Day 6 – 25 July 2026

Cattle Bridge to Blowers Green Pumphouse

It had been a tough couple of days with my multiple sclerosis after falling down the stairs and losing my speech earlier in the week. The heat had probably had a hand in it too, because heat and my MS go together about as well as ducks and Hamish the springer spaniel. But partly because I’m determined to do this fundraising challenge, and partly because walking in fresh air is so important for keeping me physically and mentally well, I decided we needed to set foot on a towpath, even if I couldn’t manage much.

I’d worked out that the closest way back to the canal where I’d left off at Cattle Bridge was to head to a small housing estate next to Netherton Reservoir, where Google Maps showed a little cut-through between two houses and through some trees. Easy, right? Well, once we got there and ended up among the trees, there were multiple ways to go. We picked one and hoped for the best. Then came another crossroads, another choice, and again we picked one and hoped for the best. Luckily, through the trees we spied the green, algae-topped water of tha cut. It felt like arriving home.

It was lovely to be back dahn tha cut, and the sight of murky water, blue skies, fluffy clouds and ducks made me feel like all was right with the world again. We headed back to Cattle Bridge, where I regaled Bab with tales of canal cut-throughs past and nature reserves present. He sped up at one point, so I’m not entirely sure my tales from the cut were keeping him gripped.

Under Cattle Bridge and past the fetching rose graffiti, the canal opened up with flowers, fauna and views of Saltwells Nature Reserve that were to die for. You could easily forget you were in the middle of Dudley; “wilds of the countryside” felt much more applicable here. It was wonderful, and even though I was finding walking a bit challenging, it spurred me on to walk, walk, walk.

Two of Luke Perry’s lovely signs greeted us as we reached Blackbrook Bridge, one explaining how this scarred landscape became our Black Country. Ours indeed. In all its beauty, industry and creativity. As we left Blackbrook Bridge, glimpses of industry poked through the flowers and fauna on the left, reminding us that work, graft and the labour of good Black Country folk are never far away, even when you think you’ve wandered into the countryside by accident.

The beauty of Saltwells kept pulling our attention to the right. “Look at me,” it shouted. Even with a giant pylon plonked in front of it, it really was a sight for sore eyes. Discovery is becoming the theme of this canal challenge. There is so much to discover – bricks, bridges, birds, old industry, random signs, and occasionally my own limits.

As we ambled nearer to the hubbub of Peartree Lane – slowly, in my case, as the tiredness from the last couple of days and the heat were starting to take their toll – more and more industry poked through. The graffiti became more present as the noise got louder.

One of Luke’s signs told the story of the casings made for the bouncing bomb of the Dambusters fame. Grazebrooks Iron Works which would have stood behind us contributing to one of the great triumphs of World War II.

And as if the canal wanted to say, “Yes, we know it’s more about work now, but get a load of this,” reflections of blue skies, fluffy white clouds and the yellows and whites of factories, offices and distribution centres appeared in the water. Our very own oil-painting gallery.

And just as I really started to flag, I spied a small name on a bridge sitting beyond a large pipe: Blowers Green Bridge. Yay! I’d been determined to reach Blowers Green Pumphouse, and if this bridge was anything to go by, surely it was close.

Under the bridge, the canal widened into Park Head Junction, where the Dudley Canal No. 1 and Dudley Canal No. 2 meet. And there it was: Blowers Green Pumphouse, sitting proudly in the Black Country sunshine. A man sat on the steps in quiet meditation while I tried to tiptoe past so I could take my photos. I’d made it. Looking over the expanse of water, I could see locks heading upward and a bridge beyond, but that was enough for today. I was done in.

As I perched on a brick wall, Bab offered to walk back to the car and come and pick me up, setting off past the meditating man. I shouted across, rousing said man from deep tranquillity, “Bab, let’s get an Uber,” thus destroying someone’s peaceful afternoon in one sentence. Our chariot came – an air-conditioned hybrid – and took us back to the housing estate where we’d started, arriving just at the right time as I was struggling with tiredness, pain and feeling sick.

Although it had been a struggle, I kept thinking about those views to die for. It was worth it. It always is. Life is just better dahn tha cut – even when you leave in an Uber, slightly green around the gills, having accidentally interrupted a man’s meditation.

Walked:

• From Cattle Bridge to Blowers Green Pumphouse
• 2.04km logged on Strava – to follow my progress on Strava, you can find me on there as Katie Ceit (Stourbridge)

Reflections:

• Listen to my body, even when my stubborn little brain is shouting, “Just one more bridge.” Today was a reminder that getting there matters, but getting back safely matters more. Sometimes the brave thing is pushing on; sometimes it’s ordering an Uber and accepting the air-conditioned chariot with dignity.
• Short walks still count. Two kilometres might not sound like much to some people, but after a rough MS couple of days, falling down the stairs and losing my speech, it felt like a proper achievement. Progress does not always look like miles and medals. Sometimes it looks like algae water, wobbly legs and refusing to give up completely.
• This challenge keeps reminding me how much beauty is hidden in plain sight. One minute you’re next to factories, pipes and pylons; the next you’re staring at Saltwells, fluffy clouds and reflections that look like someone’s painted them especially for you. The Black Country really does do magic, bab – it just wears work boots while it does it.

Wot we learnt:

• Blowers Green Pumphouse was built in about the 1890s to pump water back up to the Birmingham Level and Dudley Tunnel from the Dudley No. 1 and No. 2 canals. So, while I was standing there feeling ill, I was actually looking at a proper bit of canal engineering. In the last couple of years the Pumphouse has been sold I believe.
• Park Head Junction is where the Dudley Canal No. 1 and Dudley Canal No. 2 meet, and Blowers Green Lock is on the Dudley No. 1 Canal. I also learned that Blowers Green Lock is described as the deepest lock on the whole Birmingham Canal Navigations, replacing two earlier locks. I had paused at the edge of a proper canal crossroads and did not fully appreciate it at the time.
• I also fell down a Grazebrook rabbit hole after seeing the sign about the bouncing bomb casings. Blowers Green Iron Works was established in 1800 by the Grazebrook family, and by the 1840s was producing huge quantities of iron each week. So this little stretch of canal was not just pretty views and pylons – it was part of a landscape of serious industry, graft and invention.

If you can, please sponsor me and Hamish as we take on this Black Country canal challenge. Every donation will help keep us walking, wobbling, wondering and sharing more random facts about our bostin Black Country. Think of it as giving to charity with added ducks, bricks, light confusion and one small dog who believes every bird is a personal challenge. We’re raising money for three fantastic charities supporting people with multiple sclerosis and dementia, as well as mental health, learning disabilities and autism. Your support really does help. Fundraising link: www.givewheel.com/fundraising/17386/black-country-canal-challenge