Birmingham to Stratford via towpath

stu172 · Post by **stu172** » 2 Apr 2007, 9:25am

Hi there, it's my first post.

About 10 years ago i cycled with a few friends from the suburbs of Birmingham/Solihull to lapworth, via Catherine de Barnes and Knowle. We didn't get much further than that, but i just remember it being a really pleasent/fun ride.

I would like to do it again, but this time continue on to Stratford, although i believe you have to change canal at Lapworth/Kingswood ?

Before i start making phone calls, i just wondered if anyone knew about sections of this route being off limits to cyclists, as on the waterscape website it talks of permits and closed sections, but isn't very specific.

I've just bought a lovely new mountain bike and my wife and i would like to start cycling, but with some easy stuff like towpath riding.

Any info on the Stratford canal/Stratford to Birmingham route would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Oracle · Post by **Oracle** » 2 Apr 2007, 9:56am

Stu

Rob Gull knows quite a lot about the Stratford area and I’m sure he would be able to help you. Example of who he is can be found at:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4472

Which is the link to the Birmingham – Southern Wheelers in the CTC Districts and Associations area of Message Board. You might like to contact them, or him direct by a PM just in case he does not read this. Just click on robgul and you should be able to PM him or check the Southern Wheelers at:

http://www.ctc-southernwheelers.co.uk/

and you mail:

info@ctc-southernwheelers.co.uk

Rob’s own website is available from that site (bottom right corner) and is well worth a look.

bikepacker · Post by **bikepacker** » 2 Apr 2007, 11:09am

Last time I tried you could not cycle on the towpaths of the Stratford Canal. You had to continue on the Grand Union after Lapworth.

There are some nice lanes making for excellent cycling, between Lapworth and Stratford.

robgul · Post by **robgul** » 2 Apr 2007, 1:18pm

Oracle wrote:Stu

Rob Gull knows quite a lot about the Stratford area and I’m sure he would be able to help you. Example of who he is can be found at:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4472

Which is the link to the Birmingham – Southern Wheelers in the CTC Districts and Associations area of Message Board. You might like to contact them, or him direct by a PM just in case he does not read this. Just click on robgul and you should be able to PM him or check the Southern Wheelers at:

http://www.ctc-southernwheelers.co.uk/

and you mail:

info@ctc-southernwheelers.co.uk

Rob’s own website is available from that site (bottom right corner) and is well worth a look.

Fame at last .... or is that infamy?

Rather than bore the rest of the Forum drop me a PM with your e-mail addy and I'll try and help - as implied, there are a number of answers!

... and who is Oracle?- do I know you in the flesh, as it were?

Edit : the e-mail addy to ctc-southernwheelers does NOT come to me.

Rob

Oracle · Post by **Oracle** » 2 Apr 2007, 2:45pm

Rob

Apologies if I gave wrong information regards e-mail – I clearly underestimated your influence!

You do not know me, but I enjoyed reading you JOGLE account and it has helped a friend of mine to make up their mind about JOGLE or LEJOG along with being good entertainment. Means I’m doing JOGLE again but so what.

Keep up the good work.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 2 Apr 2007, 5:00pm

Hi Stu172

I cycle the path from Catherine de Barnes to Stratford.

You're right, at Lapworth you do take the Stratford canal...where they join up. (it's very clearly signposted)

I'd say that over 95% of the path is good, and very easy to cycle.
There is the one little tiny stretch by Kingswood that is permanently in the shade (even in the Summer) and is very boggy, and the banks so overgrown it's very hard to pass.
I think it's best to take the bridge before then, and then cycle to the next access.

It's a lovely quiet rural ride, plenty of wildlife to see, lots of canal side pubs that open on to the tow path.

You'll pass one or two other cyclists, and dog walkers on the way.
But it will be mostly quiet.

stu172 · Post by **stu172** » 2 Apr 2007, 6:21pm

Thanks Charlie and everyone else. I was just unsure if you were aloud to cycle down that route anymore, as it's been ten years since i last did it.

Do you know also if you need one of these permits ? Although i'm not too worried about that , as you can download one from the waterscape website.

It is a lovely quiet route and will be great to get back into cycling, as my wife is a bit unsteady on main roads etc etc

Thanks again

robgul · Post by **robgul** » 2 Apr 2007, 6:25pm

Oracle wrote:Rob

Apologies if I gave wrong information regards e-mail – I clearly underestimated your influence!

You do not know me, but I enjoyed reading you JOGLE account and it has helped a friend of mine to make up their mind about JOGLE or LEJOG along with being good entertainment. Means I’m doing JOGLE again but so what.

Keep up the good work.

Ah, my involvement in the Southern Wheelers' website is to put it together (more coming soon, honest!) and "host" it on some of my webspace. The e-mail goes to the Hon Sec.

[Apologies to anyone that might have looked between about 1100 & 1600 today 2 April, the content was being moved to a new server and there was a loss of service]

Glad you enjoyed the JOGLE stuff - we certainly had fun with the ride, and the report.

Rob

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 2 Apr 2007, 10:00pm

Stu

The tiny little muddy stretch I mentioned earlier, is actually on the Grand Union
just before the Cafe at Hatton locks. (I got my routes mixed up)
Hatton locks is another route I do, the Cafe is next to the towpath, and it is a very popular
haunt with cyclists.

Until last year I wasn't aware you needed a permit. It wasn't until someone was doing a group
ride and mentioned that you need one to ride along the towpath, that I learnt about them.

It's best to get one so everything's above board, and for peace of mind, the chances of
anyone ever asking to see it is practically zero, but it's best.

There is a dodgy bit, it's at the Shrewley tunnel, you have to walk up a short foot tunnel next to
the canal, exit and cross a road, then go down a track through some fields to rejoin the canal.
The canal goes for four-hundred odd yards through an hillside.
The flooring in the foot tunnel is all cobblestones, and covered in slippy moss and slime.
It's like an ice-rink, it's also pitch black in there if you have no cycle lights?
Take it steady through there.

The Shrewley tunnel

stu172 · Post by **stu172** » 3 Apr 2007, 3:10pm

Sounds great and that tunnel looks ace fun

Thanks again.

robgul · Post by **robgul** » 3 Apr 2007, 5:09pm

The permit from BW is required (you can print one from the net at www.waterscape.com) - BUT it serves no real purpose except that it has some dos and don'ts listed and is in effect a dsiclaimer that you sign - cut to the chase : if you fall in the canal it's not BW's fault.

Charlie has his wires crossed a bit - the Shrewley tunnel is on the Grand Union about 2.5 miles S, towards Hatton, from the canal junction at Kingswood.

The original post referred to Catherine de Barnes to Stratford by canal - you are on the Grand Union as far as Kingswood and then you join the Stratford bound canal towards Lowsonford, Wootton Wawen, Bearly (where there's a spectacular aqueduct), Wilmcote and Stratford.

I think you will find parts of the Stratford canal towpath hard-going N of Bearley - I haven't ridden on it for a while but last time it was not good. The last bit from Wilmcote is part of NCN Rte 5 (and is "downhill" if canals can be described as such) as you descend numerous locks

Rob

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 3 Apr 2007, 6:46pm

robgul wrote:
Charlie has his wires crossed a bit - the Shrewley tunnel is on the Grand Union about 2.5 miles S, towards Hatton, from the canal junction at Kingswood.

Thanks for clearing that up, I'll have to make the journeys down there again, to refresh my memory.
You're right about the aqueduct, it is quite spectacular.