A canal system marvel - Farmers Bridge Locks, plus centre of Brimingham

This is a great walk taking in parts of Birmingham which few Brummies know about. 

We start at the NIA (National Indoor Arena)

From there, it's a short walk to Gas Street Basin. This is the bridge under Broad Street

Looking from the other side, with old warehouses on view.

I last came here in 1973 by boat! It was very different then. There was a lock here called the Worcester Bar, which separated two canals meeting here. It's gone now, but the bridge name is a reminder

More old warehouses

But the area has been modernised. This is the cube, designed by Birmingham born Ken Shuttleworth, who also jointly designed the Gherkin in London. He wanted the outside to represent the old heavy industries, and the glass inside to represent jewellery and lightbulbs. I like it.

Leaving the Cube behind, I went back to the NIA and turned right. This is the top lock of the Farmers Bridge Flight 

An unusual memorial to the wartime boaters.

The houseboats at Cambrian Wharf with the new library building between the tower blocks

The buildings begin to crowd in

Very claustrophobic under this busy road bridge

There is water under this building - the pound (water storage) for the lock.

A rather over-fancy footbridge (in my opinion)

The canal is sandwiched between the buildings

More water underneath

This lock is right underneath the building

Newhall Street Bridge leads to the most spectacular part.

A lock underneath a tower block. Like a concrete cavern

Very eerie under here

Looking back, you can just make out the lock underneath

A couple more old bridges

... and the end of the lock flight. A view of modern Birmingham - complete with graffiti and barbed wire!

Postscript: when I visited here in 1973, the canal was completely separate from the rest of the city. There only three spots where you could enter or leave the canal system (one being Gas Street Basin):   all the other entrances were blocked up. I'm pleased to see it all opened out now, and the area round the NIA /Gas Street/the Mailbox shows the city taking pride in its canals. But there's a way to go yet. Especially the graffiti! But full marks for what's been done so far.

Today's walk: the NIA to Gas Street, then return and follow the Farmer's Bridge flight. It's about 3/4 mile. I carried on to Aston, but you could leave the canal after the final Farmers bridge Lock: Snow Hill station is only 200 metres away. Or you could walk back to you start, past the Cathedral, Art Gallery and Library, which would make a walk of about 2 miles. 

I ate at Gas Street's Tap and Spile canalside pub - a fantastic fish finger sandwich! With home made bread and tomato sauce £4. Excellent!

Click here to see my canal walk from Smethwick Galton Bridge to Gas Street

Mobile users, click here to see a list of previous walks. If using a computer screen, the list is on the right