West Bromwich

I completed this walk yesterday walking northwards from Smethwick....

Steve Litchfield

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

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

At a pelican crossing, we cross to Hamstead Road, which we cross then turn right down it, turning left into Hembs Crescent and going straight on into Johns Grove, where we enter the Sandwell Valley park and follow the cycle track left. The shortest way up to it uses a flight of steps, and we continue up the hill and past the war memorial to emerge on Reform Street, where we turn left, crossing the A41 bridge and going half right over a pelican crossing into Bull Street....

Hugh Hudson

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

All routes already had a good review so I concur that they are good or adequate plots. Stone Cross had Christmas preparations well in hand at the meeting point where a good selection of shops are on offer including the local branch of The WestBrom. A short walk, passing the 1928 HQ of the building society then onto the bus station opposite the Billiard Hall and round the corner to the meeting point close to the metro....

Ken

Taking you through Sandwell Valley Country Park and easy to follow very enjoyable...

Nigel Cull

Wesgre 1 can be followed using common sense but the plotting is very vague - for instance taking a long diagonal crossing of Newton Road, a fast moving dual carriageway near the end point at Great Barr, crossing the river in Sandwell Country Park where there is no bridge. 3 stars because the pop mapping is outweighed by the very pleasant surroundings of the main section of the walk....

Dave4

See review of Wesgre 1 of which this seems to be a duplicate....

Dave4

This is a really pleasant walk and,, apart from a little pavement plodding at either end, is surprisingly rural for the majority of the route taking in municipal parkland and the Sandwell Valley Country Park. Much of the route follows The Beacon Way, footpaths are firm and well surfaced and take you alongside the River Tame past lakes and quite close to 2 urban farms and an RSPB centre. Both ends of the walk provide opportunities for food and drink and access to public transport links....

Dave4

Having left the main road, there is a short residential section which delivers you via kissing gate into Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve. Having crossed Park Lane, a fast but not very busy road you then go round Swan Pool in Sandwell Valley Country Park. From the edge of the park it's pavements and crossings all the way to the home straight of West Bromwich High Street....

David Sanderson

The tin hat had to be the final section which, rather than following the High Street to the Bus Station, deliberately puts you on a side of the road with initially no pavement, and then a pavement clearly designed to deter pedestrians....

David Sanderson

Route at West Bromwich end is on wrong side of the road...

David Sanderson

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

David Sanderson

A great walk between Tipton Railway Station and West Bromwich Bus Station. You could stay on the towpath on the Tipton Railway side until you leave, but the towpath indicated is wider and paved, so is more "all weather"....

David Sanderson

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

Plotting from Tipton is so vague that you can't tell which side of the canal you should walk, or where you should cross. Leaving at Albion, the junction is quiet tricky to cross...

David Sanderson

To get to the meeting place you have to follow the ramp on the other side of the path or continue on to West Bromwich Central Metro Station, which would be my preference....

David Sanderson

The route runs as far as West Bromwich Central where the road level is only slightly higher than the Metro line....

David Sanderson

There's no denying that this a direct no-nonsense kind of a walk between the centre of West Bromwich and one of its suburbs but it includes a section through Charlemont Cemetery which I had never visited before....

David Sanderson

Leaving Smethwick you cross the road by Galton Bridge Railway Station and then cross said bridge to cross Galton Valley. A short path brings you out by the traffic lights to cross Kenrick Way....

David Sanderson

It is an excellent, short, safe, straightforward route meeting all of the Slow Ways criteria. It is varied, scenic, safe and accurately plotted. A really good walk...

Dave4

There is a 40m region that has a very narrow kerbed sidewalk - 55cm in width - where using the road surface might be required for mobility vehicles....

Urzum

This was a fun local walk - its certainly not picturesque but we enjoyed walking a route we would so often drive, noticing all the small details of the canal and the industrial estate cafes. This route follows the tram line most of the way which is easy to follow without having to keep referring back to the map. It was fairly flat and easily accessible, apart from one section which changed from pavement to grass with a rough break in the path....

AgathaRuncible