I cycled NCR5 (or rather what there was of it) from London to Holyhead in June 2006. I came into Bromsgrove from Redditch. When I got to the 'T' junction after the Station there were no signs and my Sustrans map was a bit vague so I turned left instead of turning right. I did pick up some more signs leaving Bromsgrove and found my way onto the path to Milton Road. The new Rea Valley route looks good. It is sad to see how little progress has been made to the NCR considering it was supposed to be the 'Millenium' cycle network. In fairness they did not say which Millenium. Good video and your commentary about the NCR is spot on.
Sounds like a great ride! I'd love to try and follow the route from start to finish! But you're right - the signage is really poor along a lot of it. It's only because I basically run through the route on Google Maps before I do it that I have any hope of following it at times. There is a bare structure for something good there - it just needs proper funding. It's a shame that it is being left to a charity to manage the NCR and really something the government should take up. Laura Laker has a book about the NCR that I really want to read
Great to see you posting again. I did this route a few years ago as part of a circuit using the 55 route from Selly Oak via Redditch. The 5 does seem to go round the houses literally around Bromsgrove and Catshill. I learned the hardway up Redhill Lane too! I would and have gone straight on at the Redhill lane junction and along the pavement to Rednal and down through Rednal high street and pick up the new bit of the cycle path at Baalams Wood. Cuts a big corner off and cuts out the big hill. Did you know that part of the route is the track bed of the Halesowen railway and you passed the site of Rubery Station at Arden Walk? The new cycleway is also the old track bed to Longbridge too. Anyway thanks for showing us.
Cheers! Might be a bit sporadic at first as I try to catch up with stuff but hoping I can get out and film again soon! Yeah if I was to do it again, I'd be minded to do the route you are suggesting, much easier in hindsight! Just a shame it's basically cycling along the side of a dual carriageway for a lot of it! Ah that's interesting! At least that bit has been made more useful again now, having sat derelict for so long!
I wish I'd known about that - could have fuelled myself. Instead I just collapsed at the top of the hill and had to rest for a bit. Definitely not as fit as I was a couple of years ago 😅
When you get to Redhill Lane instead of following the road go straight on and there is a path to take you through to the A38 and you can ride (against the traffic) on a pavement to take you under School Lane bridge over the A38. You can then re-join the road to go over the bridge and then pick up school lane. A lot easier than Redhill climb.
Yeah that definitely seems to be the best way by the sounds of it. The pathway looks so thin at points though, wish it could be widened a bit to make a shared use path feels more appropriate!
Thanks for recording/publishing this
I cycled NCR5 (or rather what there was of it) from London to Holyhead in June 2006. I came into Bromsgrove from Redditch. When I got to the 'T' junction after the Station there were no signs and my Sustrans map was a bit vague so I turned left instead of turning right. I did pick up some more signs leaving Bromsgrove and found my way onto the path to Milton Road. The new Rea Valley route looks good. It is sad to see how little progress has been made to the NCR considering it was supposed to be the 'Millenium' cycle network. In fairness they did not say which Millenium. Good video and your commentary about the NCR is spot on.
Sounds like a great ride! I'd love to try and follow the route from start to finish! But you're right - the signage is really poor along a lot of it. It's only because I basically run through the route on Google Maps before I do it that I have any hope of following it at times.
There is a bare structure for something good there - it just needs proper funding. It's a shame that it is being left to a charity to manage the NCR and really something the government should take up.
Laura Laker has a book about the NCR that I really want to read
great to see this! lovely long route
Thanks! 😊🙏
Great to see you posting again.
I did this route a few years ago as part of a circuit using the 55 route from Selly Oak via Redditch. The 5 does seem to go round the houses literally around Bromsgrove and Catshill. I learned the hardway up Redhill Lane too!
I would and have gone straight on at the Redhill lane junction and along the pavement to Rednal and down through Rednal high street and pick up the new bit of the cycle path at Baalams Wood. Cuts a big corner off and cuts out the big hill.
Did you know that part of the route is the track bed of the Halesowen railway and you passed the site of Rubery Station at Arden Walk? The new cycleway is also the old track bed to Longbridge too.
Anyway thanks for showing us.
Cheers! Might be a bit sporadic at first as I try to catch up with stuff but hoping I can get out and film again soon!
Yeah if I was to do it again, I'd be minded to do the route you are suggesting, much easier in hindsight! Just a shame it's basically cycling along the side of a dual carriageway for a lot of it!
Ah that's interesting! At least that bit has been made more useful again now, having sat derelict for so long!
Gotta love Redhill lane hill! There's a pleasant cafe (lizzie's farm) off Malthouse Lane, just before it kicks up.
I wish I'd known about that - could have fuelled myself. Instead I just collapsed at the top of the hill and had to rest for a bit. Definitely not as fit as I was a couple of years ago 😅
When you get to Redhill Lane instead of following the road go straight on and there is a path to take you through to the A38 and you can ride (against the traffic) on a pavement to take you under School Lane bridge over the A38. You can then re-join the road to go over the bridge and then pick up school lane. A lot easier than Redhill climb.
Yeah that definitely seems to be the best way by the sounds of it. The pathway looks so thin at points though, wish it could be widened a bit to make a shared use path feels more appropriate!