In December a change of role at work meant a daily train commute from Stoke to Birmingham. As I looked out of the train's window I enjoyed the beauty of the Staffordshire countryside and then pretty much switched off once it had passed underneath the M54 and hit Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Birmingham itself. But as time went by I began to notice the canals and to see them as little green corridors back to the countryside that had been left behind and I wondered if I could put together a route between home and work to be walked on behalf of The Peter Pan Centre for Children with Special Needs, a charity close to my heart that I have supported previously.
Over four days this week I got to walk the route and was delighted to realise that peace and quiet can be found even deep within the heart of the conurbation.
My first day took me from my home on a hill above Stoke into the city where I joined the Cauldon Canal for a mile or so, passing a couple of bottle kilns before heading for the station and a day at my desk.
P1070226 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
On my return to Stoke that evening I was met by a couple of friends and set off along the Trent and Mersey to the town of Stone some eight miles away. A pleasant evening obviously ended in a pub but the best part was clearly the walk:
P1070362 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
The following day was sunny and warm and saw me cover the sixteen miles to Stafford, initially on the Trent and Mersey but switching to the Staffordshire and Worcester at Great Haywood - where I was joined by Mum and Dad for a couple of miles and we were all delighted to see a heron just yards in front of us on the towpath.
P1070482 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
P1070489 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
After a day in the garden I was back in Stafford on Monday for the longest day - eighteen miles in to Wolverhampton - and whilst the weather was a little overcast, I was able to sit out the worst of the rain in a canalside pub. Although the path accompanied the motorway for a while, I was pleasantly surprised at the peace and quiet - and even more surprised when the M54 came and went with little change to the rural feel. Yes, there was industry and more in the way of housing but you could easily overlook this and another heron gave me one of the day's highlights (a kingfisher was too quick for my camera but made my day anyway).
P1070579 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
P1070584 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
Wednesday saw the final section. I had joined the Birmingham Canal late on the previous section and followed this into the heart of the city, although it remained a largely peaceful route if you ignore the half-mile spent beneath the M5. It is literally only within the last mile that you realise you are unequivocally in the heart of England's second city and I understand that there are otters in the area if you are extremely fortunate to see them (I wasn't).
P1070697 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
P1070706 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
P1070737 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
P1070748 by
Nick Lee, on Flickr
In total, a walk of around sixty miles and doable with the aid of my railway season ticket at absolutely minimal cost which allowed me to sleep in my own bed and spend time with my wife each night. I'd encourage anyone to investigate the canal network - even those who are wedded to the hills. I might not have climbed very high but it was a wonderfully fulfilling expedition, full of interest from first to last and helped to raise over £750 for my chosen charity - for which reason I am delighted to have done it.