Best walks from Sandwell and Dudley

Smethwick Rolfe Street Station to Sandwell and Dudley Station

A good, mostly off-road canal walk along a tarmac towpath (muddy in places), through a deep canal cutting and a short tunnel beneath Galton Bridge, with functional pavement walking on the Oldbury side. A multitude of steps and a stepped footbridge make it foot-only and ramps can be greasy in the wet. Passes the Galton Valley Pumping Station (now a museum) and the historic Galton Bridge and Steward Aqueduct.

Easy: 4km, moderate ascents.

Numerous steps and a stepped footbridge; towpath ramps can be greasy in wet weather. A towpath section between Spon Lane and Steward Aqueduct has a long-standing closure with a signed diversion in place.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Tipton Station to Sandwell and Dudley Station

A straightforward canal route along the towpath.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

At the start, there is no ramp or stairs from the Bromford Road bridge down to the towpath on the correct side, so the route fails near its beginning.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Rowley Regis Station to Sandwell and Dudley Station

A short, direct, mostly suburban walk along main-road pavements and residential streets, broken up by playing fields and an embankment beside an electricity substation and a small park. The off-road sections through the football fields can be wet and muddy; some good vantage points.

Easy: 4km, gentle ascents.

Two busy road crossings (the A4123 and Oldbury Ringway) have only central refuges, not signalled crossings — take care. The pathway around the substation embankment has been partly closed for a battery-storage development. The football fields can be wet and muddy.

Lunch: Shops and food on the busy main-road sections, plus a corner shop and a chippy along Oldbury Road.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route