PADDLING TRAIL Birmingham Trail 2: Sneyd to Bentley Bridge Key Information This section of the Birmingham and Black Country Canoe Trail winds its way along the Wyrley & Essington Canal, past factories and houses but with views over woodland and heath. Start: Sneyd Wharf, Portages: 0 For more Sneyd Lane, Walsall WS3 Time: 1.5 - 3 hours information scan 2LT Distance: 5 miles the QR code or Finish: Bentley Bridge OS Map: Explorer visit https://bit.ly/2 Retail Park, WV11 1BP 220 Birmingham UUIf70 Park on the lane, if the barrier is open. If barrier is locked then use alternative parking on Vernon Way & carry boat 100m. 1. Get on at the stub of an old arm at the end of the lane. Access is reasonable from a grassy canal side. With the bridge on your left, follow the canal straight ahead (South). 2. Shortly after the start, pass under 'Edwards Bridge' and then under the imposing M6 motorway. 3. Emerging from the M6 bridge, the trail enters Rough Wood Country Park. Rough Wood is made up of a series of pools in the middle of the oldest and largest woodland in Walsall. 4. Just before Lane Head Bridge there are two pubs, serving food & snacks. 5. The finish of the trail is at Bentley Bridge Retail Park. Access, egress and parking available on the left hand side. From here, It is possible to continue on towards the Dudley Canal Trust, but this makes for a long day out. Find out more information at: gopaddling.info Discover More This is trail 2 of 6 in a series, developed in conjunction with the Canal & Rivers Trust, which run through Birmingham and the Black Country. The trails are a variety of lengths and can be paddled at your leisure. Explore just one, or complete all six in a multi-day expedition. Opened in 1797, the Wyrley & Essington contoured 16 ½ miles through mining country, connecting Wolverhampton with a route north of Birmingham through to Fazeley, the Coventry Canal and routes north on the Trent and Mersey canal. The route passes through rough wood, an ancient woodland which represents about 10% of the oak woodland within the West Midlands. As the canal also wanders through Bentley Haye. This is a haven for amphibians and aquatic insects like caddis flies and water beetles. Where the route finishes at Bentley Bridge Retail Park, the old stub of the Bentley Canal, abandoned in 1961, can be seen on the left hand bank. Get out anywhere along the left bank. Ample parking is nearby. Along the route look out for the many arms of the canal which fed the local industry or took coal from the collieries. Tunnels: In tunnels, you must use a forward facing bright light (such as a head torch). Licence We want you to enjoy a safe trip, so here are a few tips for staying safe and paddling responsibly. Paddle Safe. Be prepared and take the right kit: Paddle Responsibly.Respect the natural environment and other users: • Wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid • Mobile phone – in a waterproof case • Respect other waterway users #sharethespace • Whistle – to attract attention in case of emergency • Be environmentally aware, minimise your impact • Map and / or route description • Ensure you have the correct licence if required • Appropriate clothing for the weather conditions + • Observe navigational rules – keep right and give other spares in a dry bag users space • Food, drink & suncream! • Check, Clean, Dry after every trip! Licences: The waterways in this trail are managed by Canal & Rivers Trust and require paddlers to hold a license. British Canoeing membership includes a full annual license for this waterway - please take your membership card with you as this acts as your license. Non-members can either purchase a British Canoeing membership from www.britishcanoeing.org.uk or buy licenses direct from www.canalrivertrust.org.uk .