A GUIDE TO CYCLING & WALKING AROUND WALSALL PARKLAND, PICASSO AND WALK OF ART 6. Leaving Pouk Hill, cross over Bentley 2. Passing the iron bridge at Pelsall accesses, but parking may be on road A PROUD INDUSTRIAL PAST Lane, along Birchover Road, heading Junction with The Cannock Extension in places. A specially designed circular walk, towards Reedswood Park. Before the Canal to the left, follow the towpath past The canal is central to Walsall’s starting from Walsall’s New Art Gallery, Industrial Revolution this was an area the Royal Oak pub which, historically, SNEYD JUNCTION TO development. Walk or cycle beside it and passing through changing landscapes. of mixed woodland, pasture and heath. brewed its own ale for boatmen. CANNOCK EXTENSION CANAL you cannot fail to be impressed by the Location: Reedswood Park extends to 48 acres Distance: 5.5 miles/8.8 km (approx) way the town is reinventing itself around 3. The canal meanders through varied Walsall Town Wharf, Walsall and was converted from pit mounds in Duration: 45 mins (approx) its historic waterway. scenery that is home to a diversity Start/Finish: the 1880s. Access point: of wildlife. A stepped iron footbridge The Walsall Town Wharf is home to the New Art Gallery, Gallery Square Willenhall Lane/Wood Lane 7. From Reedswood Lane turn at Brownhills provides access to £22 million New Art Gallery, hailed as Distance: 4 miles/6.5 km (approx) A semi-rural route following the curves of left onto Old Birchills Street and rejoin a supermarket and marketplace. one of the most exciting to be built in the Duration: 1 hour 20 mins (approx) the canal, until it opens out into parkland the canal for the return journey, passing UK for 20 years. Just a short walk from Type: Circular 4. At Catshill Junction the canal branches at the Cannock Extension. a former toll house and Boatman’s Rest. the town centre is the magnificent Conditions: Hard surfaced/flat/some off towards Anglesey Basin, but follow Arboretum, which contains over 80 acres areas may become muddy in wet weather, the canal to the right. Continuing past the CANNOCK EXTENSION CANAL TO CLAYHANGER COMMON WALK of parks, lakes and gardens. Residents suitable footwear is advised. weir, take the footpath after Bridge Street LONGWOOD JUNCTION and visitors alike are spoilt for choice Access point: Gallery Square, Walsall For the adventurous walker, the map Bridge leading onto Clayhanger Common. Distance: 7 miles/11.2 km (approx) when it comes to places to enjoy Town Wharf details the entire Four Commons Walk. Duration: 1 hour (approx) 5. Crossing the Common, rejoin the a leisurely stroll or relaxing bike ride. Car parking: Wolverhampton This shorter, circular route follows The Access point: Wood Lane/Pelsall towpath and retrace your steps back to Street/Crown Wharf Retail Park Wyrley & Essington Canal to Clayhanger This route leads you past Clayhanger And, with the ever changing seasons and the car park and why not finish your walk Common – one of Walsall’s much-loved Common and through Rushall, with a pub the pace of restoration, there’s always 1. Set off from The New Art Gallery – with a well-earned drink at a choice of areas of green, open space. along the way. something new to see.This handy guide home to 350 works by famous artists two excellent pubs? is a brief introduction to some of the including Picasso and Van Gogh. Location: Walsall An alternative 1 hour linear route, starting LONGWOOD JUNCTION great walks and cycle routes just waiting Start/Finish: Wood Lane, Pelsall Wood 2. Walk down The Town Arm Canal and at Pelsall Junction, follows the quiet TO RUSHALL LOCKS to be discovered in Walsall. Distance: 6 miles/9.5km (approx) cross the roving bridge, designed to allow Cannock Extension Canal passing Distance: 1.5 miles/2.4 km (approx) Duration: 2 hours (approx) horses pulling narrowboats to change traditional narrowboats and a woodland Duration: 15 min (approx) Type: Circular towpaths without untying the rope. conservation area. Home to rare great Access point: Aldridge Road/ Walsall Conditions: Much of the route is on crested newts, the canal is a Site of Road, Aldridge 3. Continue along the towpath past the existing footpaths, but some areas may Special Scientific Interest. This route A straight ride, beginning close to old Albion Flour Mill, dating back to 1849. be muddy, suitable footwear is advised. is also ideal for cycling. Hay Head Local Nature Reserve and Access point: You can still see the covered canal dock Wood Lane continuing to the Rushall Lock Flight. where narrowboats offloaded grain and Car parking: Bridge Street, CYCLE ROUTES loaded flour. Clayhanger/Engine Lane, Brownhills/Wood Lane Pelsall, (opposite The routes described form part of the 4. Following the flight of 8 locks, known the Free Trade Pub) Birmingham and Black Country Cycle as Walsall Locks, look out for Routes. Numerous points of interest can sparrowhawks and kingfishers. 1. Facing the Common, walk left along be found along their varying landscapes. the road turning right onto the towpath 5. Leave the canal and walk along before the bridge. If you are feeling particularly energetic, Reedswood Way heading towards Pouk why not cycle more than one route? The Hill passing a retail park, fishing pool and map highlights access points and road housing estate. Funded by AWM & ERDF as part of the Black Country Canals Tourism Strategy. We would also like to thank Walsall MBC for their input into this project. proceedings. British Waterways, 100 British Waterways, proceedings. or civil copyright andmay lead toprosecution Crown infringes copyright. Unauthorisedreproduction Crown ofHerMajesty’s Stationeryof theController Office © Survey onbehalf with thepermission ofOrdnance Surveymaterial mapis baseduponOrdnance This KEY www.waterscape.com www.britishwaterways.co.uk E T Birmingham B12NX Off KingEdwardsRoad 2 Canalside Customer ServiceCentre MidlandsWaterways West offurtherinformation: Sources 0121 200 7400 01212007400 [email protected] A Motorway Railway Road Tunnel Canal Access Point Lock Cycling Route Car Park Rail Station Cycling Route National Route Walking Attraction 019843, 2004. 019843, Chasewater Reservoir An gl es ey Chasewater B ra n Leisure Park c h WHERE &WALKING GO TO CYCLING AROUND THE AREA WALSALL A PELSALLPELSALL ROADROAD A452 PLEASE NOTE BRIDGEBRIDGE WyrleyWyrley CommonCommon Routes detailed in this leaflet are a guide, and B4155 consultation of additional maps is advisable before beginning your trip. Route duration’s are based on an BrownhillsBrownhills average speed of 3mph walking and 7mph cycling. n FourFour CommonsCommons CommonCommon o i s B4154 WalkWalk n Remember you are responsible for your own safety PelsallPelsall e t x JOLLYJOLLY COLLIERCOLLIER and children must be accompanied by an adult. NorthNorth CommonCommon E A BRIDGEBRIDGE Although towpaths are suitable for both cyclists and k c o A461 walkers, appropriate footwear is recommended for n A4124 A34 n muddy areas. Cyclists are advised to take extra care a A CATSHILLCATSHILL JJUNCTIONUNCTION C ( on uneven or steep surfacesT and locks. Dismount on ) si & Es ngt narrow sections, at motorcycle barriers and under y on Canal le ClayhangerClayhanger low bridges and tunnels, particularly in wet weather. r PELSALLPELSALL JUNCTIONJUNCTION y CClayhangerlayhanger A BRIDGEBRIDGE CommonCommon W Cyclists should obtain a free cycle permit and CommonCommon WalkWalk RRoyaloyal all visitors should observe the Waterway Code; for FreeFree OakOak CannockCannock ExtensionExtension CanalCanal details please contact the West Midlands Waterways TradeTrade toto LongwoodLongwood JunctionJunction Customer Service Centre on 0121 200 7400. PelsallPelsall B4153 l l a a n For public transport enquiries, please contact Centro SneydSneyd JunctionJunction toto n a a C on 0121 200 2700 or visit www.centro.org.uk CannockCannock ExtensionExtension CanalCanal C d d n n A452 E ( T) w a A LITTLELITTLE BLOXWICHBLOXWICH D A WALSALLWALSALL WOODWOOD BRIDGEBRIDGE BRIDGEBRIDGE BLOXWICHBLOXWICH SneydSneyd JunctionJunction W BloxwichBloxwich yr B4152 ley & WILLENHALLWILLENHALL LANELANE A E B4210 ssing to l n l a a n C n Cana an d l a n a E C w l A HARDENHARDEN ROADROAD a n D AldridgeAldridge to ing Ess A34 & ley yr DAWDAW ENDEND LANELANE W A TheThe BoathouseBoathouse BIRCHILLSBIRCHILLS JUNCTIONJUNCTION BRIDGEBRIDGE A M6 WalkWalk ofof ArtArt LongwoodLongwood JunctionJunction WalsallWalsall LLeathereather WalsallWalsall A454 MuseumMuseum A LONGWOODLONGWOOD BBRIDGE,RIDGE, WALSALLWALSALL ROADROAD ArboretumArboretum HayHay HeadHead LocalLocal NewNew ArtArt s WalsallWalsall MuseumMuseum k NatureNature ReserveReserve c B44 GalleryGallery WalsallWalsall o A454 L 64 WALSALLWALSALL TOWNTOWN ST PAULS l A WWALSALLALSALL l J10 WHARFWHARF BUS STATION a h s WALSALLWALSALL u R h o B4151 c t n a n l r a o B i n n t a c o C n s l n u l A J a h WalsallWalsall d s l u a o a n A4148 o R C w M6 ll a B4154 ls g a n W o L PARKPARK HALLHALL ROADROAD A RushallRushall LocksLocks A4038 J9 A4031 M6 B4200 A461 A4.