Great city walks: Birmingham

Distance 5.5 miles/9 km
Typical duration 2 hours 30 minutes
Start and finish Victorian tea rooms, Kings Heath Park
Start postcode B14 7TQ
Step-by-step details and maps ramblers.org.uk/birminghamparks

In a nutshell

This route is the perfect escape from city life. Heading through Kings Heath park, Highbury park, Cannon Hill park and along a stretch of the river Rea, you walk past water features, beautifully planted flower beds, a cricket ground and fascinating areas of allotments.

Why it’s special

As you follow this route you’ll be surrounded by greenery and wildlife, making it hard to believe that you’re in an extremely urban area of south Birmingham.

First you walk through Kings Heath park and into Highbury park, where you’ll pass the duck pond and head to the arboretum at the northern end. You’ll pass a cricket ground and some carefully tended allotments. There’s a short stretch through stunning woodland too. You then meander through Cannon Hill park, with its mixture of evergreen trees and open grassy spaces. Pass a small pond and you’ll come upon one of the more quirky features of the walk – a model of the Elan Valley dams, where you can learn all about Birmingham’s water supply. You’ll also pass the Midlands Arts Centre and the park’s boating lake; then enjoy a stretch along the river Rea, before heading back into Kings Heath park and returning to your starting point.

Reward yourself

Stop off at the refurbished Highbury for a drink and classic pub grub, from scampi to steak pie.

Get there

National Express West Midlands outer circle buses 11, 27, 35 and 76 run past the park. The 50 runs from the city centre along Kings Heath high street (nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands).