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Walk Overview
This 30-mile canal walk steps back through the pages of history by connecting the vibrant centre of Birmingham to the cathedral city of Worcester.
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The Worcester & Birmingham Canal was created to connect the Black Country to the sea by providing a link from the heart of the Midlands to the River Severn on the west coast, opening up trade routes to the rest of the world.
This canal was once a busy transport route that ignited an industrial boom in the Midlands 200 years ago, with the waterway bustling with barges that brought trade in at night, then sent it out again during the day.
Today it’s a wonderful place to walk on fully accessible paths through the green Worcestershire hills. The starting point is Gas Street basin in Birmingham and we recommend splitting the route over two days, with the village of Tardebigge a good place to finish day one.
Major landmarks on this walk include the famous Cadbury factory at Bourneville village and the longest lock flight in Britain at Tardebigge Locks.
This route was voted 91st in a 2017 ITV poll to find Britain’s Favourite Walk.
TOG VERDICT: An ideal route for anyone interested in the history of Britain’s waterways and industrial heritage. And for everyone else, it’s fantastic canal-side walk through great scenery.
Nearest Train (or tube) Station(s):
Birmingham
