Last Updated: January 24, 2024
In the heart of England lies Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK after London.
But even though this huge bustling city is a concrete jungle, it also has an abundant of great green spaces to head to when you need that hit of mother nature.
Walks are a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. And these walks below have great offerings whatever the season. Whether it be spring, summer, autumn or winter.
South Birmingham in particular offers some of the best in the city. So, if you are down this end of town, you’ll be spoilt for choice with various areas to explore.
Some on our list below are out of the city, but still within reach of Birmingham, with others being right within the city boundaries.
So if you’re looking for a quick walk within easy reach, or day out a little further away, we have something for everyone on this list below.
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Mosely Bog
Mosely Bog combined with Joy’s Wood is a great little walk to take with the little ones.
When you walk in through the trees you will completely forget you are still in Mosely and within the Birmingham city boundaries.
If your kids are Hobbit or Lord of the Rings fans, then it’s a must.
This was one of JRR Tolkien’s favourite places to visit as a child growing up in the area. And is the inspiration behind the ‘Old Forest’ from the novels.
There’s a mixture of paths and natural terrain. And a number of board walks over the boggy areas. With a number of the trails being buggy friendly.
If you look close enough you can also spot various wood carvings in some of the tree trunks as you wonder around.
Can you find the caterpillar?
There is a very small car park by Mosely Bog, but we’re talking maybe one or two cars. But there is also on-street parking nearby.
If you are coming on public transport a number of options. With buses 1, 2 and 3 all stopping close by.
Sheldon Country Park
If your kids love aeroplanes the this is the place for you.
You can park in the free car park at the end of Ragley Drive and then take the mild, flat, buggy friendly path all the way through the park. Running along Westley Brook, to the Airport Viewing Area.
The area sits at the end of one of Birmingham Airport’s runways. There are a number of benches set up. So you can sit down and watch the planes take off and land.
It’s great fun for kids, and something a little extra for your walk.
Also within the park is the Old Rectory Farm where you can spy some farmyard animals, like cows and sheep and some very rare pigs!
It’s free to enter the farm, but feeding the animals is not allowed.
And there is also a decent playground for the kids next to the car park as well for good measure.
Lickey Hills Country Park
Lickey Hills Country Park is a great place to come for an afternoon stroll. With panoramic views of Birmingham and a few trails to chose from, you can easily spend half or even a full day here.
There is also an abundance of wildlife. Keep your ears open for the sound of woodpeckers and then see if you can spot them high up in the trees.
There are three main trails with the Woodpecker, Squirrel and Bluebell trails. Each has it’s own length and are all well signposted as you take the route.
There’s a playground for kids as well if you still have some energy at the end of the walk. It’s located at the car park next to the visitors centre and café. So you can have a drink or snack whilst the kids play.
Earlswood Lakes
Earlswood Lakes is made up of three reservoirs. With Terry’s Pool, Windmill Pool and Engine Pool all making up this beautiful area.
You can choose how many of the reservoirs you want to walk around. It might be just one suffices, but you can branch off at and do two or all three if you want the Full Monty.
It is also next too Clowes Wood Nature Reserve. So you can add this as a little detour through the woods to add some length to your walk if you want.
The lake walk and woods are great for exploring. We hit the lakes after a long dry summer and the water was particularly low. This made for some additional banks to walk on by the lake. And had also created some interesting reactions on the rocks with the very green coloured water leaving a blue tinge on the rocks, which made for a colourful addition to the walk.
And if you go at the right time there are loads of blackberry bushes. Why not bring a container and pick some a you go to make some blackberry delights when you get home.
You can park in one of the Earlswood Lakes car parks or just pull in off Valley Road and then cross over the road up the steps to get to it.
King’s Heath Park
A good example of the abundance of parks in Birmingham is exemplified by ‘The Three Parks Walk’ you can try out. With three parks pretty much back to back, it shows just how much is crammed into South Birmingham
The first on our list of these parks is King’s Heath Park. If you don’t want to do it as part of the treble collection, it’s still worth a visit all by itself.
With not one but two playgrounds, a café, garden centre and a small pond to walk around. It’s an easy, but rewarding walk for kids.
You can easily get here by Public Transport or there is a small car park available for free.
Highbury Park
The second of the Three Parks Walk and right on the back of King’s Heath Park is Highbury Park.
Here there’s lots of trees and wooded areas plus a pond to wonder around. And there seems to be some particularly good bird life down here.
There’s also a community orchard that you are free to enter and see the various projects the community is involved in.
There are some wooden sculptures knocking around the park as well, with some interesting benches you can take a rest on.
There’s a small free car park here and plenty of public transport options.
Cannon Hill Park
The final park of ‘The Three Parks Walk’ is Cannon Hill Park. Which is as much a day of fun as it is a walk.
With 80 hectors of countryside including woodland and formal gardens, it is a lovely stroll to take in Birmingham on a sunny day.
Aside from the walking, there are also lots of things for kids to do. With a playground, mini golf, little fairground and swan boats that you can pedal on the lake. Cannon Hill Park certainly won’t leave your kids bored.
It’s easy to get to with a big pay and display car park on site. Or if you are coming by public transport, it’s another easy one to reach by bus.
It’s opposite Edgbaston Stadium, so if you have any cricket mad kids you could tie it in with a trip to a match as well.
Clent Hills
The centrepiece for Clent Hills is the Four Stones that sit on top of the hill. This will likely be a point you aim for or pass by, but there are numerous trails you can take around the area to decide how long or short you want to make your walk.
The area is made up of woodland trails and open hills with amazing views.
There is a National Trust Car Park at Nimmings Wood, with facilities and café. It’s around £4 for all day but free for National Trust Members. There are some free areas where you can park as well along St Kenelm’s Pass.
Once you’ve parked you can decide what trail you want to take, of which there are many. It’s good to have some sort of app to keep you on track, maps.me is a good one that we use.
Sarehole Mill
Sarehole Mill and Museum is another one of the Tolkien Trail’s spots.
It’s a small water mill (no longer working) and provides guided tours on certain days and times. Get the latest times on the Sarehole Mill website.
If you don’t fancy the tour, you can still enter the outside grounds and have a little explore around the pond.
Although the walk is a very small once inside the grounds, it has a few little sculptures and some musical instruments for little ones to have a go at.
If you then want to extend your walk, you can head down The John Morris Walkway through The Shire Country Park. Which is a lovely set of woodland that flanks the River Cole. Although it is a small green space width ways, the length should satisfy little legs for a wander north or south.
There are various points where you can cross the river via some stepping stones and head into the slightly more rugged woodland path, or stick on the buggy friendly main path.
You can park at the mill for free and then pick what you want to see and which way to go when you arrive.