GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Dudley Canal

3.73 miles (6 km)

Follow the Dudley Canal from Warren's Hill Park to Leasowes Park on this waterside walk through Blackheath and Halesowen in Birmingham. The route makes use of the Monarch's Way long distance footpath to link these two lovely open spaces.
The walk starts at the car park at Warren's Hall Country Park in Sandwell. You then head through the park with its ponds, canals, grassland and small wooded areas. It's a lovely start to the walk with the park's footpaths leading to the canal. On the way you'll pass Cobb's Engine House. The eye catching building is a scheduled ancient monument and a Grade II listed building built around 1831. It housed a stationary steam pump used to pump water from Windmill End Colliery and other mines in the area.
After passing through the park you pick up the canal path and head south through Old Hill and Coombeswood to Halesowen. Here the route finishes at the splendid Leasowes Park. The historically significant park consists of 141 acres of woodland, grassland, streams, waterfalls and large ponds. If you keep following the Monarch's Way south past the park you'll soon come to the atmospheric remains of Halesowen Abbey. The abbey is owned by English Heritage and was originally founded in 1215 under a grant from King John of England.

Dudley Canal OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Dudley Canal Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The route begins near the southern end of the Victorian Netherton Tunnel. You can walk (with a torch) through the dark tunnel to Dudley Port at the northern end.
Head west and you can visit the Netherton Reservoir and the Saltwells Nature Reserve where there are some peaceful woodland sculpture trails and lots of wildlife to see.
Just to the west you'll find two local walking highlights right next to each other at the 18th century Himley Hall and Baggeridge Country Park.
For more walking ideas in the area see the West Midlands Walks page.

Photos

Windmill End Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1474752

Windmill End Bridge. View from the Boshboil Arm Bridge.

Black Country Boat Festival - geograph.org.uk - 1513873

Black Country Boat Festival

Black Country Boat Festival - geograph.org.uk - 1494735

View from Bullfield Bridge in the direction of Windmill End Junction.

Reeds, flowers and a canal - geograph.org.uk - 1351895

Reeds, flowers and a canal

Modern Apartments by the Dudley Canal, Old Hill - geograph.org.uk - 999431

Modern Apartments by the Dudley Canal, Old Hill

View from Garratt's Lane Canal Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 392886

View from Garratt's Lane Canal Bridge

Cobbs Engine Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1474716

Cobbs Engine Bridge. View in the direction of the Netherton Tunnel.

Gosty Hill Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 138283

Gosty Hill Tunnel

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Dudley Canal.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Dudley Canal.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)