Inspire by Steve Wilcox on twitter & Tumblr, yesterday I took a spin out on the canals round the Black Country and Birmingham. In a 65 mile circular route, I hopped onto the canal at Goscote, and didn’t leave it again until Brownhills. I went through Wolverhapton, Wombourne, Stourton, Stourbridge, Merry Hill, the Netherton Tunnel, Oldbury, Smethwick, Birmingham, Aston, Great Barr and Aldridge.
The canals through Wolverhampton and southwards are remarkably beautiful, and the ones through the Black Country and Birmingham were as busy and fascinating as ever. The Netherton Tunnel was fun and challenging. A great day. Look out for more pictures on my 365daysofbiking tumblr this evening.
If you’ve never ventured out that way, I highly recommend it, but I caution you that canals are not flat. The climb up from Stourbridge to Netherton is challenging at times…
The route I took. Click on the image to go to Bikely, where it can be studied in detail.
Near Dunstall/Oxley, north Wolverhapmton. 1:56pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
The meccano Bridge, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. 2:15pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
The Ten Locks, Delph End. There are only nine, the tenth is the pub. The chap lying on the grass is alive - he greeted me as I rode past. 4:56pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
Netherton, with Turner's Hill in the distance. 5.28pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
Cob's Engine House, Netherton.5:33pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
A surprisingly bucolic looking Smethwick. 6:08pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
I trip through your wires, Great Barr. 9:37pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.
Daw End Branch, near Aldridge. 10:02pm, Saturday, 30th July 2011.