Birmingham to Shrewsbury - National Cycle Network - Quiet Roads & Traffic Free Cycling

In this video we make our way from Birmingham city centre, 53 miles to Shrewsbury. We use as many traffic free cycling routes as possible, including 4 canals and 1 disused rail line. We also take in some lovely quiet lanes as we escape to the countryside.
We use the Birmingham mainline line canal to leave Birmingham and pass through the Black Country to Wolverhampton. From here we use the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal and the Shropshire union canal to get to the edge of Wolverhampton. We then use quiet lanes to get to Telford, passing RAF Cosford. We pass through Telford on mostly traffic free cycle routes and get to Shrewsbury on more quiet lanes. A great bike packing route!
Thanks for watching! Buy me a beer at the link below, all proceeds go to making more content:
www.buymeacoffee.com/cyclingn8
Route:
connect.garmin.com/modern/cou...
Videos mentioned in the video are below as well as more videos on the routes used:
Route 84 - Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
• Route 84 - Chirk To Th...
Route 55 - Coalport to Stafford
• Route 55 - Coalport to...
• Route 55 - Coalport to...
Route 5 and 81
• Route 5 and 81 - Birmi...
• Route 5 and 81 - Birmi...
• Route 81 - Wolverhampt...
• Route 81 - Shrewsbury ...
• Route 81 - Shrewsbury ...

[@nothere7300]

Brilliant thanks. I have done the Brum to Wolves bit many times and the Shrewsbury area less so. I just need to join it all together this summer. Thanks again.

[@cyclingn8]

It makes for a nice ride linking it all up, and you can even catch the train back from Shrewsbury. Thanks for watching!

[@davidpayne8413]

Wow what a different style, excellent commentary full of interesting info, - without any annoying music in the background - He He I did feel a little queasy during the sped-up sections, kept on thinking and hoping you would not crash, especially in the tight bridge sections! - Really like your style.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the videos, lots more to come. Thanks for watching!

[@TheSadcyclist]

Discovered this channel by accident and must say great video and editing and so interesting as well, will be riding the Birmingham to Shrewsbury route when everywhere dries up.Oh an ive subscribed as well.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you! Happy accident finding my channel I hope 😀 thanks for the sub, appreciate every single one! Lots of other videos on the channel of rides around the midlands, and more to come. Thanks for watching!

[@TheSadcyclist]

@@cyclingn8 Just watched 4 now.

[@sheddyone]

Lovely video again, Nate. Keep them coming. Looking forward to taking the bike by train to Shrewsbury and doing this in reverse if it ever stops raining 🌧. Everyone I've ever known from the town pronounces it "shrew" not "shrow", which they say is a posh/out-of-town pronunciation.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you 😀 hopefully the rains stops so I can get out for some more filming too! I always thought those that pronounce it ‘shrow’ were a bit posh lol thanks for watching!

[@TheSadcyclist]

Me as well rode a bit aound Birmingham years ago when the canals where a bit dangerous, but now looks great to ride, hopefully when its drier.

[@user-so7yz2qi7s]

Being from Shrewsbury it can only be shrew. I hope that helps - enjoy your journey!

[@cyclingn8]

@@user-so7yz2qi7s I’m not from Shrewsbury but definitely agree! Thanks for watching!

[@johntolson8230]

Thanks!

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you so much! My first super thanks! 😍 much appreciated and all funds go to making more content. Thanks for watching!

[@bikepackinguk]

See youve just tipped over the 1k subscribers, well deserved

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you, I was over the moon! Thanks for watching and happy cycling!

[@antonymilne3654]

Many thanks for taking the time to post such a brilliantly edited and detailed video. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 👍👍👍👍

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!

[@DarrenMansell]

Love this channel. Showing me how I can improve my vids. This is what biking is all about - getting out and exploring. Epic.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you, glad you enjoy the videos. Thanks for watching!

[@curtisducati]

@@cyclingn8 You must live near me ! I go Stratford a lot on my bike , great area to ride and no idiots doing 100 in a 30 zone like Brum ! Weather is ruining the spring this year and hope it changes soon before cycling collapses in the UK altogether

[@cyclingn8]

I’m from Telford, not yet cycled to Stratford but it has some cycle routes down that way so would like to explore! Thanks for watching!

[@the_trooper_72]

Very good, informative video.. I live in Coseley, near the tunnel.. I frequently ride into wolverhampton then up to Birmingham and back,. It's usually a 30 mile round trip!! 👍🏻😎

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you 🤩 it’s a great route between the cities, biggest drawback is the towpath closure near the M5 which has been closed for ages now. Thanks for watching!

[@the_trooper_72]

@@cyclingn8 it was open a few years ago when I ran the wolverhampton to Birmingham half marathon.. Ain't sure why it's closed..

[@cyclingn8]

@@the_trooper_72 apparently an unsafe wall from an adjacent building

[@leighbrownlow216]

The “rialto bridge” of Birmingham is a must see 😂

[@cyclingn8]

Not to be missed in the Venice of the north 😃 Thanks for watching!

[@dopeydan5929]

Superb ride, cycle Brum / wolves and most canals in the black country regular. Your vid was ace, just subscribed to your channel impressed.👍👍

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks for the sub! Plenty of canals in the Venice of the north, many I still plan to explore. Thanks for watching!

[@kippen64]

I'd like to take a gravel bike along that route. Thanks for such an excellent video.

[@cyclingn8]

A gravel bike would be the perfect tool to tackle that entire ride. I keep looking at getting one but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Thanks for watching!

[@davidrowe8747]

Loved this video! Ironically, I watched it while Zwifting (I'm a fair weather cyclist), and enjoyed following you on this journey while I was pedalling along. I had no idea this channel was here - can't figure out why KZbin algorithm hasn't pointed me towards these videos. I'm in south Birmingham (close to Worcester canal), so canal journeys are of particular interest to me. In particular, I thought the smooth editing and calm commentary made it an enjoyable watch. I have no interest in the current fad of cycling "route" videos that consist almost entirely of a cyclists' breathless, jabbering "selfie" while steering one-handed.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you for your comments, I’m really glad your enjoy the style of video. I think if I tried steering one handed while talking to the camera I would end up in the canal so glad I don’t feel any pressure to do that! Hoping to get a video heading south out of Birmingham done at some point. Thanks for watching!

[@davidrowe8747]

@@cyclingn8 if you're heading south on the Worcester canal, there are three tunnel bypasses on the route (Wast Hills, Shortwood(?) and Tardebigge) They are all, to differing degrees, complicated to figure out - especially the one before the Tardebigge series of locks. If you follow one route often suggested online, you have to clamber with your bike over two awkward barriers and then negotiate a very fast, busy dual carriageway (A448/Bromsgrove Highway) - not very pleasant. When you get to thinking about that video (or even now), let me know if you want any tips on the easiest route. [Edited to add: It looks like you mainly focus on NCN routes - not sure if the Worcester Canal falls under that, but if it does and you plan to take the canal to Worcester, as above, I'd be happy to send you some advice on the three tunnels]

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks so much for the advice, I’ll be sure to drop you a message if I have any questions when I’m planning! Thanks!

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

Did similar thing on my meta sx years ago from London. 76km.

[@cyclingn8]

Sound like fun! Thanks for watching!

[@Neilhuny]

A superb and informative video

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you 🤩 glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@TerryCoates-ff6yd]

Good vid.I like the local history you relate to your viewers.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you! I love a bit of history so nice to mix it in with my passion for cycling. Thanks for watching!

[@MagnitudeV1]

Great vid, a frequent ride of mine is to take this to Wolvo and then get on the South Staffs Railway Walk down to Himley and then loop back around. FYI when you come off at Coseley you don't need to live the bike over anything, you turn off the road and up the path and then cross straight over the little road which has a path between the railway and the field.

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks for the info, I may have taken the wrong route at Coseley as the signage wasn’t great, so good to know there is a gate free route. Thanks for watching!

[@MagnitudeV1]

@cyclingn8 there's also an easier way to navigate the Wolverhampton bit, once you get passed the first few bridges you can go through the park to miss out some of the more difficult sections and then there's an offroad bit that cuts more out and pops you out at that bridge you turned right on to head up towards Telford

[@cyclingn8]

Perfect, I will take a look, thanks!

[@javierpastrana3277]

Excellent vid, thank you!

[@cyclingn8]

Your welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@bedcurt]

great video, so calming. from west brom originally so recognise many places

[@cyclingn8]

Glad it had a calming effect for you, I have been told I have a soothing voice lol Thanks for watching!

[@freddee4295]

Great video, very informative, thanks for posting.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you 🤩 glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@alanjgoneaway]

All the roads out of town (Wellington) towards Shrews are grimy at the moment 😂. I might try this in reverse in better weather as my son lives in Brum. It’s a great video! Thanks for posting.

[@cyclingn8]

I filmed most of Telford to Shrewsbury last Friday and you’re right, the lanes were mucky! A few had been recently flooded, ended up with a puncture not far from Charlton 😫 Thanks for watching!

[@alanjgoneaway]

@@cyclingn8 hehe my club is based in Wellington. Now we are considering a boating sub-section 😂😂😂

[@cyclingn8]

@@alanjgoneaway 🤣

[@briansteel4872]

Ive just happened across your videos today, Ive really enjoyed this latest one and makes me want to ride in this part of the UK, I live in the North East and have the C@C, the Reivers and the Hadrians cycleway all on my doorstep I can recommend any of these tracks for you to explore.

[@cyclingn8]

Glad you found the channel and enjoy the videos! Hadrians cycle way, route 72, was one of my first videos, although before I found my current style of video. Would like to ride it again and the routes you mention, some great riding up there and would make great videos 😀 thanks for watching!

[@robinmager]

Nice video taking in routes I know well, but perhaps had lacked some knowledge on background history. Given some of the challenges of the cycle network I often take more road sections. Especially if I’m riding a cargo bike as those gates like the ones at 15:23 can be a real pain. Thanks again for the vid and well done on 1K+ subscribers.

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks 🤩 those gates really grind my gears ⚙️ definitely do more harm than good in my opinion!

[@volt8684]

Really nice interesting vlog thanks. Did u feel safe at all times. Spaghetti junction doesn’t look too nice

[@cyclingn8]

I did feel safe but I can imagine at night I would not! The diversion around the closed tow path is not great and definitely a little dodgy feeling as you go under the M5 motorway! Thanks for watching!

[@FancyMcDancy]

Loving this ride and plan to do it later this week (late May 2024). Can you tell me when you made this video? The amount of fallen leaves suggest Autumn 2023? Or, now that I've watched a little more, perhaps you rode it in stages over a number of weeks/months?

[@cyclingn8]

Most was filmed in October 22, so that explains the fallen trees. The leg between Telford and shrewsbury was filmed this year. Thanks for watching!

[@ltrtg13]

I rode over the section ot towpath by the Wolverhampton top lock a couple of weeks ago. I was riding a full 29er, 160mm rear 170mm front enduro bike. It wasn't any better. I have also ridden it on a hybrid with 700cx 32mm tyres. That part and Coseley tunnel are the only 2 sections were would use the Sustrans route. As the bars on both mt mountain bikes are too with. Or depending on the bike I'm riding waybe walk pass the top lock.

[@cyclingn8]

It’s a shame they can’t improve things around the locks in Wolverhampton because other than that it’s a great section! Not much they could do about the tunnel though, I can understand why people would avoid that! Thanks for watching!

[@rprodgers1]

To get to Albrighton you would be better staying on Husphins Lane ( becoming Beamish Lane) and cycling across the A41 * along a continuation of Beamish Lane . Follow to end and turn right into Albright High St. *Crossing the A41 at this point gives you good visibility as the A41 rises up towards you.

[@cyclingn8]

I’d agree, that would avoid the small stretch of the A41 and this is what I would do in future. The only reason I think the cycle network avoids this is you have to cross the A41 while it’s a dual carriage way, but if visibility is good I’d rather do that. Thanks for watching!

[@j3j326]

I want go there myself from London via bike 🚲👏

[@cyclingn8]

Cycling the whole way from London? Or train to Birmingham then on the bike? Thanks for watching!

[@j3j326]

@@cyclingn8 by bike eventually once I get the skills and a new bike.

[@damedavidfrith55]

What a lovely route try a gravel bike

[@cyclingn8]

A gravel bike would be the perfect tool for the job! Thanks for watching!

[@The.cycling.firefighter]

I want to commute this way but unsure if road tyres will be sound on the tow path. I'm going from bilston to Handsworth. Do you think I'd make it?? 😂

[@cyclingn8]

Honestly I think you would be fine, it’s actually a decent surface most of the way, I only used the MTB as I wasn’t sure what it was like. Thanks for watching!

[@aymanahmed4534]

Was just wondering where do you park your bikes. Are there any private services which offer secure parking?

[@cyclingn8]

I never did any overnight stays so always had the bikes with me. Thanks for watching!

[@blackclock7278]

I’ve enjoyed vicariously travelling through a part of the country I’d like to explore more. Way too many ads though which disrupted the experience. *addendum* I gave up before the end due to this.

[@cyclingn8]

Glad you enjoyed the part you watched, ads are an annoying part of the KZbin experience I agree, but also what makes the whole platform possible so it is what it is. Thanks for watching!

[@blackclock7278]

@@cyclingn8 agreed that they are a necessary evil. Just surprised at how many were present and the frequency of them. With no disrespect to the amount of views you’ve had, I watch channels with huge viewer figures and relatively few ads in comparison. Not sure if that’s something you can turn off or not?

[@cyclingn8]

As far as I know, and I am very new to this, you either have ads or you don’t, but something I can look into when I get time. Happy Cycling!

[@sedgy73]

You must have some proper bullet proof tyres walk and ride around there and the amount of glass and debris on the route I've lost count the amount of punctures I've had

[@cyclingn8]

I must of been lucky, didn’t get a single puncture! Thanks for watching!

[@doggylover1958]

Great vid, nicely done mate. I’m considering doing Leicester to Albrighton (my sister lives there) this summer, by the look of it my mountain bike might be a better option than my road bike.

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you 🙏 The whole route could be done on a road bike, it’s just a bit bumpy in places - a gravel bike would be the optimal bike for it!

[@doggylover1958]

@@cyclingn8 Thanks, it’s really interesting to see how far we can get down canal towpaths and on lesser used lanes. Looking forward to the mud drying out! A Gravel bike is on my birthday list! ( I can only go up to 25’s on my road bike). Cheers.