Stroll with the Nechells crowd

Oct 23 2008 By Mohini Howard

THIS walk is another one for the Nechells crowd and one I again did with the charming Get Walking Keep Walking group from Bloomsbury Health Centre.

If you’d like to join in, the group will continue to meet each Thursday at 1pm ready for short walks in the local area.

I was really pleased when I walked this route especially as I was mildly mocked by a couple of acquaintances for even suggesting that someone could take a pleasant walk in Nechells.

Well, yes, I admit that there is a less pleasant dual carriageway.

But please try this as it also includes a canal walk and an interesting church and cemetery as well as some green space.

Start: Bloomsbury Health Centre, Rupert Street, Nechells

Duration: 45 minutes

1. With the Bloomsbury Health Centre and car park behind you, turn right along Rupert Street until you come to the crossroads with Oliver Street / Avenue Road. Cross Rupert Street and turn left here, walking along Avenue Road, crossing at a safe point to the right hand side.

2. Soon you will approach a bridge over the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. Don’t cross the bridge, but head down a flight of steps to the canal towpath. Turn right along the towpath, keeping the canal on your left. Follow the towpath under Rocky Lane Bridge and past a lock. Then, as you approach the next bridge (Thimble Mill Lane Bridge) turn off the towpath and up onto the bridge via the ramp.

3. Turn right along Thimble Mill Lane, and look to cross at the earliest safe opportunity to the left hand pavement. This will allow you to pop into the grounds of St Joseph’s Church which is a little further along the road. Come back out of the church grounds, and continue ahead to the roundabout.

4. At the roundabout cross back to the right, and then cross Walter Street. Keep ahead along Thimble Mill Lane, crossing Marton Close. As you approach the next roundabout, cut across the grass and into Rocky Lane. Cross Rocky Lane, and look to the right for a path across the grassy area ahead.

5. Follow this path past Victory Tower on your left. When you reach the end of the park, bear right along Oliver Street to cross at the zebra crossing. Go through the car parks to return to the centre.

* Mohini Howard is the Birmingham Coordinator for the Ramblers’ Association’s Get Walking Keep Walking project.