Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal - Kings Norton to Hockley Heath (★★☆☆☆)

Today we are once again taking on a canal route, as we continue to do our best to get out during The Great Rain of 2026, without being at risk of death by drowning, in middle of a boggy field.

For this walk, I have chosen to head out along the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal - in part because that is where the best weather can be found, but also because (after an initially more urban section) this canal takes on a rural route across the Midlands, before finishing up in the pretty town of Stratford-Upon-Avon.

But whilst this gives us much to look forward to at the end of our walk, for today the plan is to complete the more urban third of the canal, heading eastwards through the southern end of Birmingham, and only dropping down beyond the edge of Birmingham's suburbs towards the very end of the day's walking.

After that, tomorrow is set to be the much more exciting day - as that will then be a very rural route across the Midlands, before we finally arrive into Stratford-Upon-Avon.

But having made our way intto Birmingham, from here we change over onto a local train service - following the route of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, as we make our way to Kings Norton - the nearest train station to the start of the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal.

From here we head south following the main road, and then connect up with a cycle route that takes us across to the junction of the Worcester & Birmingham and Stratford-Upon-Avon Canals.

The canal junction - our path heads over the bridge

The last time I stood here, was just under a month ago, as I walked the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from the centre of Birmingham down to Worcester - and not only did I enjoy that canal, but I also found that the section through Birmingham was one of the better urban sections of canal I have walked.

This has created a certain amount of expectation about this next section of canal. Here I hope that the most urban section (the next four miles) will be fairly pleasant walking, but these urban sections can go both ways - and it might just have been that the Worcester & Birmingham Canal had benefited from having the University lie upon it's route.

And as we cross over and start to head off down that canal, we don't make a great start as we pass the heavily graffitied Guillotine Gate.

Guillotine Gate

This grade II listed structure - whilst not particularly well cared for by the locals - is a particularly unusual part of canal history, and is a rare example of a lock that makes use of guillotine gates.

In combination, the Stratford-Upon-Avon and the Worcester & Birmingham Canals contribute 28 of the 49 miles that make up the Birmingham Levels - a section of canal network that can (currently) be navigated without having to pass through any locks.

But with conservation of canal supplies having been a contentious subject in the days when separate companies owned each canal, these two gates used to ensure that the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal was not being filled at the expense of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

This required a lock to be installed to ensure that water levels could be controlled if required, but with the difference in height being so small between the two canals, these guillotine gates were used in preference to the more traditional swing-gate locks.

These days, the gates are no longer used, now that the canal network is run as one entity - and so canal boats can drive straight through - but previously boaters would have had to navigate this as a lock, albeit with it being one that would be relatively easy to pass through.

From here it is a short run until we having to head up over the canal, as it heads through Brandwood Canal Tunnel - and here our route passes through the suburbs of Birmingham until we are able to rejoin the canal at the far end.

Far end of the tunnel

Here we face a very quiet and fairly unspectacular walk, as we continue on between the houses - with the route generally being clean, but then with patches of extreme litter overflowing from one of the businesses that sits alongside the canal.

This litter is then clearly being cleared up once it reaches the canal, but the source of the problem seems to continue on unabated - creating a little production line for fresh litter, running into the canal.

Quiet round along the canal

Aside from this, there isn't too much wrong with the canal - but this section is pretty forgettable, and anyone you do pass is determined to pretend that you don't exist as you pass by.

But having passed by Shirley train station (to the side of the canal), things do start to change - and we start to get a slightly more rural feel to proceedings - offset by a fairly muddy path, and a continued lack of friendliness from those we pass. 

Encouraged by the more rural surroundings, I on occasion try a cheery hello to some of my fellow walkers, but this seems to only create a certain amount of fear in their eyes, as if have just requested that they either Stand or Deliver.

And if I'm honest, I'm a bit baffled and confused by all this - as we're in some lovely surroundings here.

The prettiest bit of the urban section

Now more rural, but it's getting a lot muddier

For those that do want to skip the urban section, here we are passing nearby two train stations - at Shirley and Whitlock End - and there is the option of starting your walk here, if you are not too fussed about walking the full length of the canal.

But in any case, from here it is a short walk on to Dickens Heath, where finally I am able to put to rest any fears that I may indeed have turned into a frightening monster - as from here on a switch has been flicked, and I'm greeted by cheery hellos by everyone I pass by.

This in turn makes it a much more enjoyable walk again - and even though the mud remains in quite hefty quantities, we can get over that, as we make our way on along the canal.

And here we pass through the very middle of Dickens Heath, which turns out to be very different to the little country village I was expecting to find.

Passing opposite Dickens Heath

The design of Dickens Heath is one that wouldn't look out of place in the very centre of Birmingham - and here we find a modern village, with the first homes having been completed in 1997.

The idea of this project was to create a village from scratch - with a reasonably high density of housing being offset by the addition of a school, community hall, library, church and medical centre (although it is clear that there were no funds to spare to put in a more substantial towpath on this side of the canal).

Personally, I am a fan of the design - and of the slightly usual way it appears out of nowhere, and then quickly vanishes out of sight - although it is a surprise that the town itself wouldn't have made more effort to ensure a decent run of towpath in and out of the village.

But soon the village passes form our minds as we continue to head south-east - passing under the M42, and then on to eventually arrive at Hockley Heath.

Continuing on down the canal

On towards Hockley Heath

Once again, there is no improvement of the towpath around the village, and so I do have to make some effort to clean up my shoes before heading on to my overnight accommodation.

But it is hard to complain too much, because the general high quality of towpaths these days have been vital to my being able to get out so much this winter. 

That said, if you do plan on walking this canal, it is probably one that is best pushed back towards the summer months of the year, with other towpaths being more suitable in the winter months of the year.

At Hockley Heath what we find is again a very modern town/village - that is mostly suburban style development - and this town I warm less to, finding it to be more a place where people live, than a tight-knit village.

But in any case, it is a convenient place to stop over for the night, and tomorrow we should have the very best of this canal to look forward to.

Total Distance: 10.9 miles (9.8 miles along the canal)

Total Ascent: 335 feet (295 feet along the canal)

Enjoyment Rating: ⭐⭐ ★ ★ ★ / 5

The rating here is maybe a little harsh, as there isn't too much wrong with the canal - but at the same time it just wasn't a stretch of canal that was that exciting. But there is still plenty of hope for tomorrow, as that should be along a much better stretch of this canal.

Click to see that following day of walking, continuing on up the canal to Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Disclaimer: This writeup provides a narrative of what to expect rather than a route guide to follow. The route is covered by the 139 OS Landranger map (links redirect to Amazon). The route is in general well way-marked.