It’s often said that Birmingham has more canals that Venice, with routes winding into Britain’s second city from across the Midlands and Southern England. Our West Midlands Regional Development Team to create ‘Paddle to the Heart’, a great annual event using this varied network of waterways. Saturday 6th June will see the fourth running of the successful event, with paddlers from across the country converging on Brindley Place in the heart of Birmingham, for boat-based fun and games!

You can choose any route you like, with 1.30pm being a guide of when to arrive at Brindley Place. However, the West Midlands team have put together some suggested routes together for you, of varying distances, which we’ve listed below. There is car parking available a short paddle away at the Canal & River Trust’s yard at Icknield Port (B16 0AA).

Route 1 – From Tipton Factory Junction (via Mainline Canal)

Distance: 9 miles              
Locks: 3                
Duration: 4-5 hours
Suggested start time: 9.00am
Start: Tipton Factory Junction (park at Malthouse Stables)Hurst Road, DY4 9AB. Malthouse Stable, run by Sandwell Council is situated between the Barge and Barrel Public house and the Pie Factory on Hurst Road. Ian Clews, Senior Youth Officer of Malthouse Stables Outdoor Activity Centre will also be participating and is able to offer a limited shuttle service.

Route 2 – From Tipton Factory Junction (via Old Mainline Canal)

Distance: 9 miles              
Locks: 3                
Duration: 4-5 hours
Suggested start time: 9.00am
Start: Tipton Factory Junction (park at Malthouse Stables) Hurst Road, DY4 9AB. Malthouse Stable, run by Sandwell Council is situated between the Barge and Barrel Public house and the Pie Factory on Hurst Road. Ian Clews, Senior Youth Officer of Malthouse Stables Outdoor Activity Centre will also be participating and is able to offer a limited shuttle service.

Route 3 – From Shirley Drawbridge, Drawbridge Road  B90 1DD (via Worcester and Birmingham Canal)

Distance: 9.5 miles
Locks: 0
Tunnel: 1 (322m)
Duration: 4-5 hours
Suggested start time: 8.30am
Start: Shirley Drawbridge, Drawbridge Road (park near to Wake Green Amateur Football Club) B90 1DD. As you approach the canal from the car park you’ll see the drawbridge, the direction of travel is to the right as you put on from the car park.

Route 4 – Pudding Green Junction B70 8AX (via Mainline Canal)

Suggested start time: 10.00am
Distance: 5 miles              
Locks: 0                
Duration: 3 hours
Start: Pudding Green Junction, which is situated on Albion Business Forum Park on the Oldbury Road (B70 8AX- next to Nicholls Steels). There are places to park along the roads within the business park. Access is easy to manoeuvre boats to the canalside. Albion Bridge canal is next to the put in.

Route 5 – Icknield Port  B16 0AA (via Mainline Canal)

Start: British Waterways Yard, Icknield Port Road B16 0AA. The yard is situated next to the Centennial Centre near to the bridge over Icknield Port Road.
Distance: 1.5 miles           
Locks: 0                                
Duration: 30- 45mins

Route 6 – The Birmingham Canal, BCN via Old Main Line and New Main Line.
        
Start: Canal bridge at the junction of Severn Stars Road and Park Lane, OldburyB69 4 LH
Suggested start time:10.30am
Distance: 5 miles       
Locks: 0        
Tunnel: 1 (122m)     
Duration: 3-3.5 hours

Access to the canal is at the junction of Severn Stars Road and Park Lane Oldbury, adjacent to the Granada Trading Estate B69 4LH. There is plenty of on street parking on Severn Stars Road. Paddle away from Oldbury town centre and after a few hundred yards you are underneath the M5 motorway. Continue on the Old Main Line to the Stewart Aqueduct where the M5 motorway above finally leaves us. Here there is a short downhill portage to the New Main Line canal. Paddle away from the motorway bridge via the Galton Valley towards Birmingham City Centre.

Nb. There are no toilet facilities at this start point.

Cautionary Note. Paddlers will need to navigate the 122m Galton Tunnel. This tunnel is listed on CRT’s canal tunnels open canoes and other small craft. The CRT’s conditions for use of canal tunnels less than 400m are as follows:
•    All paddlers are to have a forward facing white light such as a head torch.
•    Paddle in groups of 3 or more.
•    A whistle attached to your BA.
Galton tunnel is a short tunnel with a direct line of sight to the far portal. Paddlers are advised to check for oncoming traffic before committing to the tunnel.

Contact Officer: Mark Harding     Tel: 07766 925274