Pitch black tunnel walk in hidden beauty spot an hour away from Coventry

Kirsty Bosley & Priyanka Patel

4 May 2024 at 2:12 am·1-min read

Cobbs Engine House and Netherton Tunnel -Credit:flickr / Brian Clift

Just a short drive from Coventry lies a hidden beauty spot containing a walk that is not for the faint-hearted. The Netherton Tunnel is the longest canal tunnel in the West Midlands that is still open - and it has a fascinating history.

The tunnel, which connects the Birmingham main and Dudley canals, is a feat of Victorian engineering and it will take around 40 minutes to walk through via the towpath. It's 9,081 feet (2,768m) long and a few ventilation shafts aside, it's practically pitch black all the way - so those who struggle with enclosed spaces may want to give it a miss.

The surrounding area was once a bustling scene of collieries, boat yards, blast furnaces, brick kilns, coal mining, and soot, Birmingham Live reports. But now things at Warrens Hall are very different.

With the Bumble Hole local nature reserve beside it, it makes for a relaxing and beautiful day out with plenty of things to explore, including picnic spots, trails and cast iron bridges. However if you do brave the tunnel, it makes for an enticing adventure.

There are towpaths on both sides but it's advised to bring a torch and some waterproofs as it can get drippy.

For more details on all the points of interest, click here for the downloadable map and information sheet.

Location of Netherton Tunnel: 90 Dudley Rd W, Tividale, Tipton, Oldbury B69 2HU - 1 hour from Coventry via M6.

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