Walk the Worcs & Birmingham Canal - Bromsgrove to Worcester
19 people attending
6 places left
Join me for the third and final part of the 30 mile route following the Worcester and Birmingham canal, this time taking in the picturesque countryside between Bromsgrove and Worcester.
With the smoky industry of Birmingham left far behind, this is by far the prettiest and the most rural stretch of the canal. It was also the last to be built; after 23 years of construction and well over £20 million in today's money, a seamless journey from Birmingham to the Severn and onwards to Bristol and the sea was finally possible. Commercial traffic exploded and continued right into the 1960s.
From Bromsgrove station we cross to join the canal at Stoke Pound, the bottom of the Tardebigge flight of 30 locks and head south. Close to the village of Hanbury, which (alongside several other villages in Worcestershire...) claims to be the real-world inspiration for Ambridge in the BBC Archers series, is the junction with the Droitwich canal. Droitwich and Stoke Prior's natural brine springs made this one of the largest salt producing areas in Europe for many years. As well as being a very important cargo for the canal it played a significant role in its development.
The canal continues through a number of quaint villages, the quiet only occasionally interrupted by the nearby Birmingham-Gloucester mainline railway, finally dipping under the M5 and passing Sixways rugby ground on the outskirts of Worcester then down to the river Severn at Diglis. Upon arrival we will head to one of the faithful city's many excellent pubs to toast our achievement and soak up the summer sun before the journey back home.
Getting there and away
There are 4 trains an hour to Bromsgrove from Birmingham New Street and at least an hourly service from Worcester as well as bus connections throughout the area. A single ticket back to Bromsgrove at the end costs £3.80.
You can park at Bromsgrove station all day for £3.
Image Credits
Pasture and Church Cottages, Oddingley cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robin Baker - geograph.org.uk/p/396730,
Tranquility shattered cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Row17 - geograph.org.uk/p/1373441,
Offerton Locks © Roger Kidd - cc-by-sa/2.0,
Worcester & Birmingham Canal cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/3985106
What to bring
The towpath is narrow and uneven in places and muddy after rain. I'd advise you to wear walking boots just in case. Please also have a look through the list below - some of the items are especially important in the summer months:
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water to drink. If you forget anything there are shops near Bromsgrove station.