Hello walkers of the West Midlands!

We have two very exciting walks to tell you about this month:

The Witnesses Walk: a twilight tour of Joel Lane's Digbeth

As part of a weekend celebration of the work of weird-fiction author Joel Lane, Andy Howlett leads a twilight walk through the backstreets and canals of Digbeth. Join him on November 12th for a journey between worlds.

Passing between different worlds is a recurring theme in the work of the late Birmingham based author Joel Lane. References to veils lifting and doorways opening appear frequently in his tales of misfits and outsiders desperate to transcend their surroundings.

“The lost city. I never knew another person had seen it. The black towers. The flames in the windows. I never knew how to get there. But it has to be through another city, like this one. Do you think we could find it together?”

Digbeth and the Grand Union Canal both feature in his work as places of transgression and liminality. Places where other worlds might be accessed.

Whether you're a diehard Joel Lane fan or if you've never heard of him, this walk will take you to a twilight world of artist communes, ghost barges and strange rituals.

>>>book your walk ticket here<<<

>>>or book for the whole weekend here<<<

Minimal Traffic Meander: in and out of the city with Badnote Choir

Birmingham is still a city very much dominated by the car. It may not be the most pedestrian friendly place but if you go out looking it is possible to discover a parallel, car-free city of towpaths, alleyways, green corridors, piazzas and footbridges.

On this Erratic, Simon Jefferies (AKA The Badnote Choir) will share how his search for traffic-free dog walking routes led him on an unexpected creative journey. You are welcome to bring a dog and/or a camera if you wish.

Meet outside the Deaf Cultural Centre on Ladywood Road (B16 8SZ) at 11am on Saturday November 25th. No need to book!

As this is a lengthier route than usual (approx 5 miles), we'll be splitting it into two halves with a lunch break in Centenary Square. Those who prefer a shorter walk are welcome to come just for the first 2.5 mile section.

>>>more info here<<<

No car required: Understanding the Midlands one step at a time

On the subject of avoiding traffic, we have a meaty new blog post from Josh Allen to share with you. In this fascinating essay, Josh untangles Walk Midlands: his COVID-born, politically-led, history-fuelled, trans-regional walking project, that is a no-cars-required walking guide to the entire English Midlands.

"The project is first and foremost a practical walking guide for those interested in day walks that they can do without a car in the English Midlands. It is also a kind of reflection upon how we live now, a means of telling stories from history and a mediation on the landscape and topography of the central part of England, that comprises the bulk of the mighty River Severn and Trent catchment areas." 

You will never look at (or walk) the Midlands in the same way again.

>>>read the article here<<<

Until next time,

Happy Walking!