Harborne walkway is a space of natural tranquillity in an urban environment. It was opened in 1981,…read moreoccupying the former short branch Harborne railway line. The railway line opened in 1874, as an early example of a commuter route into the new industries city of Birmingham. It took five years to build the 2.5 miles of track, with stations at Hagley Road, Rotton Park Road, and Icknied Port Road before terminating at New Street. This was much shorter that the 1866 proposal, which would have connected Bromsgrove to Halesowen, and connecting the Great Western Railway (in Soho) with the London and North Western Railway on Monument Lane. I had previously presumed that the railway line was a victim of Dr Beeching's Cuts in the 60's, whereby he oversaw the closure of over 1,000 rail stations in the UK (luckily we didn't follow his full recommendation and close over 2,000). However, the Harborne line closed to passengers in 1934, as people favoured the buses, which had less delays at the time. The line remained open for freight, serving the Chad Valley toy factory in Harborne, as well as the Mitchells & Butlers brewery at Cape Hill, amongst over businesses. The line was completely closed in 1963. Cut to present day and the line has been transformed into the most lovely walking and cycling path in the city. The path runs from Forest Drive / Park Hill Road in Harborne to Summerfield Park in Soho; where one can easily visit Edgbaston Reservoir, or join the Birmingham Canal to walk into the city centre. The full walk from Harborne to town is unsurprisingly the same as the original railway line: 2.5 miles. It brings one into town at Brindley Place, where there are ample options for liquid refreshment and nutrient. Along most of the walk, we could easily be forgiven for forgetting that we are so close to the heart of the second city. We could easily be convinced that we're walking in a rural part of the country. The only hint to city life is seeing the buses on the Hagley Road above our heads. The footpath is however, slightly busier (and less boggy) than those out in the countryside, being popular with dog walkers, families, cyclists, and runners alike. The route doesn't have any lighting though, so is probably best avoided after dusk. Although I love Birmingham and all of the culture, bar, events etc that happen in the 'big city', sometimes it's good to get away from all of the 'hustle and bustle' and be 'one with nature' - any more clichés I can fit in? Seriously though, it's great to be able to escape from all of the stresses of modern life without having to travel too far from home. Birmingham has 3,500 hectares of public green space, more than any other European city, and 250 miles of urban brooks and streams (I've not even mentioned the canals, nor Venice). To me, Harborne Walkway is definitely one of the city's 'hotspots', a must for any Brummie!

Great walk on a fall afternoon with the dog. Don't leave it too late as it can get quite…read morecreepy/dark in areas. It is a great green space in an urban area and well worth a visit. Lots of runners and other dog walkers. Interesting railroad history.

If you have a few moments to spare and need a breath of fresh air why not go for a walk around…read moreBarnwood arboritum. Originally part of the landscaped grounds of the old Barnwood House Hospital (famous Gloucestershire poet Ivor Gurney was once a resident) there is a stream running through the park with ducks so dog owners please keep your dogs on a lead. Barnwood Arboretum buzzes with wildlife and the Friends of Barnwood Arboretumare busily creating habitats to encourage even more into their little wilderness. Birds visiting the space include sparrowhawks, jays, buzzards, various woodpeckers, goldcrests and kingfishers During the autumn and winter months the area is grazed by rare breed sheep to to mow the grass. For the more energectic the park is also home to a gym located in the church.

I love spending a sunny afternoon walking my Emily around this beautiful park. Vast open spaces…read more Play area. Brook. Great for dog walkers. Pretty scenery. Enjoyable way to spend a few hours outdoors.

Another park I really like. It has lot's of facilities; rather good childrens play area, pitch and…read moreputt golf, orienteering course, stream, soon to be outdoor gym, flower beds that kids like to play hide and seek round, a nature wood that's sometimes open and mixed terrain for dog walkers. There's a carpark and often an ice cream van. You don't get any of the issues of Western Park (never been nearly run over by a motor bike here) and it's not as big. Some of the flower beds could do with abit of weeding but all in all a lovely park, go and take advantage, it's free (except the golf)

I really love this park, It offers FREE parking too, on certain days Run Birmingham offer a free…read morerunning scheme called 'Couch to 5k' a 9 week program free to attend and gives you confidence to meet other fellow runners. Beautiful surrounding, come with kids to feed the wild life duckies in the large pond. Big area to ride your bike too with a number of facilities to park your bike. Kids can also have fun on the pay area too, with swings and a large climb rack. On my daily walks to the park I've even found wild black berries and bamboo being grown in the woodland area. There's a Cadbury Bournville house that has been derelict for quite a few years now, for such a great location I've always hoped that the council would invest money in this great location and maybe convert it into a little café? That would be perfect in my opinion. Have a good day everyone, thanks a bunch for reading

I went on a Sunday afternoon with my friend and his most adorable dog for a walk through Campbell…read morePark. It's a massive dog friendly park (any areas that aren't are very clearly marked) and has a lot of interesting aspects to explore. This isn't just your normal park as it also has a memorial and various art sculptures in the park plus we passed a small playground at one point all keeping for quite the interesting walk. My friend was telling me they used to have sheep grazing! I'm not sure if it was just the time of year I went or if they have been permanently removed, but no sheep were to be had in March. It's big on festivals in the summer apparently with a nice open air pavilion type theater outdoor area.

I have to say my family goes every year and we really enjoy ourselves. Yes the ground can get…read moreincredibly muddy and yes the vendor's are a bit expensive - we get over that by taking our own hot chocolate and chairs to sit down on. The atmosphere is fantastic, the kids love all the sounds, excitement and colours and that's even before the fire works start. It was a lovely display this year although it can get a bit smokey! And best of all - there's no entrance fee!

This park has so many different uses for so many different people. For a nice day out with children…read moreI would recommend the nature area and the lakes. Feeding the ducks and geese is one of my all time favourite things to do; it has been since I was a child. Very little has changed since then. The park is also great for students from the nearby Solihull Sixth Form College. I remember skipping class to hang around with a girl I dated in the park. I won't divulge our activities, but they were nothing new to the parks deep bushes and high trees! I like to drive here these days as they have adequate parking at both ends of the park. It is a great place to have a walk and a nice think to clear the mind. This park has won the 'Britain in Bloom' competition many times. It is easy to see how they did this because the floral displays around the park are simply gorgeous. Great Park, Great day out.

I had the pleasure of walking through the beautifully landscaped Malvern Park during college days,…read moreand I've returned since to re-live the experience. There are two play areas, tennis courts and a nature centre with a lake. It's a perfect place for a day out with the family or just to soak up the sun on a summer's day. Given the attractions within the parks, it's appealing to all ages. There is also a car park, which is conveniently located next to a recreation area. The parks are a fine area of greenery that are shielded from surrounding roads, which adds to their tranquillity. It's popular with locals because you'll always find someone strolling around. It's also used by Solihull Sixth Form students as a route from the town centre to the college. Despite this, I have never seen the park littered or otherwise tainted. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

Thanks to Woof & Walks! not only walking the dogs for us but feeding the rabbits and rest of our…read morezoo whilst we were away. Highly recommended.