Walk the Worcs & Birmingham Canal - Birmingham to Alvechurch
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Join me for a springtime day walk following the Worcester and Birmingham canal from Birmingham city centre, through the sprawling suburbs to the small Worcestershire village of Alvechurch.
The canal played an important role throughout the 1800s and well into the last century, linking the industrial powerhouses of the Midlands to the world via the river Severn and Bristol. Nowadays it is popular with boaters, joggers, cyclists, gongoozlers and OutdoorLads alike.
The canal starts at Gas Street Basin in central Birmingham, then weaves its route through Birmingham's leafy inner suburbs, the university campus and past the huge Cadbury's chocolate factory in Bournville. Right up until 1961 chocolate crumb completed its journey via the canal; the company also had a factory site at the far end in Worcester.
The first 14 miles of the canal were constructed without a single lock, which is great news for boats however we'll have to take a detour around the 1.5 mile tunnel through Wast Hill at the outer edge of Birmingham. We'll stop for some lunch on the sunny hillside.
When we rejoin the canal towpath it is strikingly more rural and peaceful for the last few miles to Alvechurch. We'll pop into one of the pubs there before heading to the station and making the journey back into Birmingham.
This is where it all began for me 3 years ago: my very first walk with OutdoorLads. Now I'm setting out to complete the 30 mile journey in 3 parts, this time as a leader. You can view and sign up for the other walks here:
Walk the Worcester & Birmingham Canal part 2 - Alvechurch to Bromsgrove
Walk the Worcester & Birmingham Canal part 3 - Bromsgrove to Worcester
Getting there and away
There is plenty of parking in Birmingham city centre - the closest to our meeting point is QPark Brindleyplace (£11 for the day if pre-booked). It is well worth considering coming by train or parking for free at one of the many Park & Ride sites instead.
You will need to buy a train ticket for the return (£4.50 each or cheaper if we travel as a group).
Image credits:
Gas Street Basin in Birmingham cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Kidd - geograph.org.uk/p/5667666
Cadbury, Bournville cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Philip Halling - geograph.org.uk/p/3425021
What to bring
The towpath is mostly paved and in good condition. Nevertheless do please wear comfortable footwear and bring a jacket in case of April showers!
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 at our meeting point.