Birmingham to Worcester Canal
All us Brummies know that our city has more miles of canals than Venice. This particular one starts at Gas Street Basin and finishes at the River Severn in Worcester. Construction started in 1792 and the full length is 29 miles. Most spectacular section is the Tardebigge locks. If you are really lucky, you might see Julia Bradbury on a walk.
We follow the canals for around 1.5 miles. On the day that I completed the walk, a couple of worm danglers landed a very impressive pike. Honestly, it was like a monster from the deep. Check out the blog for the photos!
We follow the canals for around 1.5 miles. On the day that I completed the walk, a couple of worm danglers landed a very impressive pike. Honestly, it was like a monster from the deep. Check out the blog for the photos!
The bittel reservoirs
There are two reservoirs, an upper and a lower. Completed in 1837, they feed the Birmingham and Worcester Canal. The upper reservoir is the larger of the two and is home to Barnt Green sailing club and people who waste their time dangling maggots from the end of a string.
We passed a man that had a camera as big as a canal born pike. I suffered slightly from camera envy.
We passed a man that had a camera as big as a canal born pike. I suffered slightly from camera envy.
The North worcestershire path
The North Worcestershire Path is a 35 mile long distance path that runs from Bewdley to Majors Green in Birmingham. It is well signposted, marked with a distinctive cone.
We pick up this path at the reservoir and follow it up to the toposcope on the Lickey Hills.
We pick up this path at the reservoir and follow it up to the toposcope on the Lickey Hills.
the lickey hills
Simply known as the Lickeys. The playground for brummies walking their dogs on weekends and bank holidays. The highest point, Beacon Hill (987ft), offers quite a view of the City and the surrounding countryside. It also has a castle. My first ever walking book had a picture of it and lets just say it's not as big as I was expecting on first arrival. Great place for sledging in the Winter.
Previously a Royal hunting ground, the land was owned by the Cadbury family and presented to the City in 1907 for public use.
If you are cursing me for making you walk to the top and then back down again, remember what the Elihu Buritt, an American consul living in Birmingham, said of these hills in 1868
Previously a Royal hunting ground, the land was owned by the Cadbury family and presented to the City in 1907 for public use.
If you are cursing me for making you walk to the top and then back down again, remember what the Elihu Buritt, an American consul living in Birmingham, said of these hills in 1868
there are no hills more grateful and delightful for airing one’s body and soul than the Lickey Cluster
cofton park
135 Acres of land, purchased by the council in 1933 for £10K. It is sometimes used for outdoor concerts, with the 2013 Fusion Festival the most recent event. Prior to Jessie J and McFly doing their thing, Pope Benedict XVI came here on his 2010 world tour.
There was a man lurking near the bushes acting suspiciously. My walking partner commented that he was either a geocacher or a dogger. There are no geocaches in the Park.
There was a man lurking near the bushes acting suspiciously. My walking partner commented that he was either a geocacher or a dogger. There are no geocaches in the Park.
longbridge car plant
I used to work here for a time. They wouldn't let me park my Ford on site. This was opened in 1905 by the Austin group and at its height in the 1960s, it employed a staggering 250,000 people. I used to have to get there early to park my Ford. It's famous for car production but during the war, it made tank parts and the Hurricane fighter plane.
I was there when the BMW group acquired it. This was a bit of a mistake, as they sold it in 2000 for the nominal sum of £10.
Some production is taking place, with the MG logo on proud display at the main entrance. However, a lot of the buildings that I used to work in have been replaced with a housing estate.
The area is now subject to a regeneration programme of work, expected to last until 2028. The first phase of this, what else but a supermarket? - opened in August 2013.
I was there when the BMW group acquired it. This was a bit of a mistake, as they sold it in 2000 for the nominal sum of £10.
Some production is taking place, with the MG logo on proud display at the main entrance. However, a lot of the buildings that I used to work in have been replaced with a housing estate.
The area is now subject to a regeneration programme of work, expected to last until 2028. The first phase of this, what else but a supermarket? - opened in August 2013.