surface can be (very) variable. Be prepared for sudden changes and ride with care under bridges.
Even if on long straight stretches, look out for barriers across the path.
The towpath is quite narrow so ride with consideration past or when meeting others.
Fishermen can be on the towpath at any time - usually singly in the week, but sometimes in groups at weekends.
Anglers pay a licence to British Waterways; cyclists should have a Permit but it is free.
Who is more entitled to use the towpath? Both equally.
Always dismount in good time and walk past groups of anglers and wait while they raise or move their rods off the path.
Towpath access is by sloping ramp or steps.
Ramps are easy for the cyclist but bikes would have to be carried up or down steps.
See the 'Cycling and Walking Map of Birmingham' for details of each access point.
The Birmingham Canals Navigation Network
The Grand Union runs south easterly from Bordesley, and has stretches of towpath that have been restored in recent years but these are mainly as the canal leaves Birmingham. The path can be poor through Small Heath, with a stretch towards Yardley that can be almost impassable in bad weather. But the path improves immediately after going under the Yardley Road and this continues as the canal by-passes Solihull. The path remains comfortably rideable to Catherine-de-Barnes, when its condition reverts to a rambling track.
There are some cobbled bridges along the Birmingham section, often preceded by gates, so continuous riding is not possible. The surface of one bridge has been recently repaired, although as it no longer 'bridges' anything it could have been removed and the path levelled?
The Grand Union provides good access to Fazeley Street and hence the city centre, with useful access points along the way and is a way to reach Solihull instead of the Warwick and Stratford Roads. Continue past the steep steps at the Lode Lane exit and leave at the slope onto Damson Parkway. Then just a short ride on quiet roads and a shared-use path to Solihull centre.
The Birmingham and Worcester runs from Brindley Place and the Mailbox development, south westerly towards Selly Oak, Bournville etc, passing Birmingham University. A very good towpath with no locks, bridges or poor stretches. There is excellent access to Bournville Station. On the outskirts of the city the Stratford canal branches off but further on the Worcester towpath stops at a tunnel.
The Birmingham and Fazeley branches off the Grand Union at Bordesley then runs towards Star City and 'Spaghetti Junction'. Underneath the motorway, branch right and the path continues well-made and level out towards Minworth. The Fazeley can be a good route to and from Erdington - you can cycle underneath the busy traffic island, then up Gravelly Hill gently. If the prospect of mingling with traffic on Gravelly Hill daunts you, this site covers road cycling in the next section.
The Wolverhampton runs from Brindley Place to - well - Wolverhampton! Another good towpath which is very cycleable all 15 miles to Wolvo. Except for the Coseley Tunnel. But nothing much to see (except for the industrial Midlands) until Wolverhampton is reached. There are a couple of branches off, towards Dudley and Netherton, but the long Netherton Tunnel is closed to navigation and cyclists, for repair.
So that's four. There is a Tamworth route, but that would certainly need a mountain bike and a determined cyclist! There is a canal loop around the central area, but there are serious locks to negotiate, with narrow slippery rises, plus the long, narrow Ashted Tunnel. And scenery is a 'concrete jungle' as the path passes the BT Tower.
Finally, the towpath past Aston Locks; lots of steep locks and too many redundant bridges, each with sharp rises and falls. Ok, all this is 'Industrial Heritage' but it does detract from cycling.
