Smethwick canal walk - Part 2

Continuing my walk on the BCN Old Main Line Canal, I passed the Engine Arm aqueduct, which brings water from Edgbaston reservoir

The last lock before Smethwick Junction

The Navigation Inn. I think it's closed, but couldn't see for certain.

 These noticeboards stress the interesting history of the area

Pope Bridge

Evidence of old industrial  use

Smethwick Junction. I turned along the Main Line here, heading back towards Dudley and Wolverhampton.

Close-up of the bridge

The Main Line Canal, being more modern than the Old Main Line, is much straighter, and a lot of it is in a cutting

The flower-filled banks are beautiful, though.

The heron reappears on the bridge.

The Engine Arm Aqueduct from below.

Approaching the Pumping Station.

This was once an overflow from one canal level to the other.

From under Galton Bridge, looking at Smethwick Railway Bridge.

M5 motorway ahead, and some old warehouses

My favourite picture of the walk. The Old Main Line aqueduct, over the (new) Main Line. Intercity train flashing by, and the M5 overhead.

Unlike the Old Line, with its half mile under the M5, the new Main just goes straight underneath. Shame about the graffiti though.

DPD parcel depot: they brought me a parcel this morning - I could have saved them the trouble.

Looking back at the motorway, I finished the last half mile to my car. What a fantastically interesting route. Everyone should do it at some point.

If you missed Part 1 of the walk, click here to see it

Today's walk: Parking near Dudley and Sandwell Railway Station, I walked along the canal in the Birmingham direction. After 1/2 mile, there was a junction: I took the right, and followed the old Main Line Canal for about 2.5 miles, until Smethwick Junction, returning along the (New) Main Line. The walk was 6.3 miles. The two canals are very close together for the whole route, and it's easy to shorten the route. Or walk it the other way round. However, I think the Old Line is more interesting (despite the section under the motorway) so I recommend walking that bit first. 

Smethwick canal walk, Part 1 Dudley/Sandwell station to Rolfe Street

This walk starts at Bromford Road with this rather attractive Art Deco building (which I'd never noticed when driving past).

The Railway Inn: I parked nearby ....

... joining the canal just after the Sandwell and Dudley railway station.

At once, I entered a green oasis of calm. This is the Lattice Accommodation Bridge

I only saw three narrow boats during the walk, so it was very quiet.

After about half a mile, the canal splits. I took the left hand fork

This is the Old Main Line route. Official name: Birmingham Canal Navigations (Old Main Line)

Some of the locks are right under the M5

It's amazing to hear the traffic thundering overhead.

You emerge, to go under Spon Lane Bridge, itself under the motorway.

High above, the lorries rush past

This old factory building is a landmark on a bend on the M5: I' d never seen it from this angle before

Back under the motorway - the old warehouse in the distance, the rolling advert, and a steel company

A heron flew past

The bridge by Summit Tunnel - and the tunnel ahead

Emerging from the tunnel,...

...beautiful scenery.

Ahead - Galton Valley Pumping Station

The (New) Main Line is right next to the Old Main Line, but about 60 feet lower down

A bit of history: When the Old Main Line was built, the local geology made it too difficult to build a long tunnel here, hence the locks up to and down from the summit. Later, with improved technology, the New Line was built, (well, excavated) lower down, avoiding the need for those locks. It was the biggest civil engineering project of the time. However, both canals needed extra water for the summit as there as no reservoir close by, and the canal traffic was extensive, serving the industry of Birmingham and the Black Country. So the Pumping Station was built, to keep the traffic flowing - and the water!

Brasshouse Lane Bridge

The summit - lots of sky here

Tomorrow's blog will feature the return along the New Main Line. Click here to see it

Today's walk: Parking near Dudley and Sandwell Railway Station, I walked along the canal. After 1/2 mile, there was a junction: I took the right, and followed the old Main Line Canal for about 1.5 miles, until Smethwick Junction, returning along the (New) Main Line. The walk was 6.3 miles. The two canals are very close together for the whole route, and it's easy to shorten the route. Or walk it the other way round. However, I think the Old Line is more interesting (despite the section under the motorway) so I prefer to walk that bit first. 

Bodenham Arboretum to Drakelow

Continuing yesterday's walk, (Click here to see it) I left the North Worcs path, and took a path to the outskirts of Bodenham Arboretum.

The view is marked on the OS map as a specially good viewpoint. Not as good as yesterday's, in my opinion.

Through the trees, you can just see the (excellent) cafe/restaurant.

Just here, the path takes you through part of the Arboretum (you don't need to pay. However, since the path I took to get here climbs over 400 feet, you'd have to be desperate to use this as a method of admission!)

You take the Five Pool Walk. The blur on the far side was a fish jumping

A beautiful setting...

...and a lovely path

Interesting tree - didn't get its name, but usually needles hang downwards

Bodenham Wood - the public footpath doesn't go through here

The path leaves the Arboretum and continues 

A magical-looking tree

After all those trees - a dead one comes as a surprise

The path turns into a sunken lane...

...with grass growing down the middle, and foxgloves in the verge

The trees meet overhead

Back at the start - Kingsford radio mast just visible 

A good walk, if quite tough. To see the first half in yesterday's blog, click here

Today's walk: A 3 mile circuit. Starting from Sladd Lane (off Kingsford Lane) and following the N Worcs Path to the bridleway to Bodenham. The path skirts Bodenham Arboretum, before entering it to follow the Five Pools walk - which you can do because it's a public footpath, then it's a remote narrow lane back to the start. Though it's only 3 miles, there's more than 400 feet of climb, so it's definitely challenging for the first half.