A cycle ride from Worcester to Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal in the West Midlands.
I had this ride marked down last year for this spring but with the weather clearing (along with the winter bug) I decided to bring it forward and cycle it in February. I had a few days of dry weather for it hoping the trail wouldn’t be too wet and thankfully for the most part it was.
Starting in the Cathedral City of Worcester after 3 train rides we head straight over to the canal which isn’t far from the two central stations. Following the canal out of town and through the countryside we take a break half way to visit Droitwich Spa.
Droitwich was rather quiet being in the middle of the working week during winter time and so it was rather a sleepy visit. The few cafes that were open weren’t near enough to some decent cycle parking so on this occasion I decided to grab a pre-made sandwich for lunch and find a spot to eat it on the way back to the main canal trail.
We finish with a visit to Bromsgrove. I really liked this town. It felt quite a warm place with plenty of interesting buildings and shops. I only wish I’d had time to stay longer for the evening.
I think this trail would be especially nice to cycle in the summer when the weather is warmer, the trails harder and the fields with dry wheat in the breeze. I can imagine a later afternoon sun taking ages to set.
There is a lot of canal cycling in this one but I hope you enjoy some of the sights in this film.
Includes the new song That Happy Place and a solo piano version.
21 Comments
Only ever had 1 bike without mudguards, when I was younger. Did not like the mess. My own fault for riding through muddy puddles.
another really nice chilled vibe in that video, thanks! like the way you film it and the music….you and that bike do have some great adventures, hopefully the trails start to dry up soon- cheers
Mr SCE deserves applause for his mural under the bridge at 9:09 – impressive!
Did you have to wash your bike before they let you back on the train? Another quality video both visually and musically 👍
That was a long day for you. Wouldn't want to try that route on a Brompton or road bike! As you said it would be better when the paths were dried out but then there would probably be more people using them. Very enjoyable as always. Many thanks.
Well Madison, that brought back some memories of the Worcester & Birmingham! I see you found the mud, tunnel-diversion, and thick tree roots at Dunhampstead that proved too much for my Brompton! As always, a great effort and the drone work was really good – that must have been tricky to get right. Loved the piano as always.👍 Well done! All the best, Jeff
Thankyou for taking us along on the ride really felt for you on the energy sapping muddy sections, loved the view into the tunnel and the drone footage.
Wow! That sky at 20:37. Epic train journey just to get to the start of your ride. Well done!
I grew to really dislike that section of canal after I was forced to pay £260 to replace a wheel rim and have it rebuilt and balanced – OK, 80% my fault, but I discount that and blame the canal towpath exclusively. 😀
fyi Ye Olde Black Cross Inn has quite a history with links to Charles II and the Battle of Worcester, and many hangings. More important than that is the little girl graffito/painting/mural. There is a ghost story about a little girl that went to the loo (in 18th C?) but went running back crying to her parents a few minutes later saying she had been pushed over by another little girl. A search was made but no other girl was found and no other little girls were staying there …. Is it a Banksey? Looks like it. No idea
Oooh, a 3rd comment!
Unheard of – but I really enjoyed this: The Queen's Head at Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove (54:25 onwards) is great for food, beer*, atmosphere, customers and just damned uber pleasantness! Great in summer and winter, and I've only been 3 times.
*I am told other drinks are available: I've no idea.
Nice video as usual. Shame about the muddy sections, but it's the season for that lol.
New bike
+10:56 GPSS oil pipeline. Semi secretly constructed in preparation for WWII, to connect most airfields with the ports. Made use of canal towpaths for ease of construction and flatish gradients.
+20:26 lovely old house & church – Norman?
+27:30 it was a lovely walkway around the landslide
+30:30 don't see many windpumps nowdays
Droitwich – wich = salt
Thanks for sharing 🙏😊
9:12 the canal paths are good up there , and thats a nice bit of art
Being a Worcestershire boy I know that canal so well particularly around the Droitwich Oddingley area. I remember in 1963 my pal and I cycled for miles on the frozen canal. Some of my family are buried at the beautiful Oddingley church. I now live in Birmingham not far from that canal still. Thank you for the memory. X
A min in, I can tell this will be good. No loud awful music. Just the sounds of birds chirping.
HI!! there !!! Upon reaching Droitwich Spa you turned left down a cobble road. I'm pretty sure that if you had carried on the main road you would have reached a set of traffic lights. The road coming from the right is know as the Salt Way it leads up to Hanbury Hall and village. You are in our cycling area .my husband do's this run from Stourbridge on a regular basis. You should have packed your swimsuit and tried the Spa!!!. A great movie from you we really enjoyed it, may be one day we will spot you on your travels!! Stay Safe Madison xxx
Me again 37;02 you jump back onto the track pretty sure that was the Saltway you left xxx
A most enjoyable and entertaining video, thanks for providing an engaging experience. 👍👏👏👏
Your rides never fail to impress me, I must live not far from you, I’m up the valley from you, I’m a 30 second ride from a station, as long as I don’t have to wait to cross the main road, a couple of questions for you: Do you book your bike on a train, or do you just turn up and hop on? Do you use the Sustrans routes for your rides, I haven’t taken my full size bike on a train, I usually take either my Brompton or Birdy, Brompton is a better fold, but the Birdy is a better ride.
That was great, thankyou for shareing your adventures with us, i must admit i did suffer a little watching that clean bike get dirty going through all those muddy lanes, but it looked like a great ride out, great filming and musik as always, thankyou.