because of a towpath closure which has existed for ten months and Canal and River Trust have still not given a date for reopening. See Oldsme Two for the diverted route, and further details....

Mary Oz

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There were some interesting buildings on leaving Oldbury - some classic municipal buildings including The Big House, and the Art Deco factory building opposite Sandwell and Dudley railway station (on the West Coast main line). After a while I walked through Galton Valley, all very interesting with its double level railway station, high bridges and short canal tunnel....

Mary Oz

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Oldbury (Sandwell)—Smethwick

Mary Oz added Oldsme two, a new walk from Oldbury (Sandwell) to Smethwick

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On looking at my photos, I realise there were some interesting buildings along the way, starting with some classic municipal buildings in Oldbury, including The Big House....

Mary Oz

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Walking from Rowley Regis I found the busy main road section rather tedious, although there were shops here, including food opportunities....

Mary Oz

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From the centre of Oldbury, where there are bus stops and shops, we walk past the railway station, then down a road between the car park, Network Rail and the police station. We rejoin the route from the next road bridge, a ramp down to the towpath....

Hiking Historian

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The canal continues ahead, first through residential areas; past a mosque; over a few aqueducts and then into a wooded area; and we also cross, and pass, a couple of junctions with other branches or canals....

Hiking Historian

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Like Dave says, it's a decent route, but it fails at the exit to the bridge on Bromford Road, where the map shows it's on the opposite side to where it actually is! Apart from that, straightforward canal route....

Hiking Historian

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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

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I don't have much to add - it was a great route that mostly followed the Birmingham Canal towpath. I loved our diversion to the ghostly Netherton tunnel - (torch/ headlight recommended if you're planning to wander down). Highlights include lots of nature, a wondrous aqueduct and lunch at the cosy House of Chai - a really pleasant Slow Way + a lovely day with a lovely friend!!...

Saira

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A short pavement-pace from the centre of Oldbury took us past the station and the Art Deco building of BGN Boards Co Ltd to the Birmingham Canal towpath, accessed by three steps then a slope....

Mary Oz

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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

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After leaving the start in Smethwick (photo 1), a footbridge with steps (photo 2) seems the only way to get to the canal towpath. The route is quickly regained and takes you under the tall M5 bridge (photo 9), before soon arriving at the bridge to take you to the opposite side of the canal (photo 10)....

Steve Litchfield

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After leaving the embankment and crossing the A4123 Wolverhampton Rd, you quickly leave the road behind and reach the next highlight of a pylon. It seems a shame to leave it behind, but once you do, you quickly reach some playing fields which, if you're lucky, may have a game of football on you can watch. After leaving the playing fields, you then reach the intriguingly named 'The Chilterns', which eventually leads you to the rather busy and dull Oldbury Road....

Steve Litchfield

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It was the first part of a circular walk stitching together four routes around Sandwell totalling 9.5 miles involving Rowley Regis, Smethwick and back to West Brom....

Steve Litchfield

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We follow this unsurfaced path and bear left into playing fields, taking a diagonal line across it avoiding the football pitches if games are in progress. Where it ends we take a paved path between houses straight on and turn left down Blakedown Way to reach the busy Birchfield Lane, where we turn right and cross at the next junction using pelican crossings....

Hugh Hudson

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I walked the remaining part of this route from the station up to Oldbury yesterday as part of another long walk finishing at Bromsgrove...

Hugh Hudson

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All routes already had a good review so I concur that they are good or adequate plots. I could almost hear the presenter's voice as my thoughts returned to that era which then skipped to a comic sketch by Michael Bentine, reading the results in that measured BBC voice, his excitement growing as he thought he had a winning coupon....

Ken

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Leaving Oldbury I found it safer to use the zebra crossing before the ring road then head left a short way to a light controlled crossing and another controlled crossing before turning right off the main road. There is no controlled crossing here and the direct route has a gap in the narrow central reservation which perhaps explains the kink in the plot. The way ahead is another unsigned footpath but then it's follow the overhead power lines across the sports field, no games in progress on this Saturday morning, to a surfaced path, also unrecorded, to an estate road. A footpath, hidden between houses offers a strip of green which leads to the meeting point at Rowley Regis rail station....

Ken

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We started walking down the hill for a short while alongside the main road from the centre of Oldbury, but after that the route was entirely alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line built by Thomas Telford in 1827. The businessmen who commissioned Telford to build this canal wanted him to make it as straight as possible to speed up traffic, and Telford certainly delivered: the path is arrow-straight for most of the way to Tipton. There is no way you can lose your way on this route!...

swebbews

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Although this route is very much in the heart of the Black Country, it was a delightful walk along the canal that was for the most part very quiet. Previous reviewers noted the temporary closure of the footpath between Spon Lane and Steward Aqueduct; as of mid-September it’s still closed, and shows no indications of reopening any time soon. The diversion along the older (pre-Telford) canal was however very easy to follow, and did not detract from an enjoyable afternoon....

swebbews

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The tow path was temporarily closed between Steward Aqueduct and Spon Lane due to a crumbling wall, but you can easily rejoin the path at Spon Lane....

Saira

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A fairly no frills but safe and straightforward pavement only walk between Oldbury and West Bromwich....

David Sanderson

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A pleasantly relaxing stroll along the Birmingham Canal, followed by the pavement of an A-road into Oldbury....

David Sanderson

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Oldbury (Sandwell)—West Bromwich

David Sanderson added Oldbwes two, a new walk from Oldbury (Sandwell) to West Bromwich

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Tipton—Oldbury (Sandwell)

David Sanderson added Tipold two, a new walk from Tipton to Oldbury (Sandwell)

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Between SO 9961 9038 and SO 9971 9053 this route uses an alleyway between allotments which can only be accessed by keyholders. An alternative route along the parallel street will be submitted as Oldbwes 2...

David Sanderson

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Cross the road via the bridge and access the towpath on the opposite bank....

David Sanderson

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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

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The pavement beside the busy A4034 is wide but you don't follow it for long as you turn right and then go offroad along a footpath adjacent to a massive electricity substation. The path is on a slope at times and it might suit some walkers and wheelers to follow the pavement of the main road instead....

David Sanderson

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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

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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

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The walk out of Oldbury is fairly functional along the main road but having the passed Sandwell and Dudley Railway Station (direct trains to Edinburgh and London, not just local stations) you walk down the side of the car park and follow a track to the towpath of the main branch of the Birmingham Canal. In 4km, 3 of which are offroad, you access bus routes, 3 railway stations (Galton Bridge is accessible via steps from the canal and Rolfe Street is at the end of the route), wildlife, industrial history (Galton Valley Pumping Station) and it's one of the easiest Slow Ways I've ever had to follow!...

David Sanderson

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I can't add anything to the reviews above by Pddys and David - a really good Slow Ways route. Thoroughly enjoyed walking it...

Dave4

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Dudley—Oldbury (Sandwell)

David Sanderson added Dudold two, a new walk from Dudley to Oldbury (Sandwell)

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This includes going underneath the M5 and the Spon Lane junction, underneath Smethwick Galton Bridge, through the Summit tunnel, underneath the Summit Bridge, and past the Galton Valley Pumping Station, and some Ironworks bridges....

pddys

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Rowley Regis—Oldbury (Sandwell)

David Sanderson added Rowold two, a new walk from Rowley Regis to Oldbury (Sandwell)

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Oldbury (Sandwell)

Messa surveyed Oldbury (Sandwell)

View facilities
Dudley—Oldbury (Sandwell)

Slow Ways added Dudold one, a new walk from Dudley to Oldbury (Sandwell)

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Oldbury (Sandwell)—West Bromwich

Slow Ways added Oldbwes one, a new walk from Oldbury (Sandwell) to West Bromwich

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Oldbury (Sandwell)—Smethwick

Slow Ways added Oldsme one, a new walk from Oldbury (Sandwell) to Smethwick

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Rowley Regis—Oldbury (Sandwell)

Slow Ways added Rowold one, a new walk from Rowley Regis to Oldbury (Sandwell)

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Tipton—Oldbury (Sandwell)

Slow Ways added Tipold one, a new walk from Tipton to Oldbury (Sandwell)

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1

Oldbury (Sandwell), Sun 3 November

11°

Overcast

Oldbury (Sandwell)’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SO9896489503

Lat / Lon

52.50344° / -2.01669°

Easting / Northing

398,964E / 289,503N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Oldbury (Sandwell) and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Oldbury (Sandwell)'s meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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