The Wednesbury Old canal is a part of the Birmingham canal navigation. Just 1.2 miles long and with several bridges along the route, it links Swan Village with the New Mainline at Pudding Green, and meets the Walsall Canal at Ryders Green Top Lock. From here you can travel throughout Birmingham with plenty of miles of network just a stones throw from the start of the canal. Many of the arms of this branch are now in disrepair, but the main stretch is still navigable. The Wednesbury Old Canal was once a busy canal, linking the various foundries, forges, ironworks and brickwork factories in the area with the centre of Birmingham and throughout the UK.
Why paddle here? It’s a great place to start a paddle, before heading into more urban stretches such as the Walsall canal or through to Gas Street Basin via the New Main Line.