The Rea rises in
Waseley Hills Country Park, with the source well signposted from the car park there. The river drops about in its first mile, but from then on has a very gentle slope. The river's tributaries include Callow Brook, the Bourne (which begins as Merritts Brook before joining Griffins Brook) and Bourne Brook. From
Rubery, the river flows into Birmingham near the former Rover works at
Longbridge, then flows through a tunnel under the
A38. In
Northfield, one of the river's few remaining
fords is at The Mill Walk, near Hawkesley Mill Lane. After this, the river valley is also used by the railway to
Kings Norton.
Wychall Reservoir, near the river at
Kings Norton, was built in the early 19th century by the
Worcester Canal Company after
mill owners claimed that water was being taken from the river to fill the
canal and reducing the working effectiveness of their mills. Following Kings Norton, the river flows through
Stirchley. It is now
culverted for much of its course through Birmingham, during which it passes through the
Pebble Mill area and
Cannon Hill Park then
Calthorpe Park. A pair of decorative arches on the bridge where Gooch Street crosses the river mark the first settlement of Birmingham. The
medieval hamlet of Birmingham was built on a crossing on the Rea in what is now
Digbeth. Many of the street names in the area refer to the river or its mills. These include Rea Street, Floodgate Street, River Street and Duddeston Mill Road. There are proposals to include a riverside walk and new
bridge over the Rea at Digbeth's
Custard Factory media and arts complex (now complete). There are also proposals for the river to be uncovered at the
Warwick Bar area of Digbeth. Near
Gravelly Hill Interchange, about from its source, the Rea merges with the
River Tame, with its waters eventually reaching the
North Sea via the
Trent and the
Humber Estuary. == Flood prevention measures ==