In this video I cycle from Haywood Junction where the Trent & Mersey Canal meets the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, to Stourport on Severn where the canal meets the River Severn. We pass by Stafford before heading to Penkridge, Wolverhampton, Wombourne, Kinver and Kidderminster.
Join me as we enjoy all 46 miles off Towpath and learn some of the history of this canal along the way.
Link to buy me a beer:
buymeacoffee.com/cyclingn8
Route links:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/318623542
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1960418004?share_token=aA1nfX7qW6pA4receWwaKZ44Nqyr4CqbAb7Hkp623YOd7AWgnV&ref=wtd
Links to videos mentioned:
https://youtu.be/RRA4s80tOuQ – Black Country Loop
https://youtu.be/RtGVRq94FCI – Cycling the Severn Valley Line
Thanks for Watching!
10 Comments
Another very informative video – many thanks! I've not ridden the towpath north of Penkridge so I will have to give it a go, during a dry spell as you suggest. May I dare to suggest that you have misattributed a section of footage, however? The very picturesque stretch you describe at 26.50 is between Stewponey and Kinver, not after Kinver.
I did part of this on a B'ham to Stoke canal ride. The towpath was hard going between Penkridge and Stafford and it was summer.
Enjoyed the video, have done a few of your loops now. How do you get home when doing these one ways? I always end up doing loops to save this problem but it limits my riding
Thanks for this. I used to ride the T&M a lot from Fradley to Trentham continuing north at Haywood, so this was interesting to see. The whole towpath route here looks pretty good compared to what I've experienced nearer Stone – a sticky, slimy quagmire lasting a mile or so. And thorns. The riverside trust may do a good job of cutting down the overgrowth but if they've done the hedgerows as well they often leave loads of thorns everywhere.
The straight section of canal near Rodbaston appears to be original. The route of the M6 following the canal not vice versa. I found a map online (1805-1869: Earliest British Ordnance Survey, 1" to 1 mile, Old Map of Gailey Wharf, Staffordshire) where the route of the canal looks unchanged.
A great video, which brings back loads of memories. I live in Hong Kong now, and am unlikely to get back to the Midlands for a while, so it's always good to see where I did a lot of cycling back in the '60s, '70s and '80s. It was technically illegal to cycle on the towpath back then, and I got reprimanded a few times for doing so. When did that change, I wonder?
I can do this one using the train to Stafford and riding the route back. Might use a MTB though as i suspect the path will be messy early next year before the brambles start growing back again.
I've run and walked from Kidderminster to Stourport and back but never cycled it's lovely there. I also wondered how you got back!
Nice.. 🙂 I've downloaded the route as this isn't far from me I'm based in Sutton Coldfield.. great vid buddy very interesting narrative, you have a lot of knowledge 🙂 Subscribed. Pete
Sorry but another pronunciation note for you. The River Sow is pronounced the same as the female pig, or ouch. Great video, though, and will definitely investigate a few towpath journeys myself. But as I ride a Brompton, that will have to wait for rather better weather, especially as I’m still a pretty nervous cyclist and would be likely as not to fall in!
Just to correct your pronunciation, it is not Coookley but it's pronounced, Cookley as in cooking. Locals would not be pleased if you said Coookley. 😂😂😂😂