Hi all,

Having recently moved to Staffordshire and made use of the canals and canal paths I have a plan to circumnavigate Birmingham clockwise by towpath. Garmin tells me it is 126km all the way round but I have little idea of the quality of the paths past Tamworth so it could be quick or desperately slow.

Has anyone tried or completed the circuit or have any experience of the paths? Setting off at about 0800 on Sat so hope to be in central Birmingham by 1030 or 11 for coffee if anyone fancies joining me!!!!

Dogsby

Not sure on your route but generally they’re pretty good. The closer to the city centre you are the better the surface generally.
And beware the Netherton tunnel if that’s on your route, it’s long, dark and wet.

Cheers Lunge,

Can you give me a steer as to where the Netherton Tunnel is?

You’ll go past the branch canal where the netherton tunnel is unless you’re going through Stourbridge?

Not done the routw but lived in Fazeley for a short while, the paths around Tamworth are ok, some are finished, some aren’t. Where they aren’t they can be a bit bumpy.

Just remembered, there’s a 1/4m tunnel in Coseley if you’re doing that route. It’s no where near as long as the Netherton one. But it’s long enough and wet too.

Netherton tunnel connects the branch by Halesowen to near Smethwick.

Anyone got a route for this they could share, I’m intrigued.

I never did the Halesowen branch to the end, I’d get on at Bumblehole get off on to the road to go through Haden Hill park to Clent. Bit of road but a cracking route.

If going through the Netherton tunnel I’d advise mudguards and decent lights as it’s about a mile long and towpath is mainly 1 long puddle.

I have had a quick look and I don’t think I go through the tunnel. I’ll have a better look at the routs in detail tomorrow and might take lights just in case!

Dogsby

The path north out of town goes under Spaghetti junction. You’ll turn right. It then goes under a big factory!!! Towards Fazeley will be muddy in parts, once you’ve left Birmingham, towards Kingsbury. Me & my lad did it at about this time of year, a few years ago. Its hard going in part, because your riding on long grass for long stretches. It’s fast enough coming out of Brum, its just all the anti-motorbike gates that are a pain. There are a good few miles of nothing out that way till you get to Fazely, so a stop at McD’s at Tyburn Island is your last food stop.
There have been folk mugged of bikes along the stretch past Castle Vale also…

From Fazeley its all good paths then till you get to Whittington. There is a rough stretch before you get to Fradley Junction. There is a decent pub & Cafe. You’ll turn left & its good paths again right up until south of Stafford, where it turns left towards Penkridge. Pubs every few miles, so all good. I’ve only ever gone as far as Penkridge, but it looks it meanders a lot from there till Wolverhampton. But your back in to built up areas then, so chances are the path will be good.

On paper, its easy. Its a canal…it should be flat. But it is hard going, with some long stretches that will test your resolve. But if you sack it off your only a mile or two from a station (Tamworth/Lichfield/Rugeley/Stafford), so can be back in town in no time..

Someone mentioned the Coseley tunnel. Well its closed and do is the towpath for a good way on the Wolverhampton side.

I tried Stafford to Wolvo once. Got past Calf Heath and sacked it off as Id had enough of wheels sucking bumpy horrible mud ruts.

It’ll be interesting to hear what it’s like if you do it, I’ve considered the full loop in the past but only done as far as The NIA in brum to Stafford going the same way as takisawa said.
It was done this time of year and by far the worse part was around Hopwas to Whittington, there were a few other bits around Kingsbury and Fradley but I’d say 75% was fine.

@scruff the towpath around calf heath is pretty poor, that’s where my canoe club paddles (Gailey CC) and the canal is much more widely used than the towpath from there towards Wolvo.

Biggest issue around Birmingham is having your bike nicked by scrotes, but the towpaths are good if busy at times.

@Dogsby, do you have a map of your route you can post up so we can see where you’re looking at going? All together we should be able to cover most of it.

The Coseley tunnel closure can be avoided by taking the Netherton tunnel branch and heading toward Kidderminster. Turn right at Stewponey basin to head back toward Wolverhampton/Stafford. This is a massive detour, but I’d argue it’s worth it because a.)Netherton tunnel is a good laugh (very very wet, very very dark and 2 miles long. I used to commute through it!) and b.) you avoid going through Wolverhampton which is always a good thing.

So, did a bit of a recce of the route from Whttington to Rugeley yesterday and all was good, a bit rough in parts but still averaging about 22kph without pushing too hard. However, today has been torrential so I suspect that the picture may have changed!!

Wish me luck!

Dogsby

Good luck, be interesting to see the route and hear how you got on.

I remember the orange brick pavements from the 80s can be slippery when wet. oo-er.

I remember the orange brick pavements from the 80s can be slippery when wet. oo-e

Dear God, soo damn slippy at 6am in the morning in January racing to get my train. I made it to the train but clothes went in the bin and the guys at work found it very funny.

Also witnessed a porno being filmed one Sunday morning at 7am under where the canal goes by the jewellery quarter. Looked a pro setup (~15 crew members plus an almost comically top heavy lady in a burkha being attended to by a very large guy in a black latex suit. About 10 homeless guys sat and watched

I have a gpx of a 103 mile loop around Birmingham , just using the canals … yet to ride it all !

This may be of use

Also witnessed a porno being filmed one Sunday morning at 7am under where the canal goes by the jewellery quarter. Looked a pro setup (~15 crew members plus an almost comically top heavy lady in a burkha being attended to by a very large guy in a black latex suit. About 10 homeless guys sat and watched

Wonder how many copies they sold of that? 😂

At least one 😳