Walk for the Public: Aston to Parry Hall Park Canal Walk

This is a 4 ½ mile linear walk from Aston Station along the Birmingham and Fazeley and Tame Valley canals to the Alexandra Stadium, with an optional extension to Perry Hall Park. The first part of the walk takes us to Salford Junction, the canal junction of the Grand Union and Tame Valley Canals with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. We then walk under the Gravelly Hill Interchange, a.k.a Spaghetti Junction, along the Tame Valley canal  to the Alexandra Stadium development. After walking past the stadium on well-surfaced paths we reach the Walsall Road where there are frequent buses back to Birmingham City Centre. After the stadium there is an optional extension of about 1 ½ miles to Perry Hall Park, through the park and the exit to the One Stop shopping centre, where we can call into the Wetherspoons The Arthur Robertson pub for well-earned rest and refreshment. The walk leader will ensure that anyone who does not wish to carry on through Perry Hall Park is safely on their way back to Birmingham from the Walsall Road before continuing the walk. Walk details (with acknowledgement to Wikipedia for some of the historical details). We cross the Lichfield Road opposite the station and join the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. The first stage of the walk takes us to Salford Junction, the canal junction of the Grand Union and Tame Valley Canals with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. Salford Junction became a double junction on 14 February 1844 when the Grand Union Canal and Tame Valley Canal joined the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. Prior to this, the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal crossed the River Tame via a seven-arched aqueduct, each with a span of 18 feet. T & S Element opened boatyards at Salford Bridge in 1932 which soon became the company's head office. Spencer, Abbott and Company owned a boatbuilding yard at the junction too, however traces of these companies no longer exist. After leaving Salford Junction we join the Tame Valley canal, walking under Gravelly Hill Interchange, also known as Spaghetti Junction. Opened in May 1972, the engineers had to elevate 21.7 km (13.5 mi) of motorway to accommodate two railway lines, three canals and two rivers. Whilst many have viewed the junction from above whilst stationary on the M6 or the A38(M), its complexity can only be appreciated from below. The Tame Valley Canal is a relatively late (1844) canal, forming part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. It takes its name from the roughly-parallel River Tame. The canal was authorised by Act of Parliament in 1839 and built by the Birmingham Canal Navigations. Construction started in 1841 and it opened on Wednesday 14 February 1844. Its engineers were James Walker and Alfred Burges the company engineers. The resident engineer was Mr. Horne, the contractors were Treadwell, Jackson and Bean for the principal part of the works, and Mr. Townshend for the portion near Tipton. We continue along the towpath to the start of the 13 Perry Barr locks and continue walking past Witton Cemetery across the canal and twice passing under the M6. We continue up Perry Barr Locks which takes us round the back of the Alexandra Stadium, greatly developed for the Commonwealth Games. About 4 miles into the walk ahead of us we see the Grade 2-listed Perry Barr Locks bridge, a cast-iron footbridge with brick pillars dating from 1844. We leave the towpath after lock 3 (with lock 1 being the top lock) on a well-surfaced diverted footpath, continuing alongside the Alexandra Stadium and the edge of Perry Park. There is ample seating as we leave the towpath to rest our legs. We meet the Walsall Road at a light-controlled crossing where the walk ends with frequent buses back to Birmingham City Centre. The walk leader will offer and lead an optional extension to Perry Hall Park, The walk leader will ensure that anyone who does not wish to carry on through Perry Hall Park is safely on their way back to Birmingham from the Walsall Road before continuing the walk. The walk to Perry Hall Park crosses the road at the light-controlled crossing and re-joins the River Tame, last seen at Salford Junction, soon after entering Perry Hall Park. A walk through the park comes out at the back of the One Stop shopping centre and the Wetherspoons The Arthur Robinson pub which offers well-earned rest and refreshment. There are then frequent trains back to Birmingham from Perry Barr station. Although most of the towpath is surfaced there are some short stretches that may be uneven and/or muddy. Please wear appropriate footwear- footwear such as open shoes/sandals and high heels are not appropriate and the walk leader reserves the right not to accept any people who are not suitably prepared. Please also bring a bottle of water or other drinks and, if required, some snacks such as energy bars for the walk.