Exploring the northern BCN

Discover the little-known backwaters of the Birmingham Canal Navigations with the King and Country Trail, a fascinating self-guided circular walk along footpaths and canal towpaths. Landmarks include extensive oak woodlands, a 200-year old aqueduct and the Birchills Canal Museum: and there's plenty of opportunities to explore further.

Starting at the Town Wharf, cross over the roving bridge and take a right down onto the Walsall Canal's towpath and walk past the flight of locks.

Continuing past the top lock and Birchill's Canal Museum on your left, fork left at Birchill's Junction to get onto the Wyrley & Essington Canal towpath.

At Sneyd Junction walk almost back on yourself down the old Wyrley Branch, under the M6 and past Bentley Wharf Bridge by Rough Wood, the largest oak woodland in Walsall and a special place for lots of wildlife. At this point you join The Monarch's Way footpath for some time.

Walk back almost in the direction you came, this time along Bentley Lane. Cross over the M6 this time and turn right at the T-junction to walk parallel to the motorway briefly before turning right down Churchill Road. Pass by the site of Bentley Hall and onto Queen Elizabeth Avenue.

Cross over the A454 and onto Bentley Mill Way in order to follow the Anson Canal and the River Tame. Having crossed the new Black Country Route, and walking past a cemetery on your right, you rejoin the Walsall Canal via the Anson Canal and the James Bridge Aqueduct of 1797, before passing again under the M6.

Keep following the canal's towpath past another cemetery on your right and you will arrive back at your starting point, just after Bridgman Street.

Getting there

Parking: Walsall Town Centre, Rough Wood Local Nature Reserve, Hunts Lane, Short Heath.

Public transport: Contact Centro Hotline on 0121 200 2700, for buses to your most convenient starting point.