This is a leisurely 4 ½ mile linear walk from Aston Station along the Birmingham and Fazeley and Tame Valley canals to the Alexandra Stadium, with an optional extension to Perry Hall Park. The first part of the walk takes us to Salford Junction, the canal junction of the Grand Union and Tame Valley Canals with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. We then walk under the Gravelly Hill Interchange, aka Spaghetti Junction. Many people will have seen the junction when queuing on the M6 but its complexity can only be appreciated from below.

After a photo stop, we continue along the Tame Valley canal to the Alexandra Stadium development with a rest stop at one of the canal locks. After a comfort break at Alexandra Stadium, we continue on well-surfaced paths to the Walsall Road where there are frequent buses back to Birmingham City Centre.

After Walsall Road there is an optional extension of about 1½ miles to Perry Hall Park, through the park and the exit to the One Stop Shopping Centre, where we can call into the Wetherspoons ‘The Arthur Robertson’ pub, named after Birchfield Harrier’s very first Olympian and medal winner, for well-earned rest and refreshment. The walk leader will ensure that anyone who does not wish to carry on through Perry Hall Park is safely on their way back to Birmingham from the Walsall Road before continuing the walk.

Although most of the towpath is surfaced there are some short stretches that may be uneven and/or muddy. Please wear appropriate footwear. Open shoes/sandals and high heels are not appropriate and the walk leader reserves the right not to accept any people who are not suitably prepared. Regrettably this walk is not wheelchair accessible. Please also bring a bottle of water or other drinks and, if required, some snacks such as energy bars for the walk. Dogs are not allowed on the walk. The finishing time for the walk very much depends on the pace and interests of the group but will be around 3pm.

How to get there:
The walk leader can be met under the departure boards at New Street Station, Station Street B2 4QA at 9.45am to catch the 10.06 Cross-City service to Aston, arriving at 10.13am or at Aston Station. There is a Cross-City service from the opposite direction that arrives at Aston Station at 10.12am. Travel to Aston and return from Perry Barr station is free for holders of West Midlands Concessionary Travel Passes within the West Midlands area. If you are using the Cross-City or Walsall line through New Street, do not have a pass and will be continuing to Perry Barr buy a return ticket from your starting station to Perry Barr station, which is also valid for outward travel to Aston. If you are making your own way to Aston Station, it is also on the 65, 67, 68 and X64 bus routes. Since this is a linear walk and there is very limited parking around Aston Station, driving to the start point is strongly discouraged.

Please meet the group at the exit from the station under the railway bridge on Lichfield Road by 10.20am. We will not be waiting for latecomers.

Photo Credit: Rav Rayet /Birmingham Heritage Week

Organised by City of Birmingham Ramblers