[1] Leaving the Ashiana community project  at 21-25 Grantham Road, Sparkbrook, cross the road and turn left, heading in the general direction of Park Farm. Cross at the junction with Dolobran Road. Do not enter the park, but walk with it on your right-hand side.

Grantham Road has now become Sampson Road.

[2] You pass a large house in the Park. There is a blue plaque on the house showing that  Sampson Lloyd (b.1699) lived there. Stay on Sampson Road cross Kendal Road.

(A) Sampson Lloyd together with John Taylor set up a private banking business that later became Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds TSB). Lloyd’s relatives came from the Dolobran Estate in Wales and this may be where the name of the road you have just crossed originates. It might also be why Sampson Road is so called.

[3] At the junction with Henley Street cross onto the right-hand pavement of the road opposite, this becomes Sampson Road North. Continue on this road until the junction with Bordesley Middleway.

The large old building in Sampson Road North has a nameplate showing HMS Forward. It is thought to be the old shore base training centre for Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists.

[4] Turn right at the junction with Bordesley Middleway. Use the traffic light controlled crossing to cross both carriageways of Bordesley Middleway and then turn to the right. Where the path splits take the right-hand path to go under the railway bridge whilst going over the Grand Union Canal.

(B) The Grand Union Canal joins Birmingham and London, a distance of 137 miles with 166 locks to negotiate.
(C) Bordesley Middleway is part of Birmingham City Centre Ring Road. The major junctions on the Ring Road are numbered starting in Balsall Heath. The junction of Bordesley Middleway with Coventry Road is junction number 19.

[5] At the main roundabout controlled junction turn left into Coventry Road and then left onto the canal towpath. Walk along the canal tow path noticing the close proximity of the locks used to maintain the height of the water. After the second lock, notice the road on the left and the number of small businesses housed under the railway arches. After the fourth lock notice a new building on the right called Camp Hill Facilities.

This building provides amongst other things, hot water, electricity connections and disabled facilities for people on the barges that use the canal.

Continue along the tow path passing under two road bridges. Immediately after the second bridge take the ramp away from the canal coming out on Anderton Road. Cross Anderton Road when safe to do and

[6] Turn right into Montgomery Street. Use the zebra crossing to cross Montgomery Street. Turn left and then right back into Anderton Road. Follow Anderton Road until it bears right and becomes Grantham Road and follow back to the starting point.