BUMBLE HOLE TRAIL-LOCATION DIRECTIONS.
With acknowledgements to Planning & Leisure Dept; Dudley Council (2000)
The walk starts at Bumble Hole Visitor Centre (O.S. Ref: SO 9532 8815); Tel. No. 01384 814100;
Open daily: 10.00-14.00; refreshments, snacks, leaflets, posters, displays, models, old photos.
Length: 3 km, 2 miles; Duration:1 hour.
By Road.
From the A459 Halesowen Road, Netherton, at traffic lights, enter Cole Street and continue to a set of traffic lights, with Darby End Fish Bar on the left corner and the Red Lion public house opposite. Continue straight ahead and turn right into Darby End Road, sharp left into Vale Road, and left again into Windmill End, where there is a car park 50m.on the left side.
Parking:
Windmill End, on left below canal towpath, access to the canal towpath to turn right to the visitor centre is by: 1. steps up an embankment on the left before the parking space; 2. walking back along the footpath from Windmill End to the ‘Fox & Goose’ canal bridge, and turning right; 3. walking along Windmill End past the ‘Wheatsheaf’ public house (right) to turn left past the derelict ‘Dry Dock’pub. and up a wide ash path to the canal towpath. Turn left to the canal junction and left along the towpath for 50m to the visitor centre.
Warrens Hall Country Park, B4171, Dudley Road. Clearly marked signs – white letters on brown background, located in Springfield area, on right in Dudley to Blackheath direction. To the right of the entrance is an information panel, behind which is a narrow path across the top of the field with ridge and furrow –Feature 5 of the trail; take a look at this and join the trail at this point in the leaflet. Return to the tarmac path and follow it downhill past the lake to feature 6 -viewpoint.
Gad’s Green, (off St. Peter’s Road & easiest access for visitors with disabilities).
Turn into Gadd’s Green and follow road around to right and park on left, or in ‘The Willows’, the road to the right; enter site via wide ash track with metal gate.
For wheelchair access follow the WHeely trail around the Bumble Hole area.
By Bus.
Windmill End/Bumble Hole entrance.
National Express West Midlands (NEWM): 276, Dudley – Wollaston; every 20 mins.
Towards Wollaston: Stop: St. Peter’s Rd; / Northfield Rd;
Towards Dudley: Stop: Cole St./Northfield Rd; OR
St. Peter’s Rd./Bobbington Road junction.
Midland Bus Co: 282, Gornal Wood – Merry Hill; bus stops as above.
NEWM: 238 West Bromwich – Merry Hill: Stop:Cole St,/Withymoor Rd/Northfield Rd; every 20 m.
Warrens Hall Country Park entrance, Dudley Road / Burmese Way junction.
NEWM: 140, Dudley – Birmingham; every 30 m.
Midland Bus Co. No. 224, Bilston – Cradley Heath; every 60m.
241, Dudley – Halesowen, every 30 m.
By Rail.
Old Hill Station: 222 to Old Hill Cross every 30m. @ 11m & 41m past hr; & change to 243/244 Dudley bus, every 20m. Leave at Halesowen Rd; Netherton/Washington St; walk back to Bishton’s Bridge over canal; join towpath to left of bridge & turn right, walking past Withymoor basin, to Bumble Hole (15 mins.) OR
Exit station, turn right & walk up Station Road to canal bridge, join towpath to left & follow for 2.5 km / 2 miles, past Waterfall Lane, Totnal, Garratt’s Lane, Powke Lane, Hollis, Dog Lane, & Bullfield bridges to reach Dudley No. 2 canal junction at Windmill End with Visitor Centre 50m along canal to the left (40 mins).
Cradley Heath Station: Midland Bus Co. No. 224 to Bilston via Dudley from interchange, or stop E opposite rail station; get off at Warrens Hall Country Park, Dudley Road / Burmese Way junction, Springfield. Hourly from 8.56 to 16.56, journey time app. 20mins. OR
Turn right outside station, over road, & pedestrian crossing to left, & follow main road around right bend to 5 ways & High St. for 243 Dudley bus, every 20m. @ 2, 22 & 42 min past hr. Leave at Halesowen Rd; Netherton/Washington St; walk back to Bishton’s Bridge over canal; join towpath to left of bridge & turn right, walking past Withymoor basin, to Bumble Hole (15 mins.).
Rowley Regis Station: Cross to Ave Rd. & continue ahead to concrete wall at cul-de-sac, to join & cross Archer Way at traffic lights; cross over Long Lane to the bus stop outside ‘Michael superstore’.
NEWM: 140, Birmingham – Dudley; Blackheath Market Place: 04 & 34mins. past hr; every 30 m; leave at Warrens Hall Country Park, Dudley Road / Burmese Way junction; journey time 10m. OR
241 Halesowen – Dudley; every 30 mins.
National Express West Midlands: 0121 254 7272. Special Needs Transport: 0845 271 0455.
Network West Midlands: 0871 200 22 33. National Rail: 08457 484950. Centro: 0121 200 2787.
Norm's Audio Trails 