Best walks near Smethwick by train
Staffordshire · West Midlands of England | Walks by foot
Stations: Smethwick Rolfe Street · Smethwick Galton Bridge
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in West Midlands of England and plan your next day of green.
Nuneaton Station Circular via Hartshill (Warwickshire)
45m from Smethwick Rolfe Street, with one change.
18km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–8h.
Parks, river, country park, and canal.
Lunch stop: the Stag and Pheasant (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Lord Hop, the Felix Holt, the George Eliot Hotel, the Black Swan In Hand, or the Silk Mill.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Derby Station Circular via Darley Abbey (Derbyshire)
45m from Smethwick Rolfe Street, with one change.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–9h.
Parks, river, and heritage trail.
Highlights: Museum of Making and Darley Park.
Lunch stops in Darley Park (1h–2h in): Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys. Other lunch stops: the Joiners Arms (3h–5h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Derby Station to Long Eaton Station (Derbyshire)
45m from Smethwick Rolfe Street, with one change.
Tough: 21km. Flat terrain. 5h30–9h.
Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal, and Erewash Canal.
Lunch stops: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h30–4h30 in), or the Navigation (3h–5h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Duffield Station to Derby Station (Derbyshire)
45m from Smethwick Rolfe Street, with one change.
Tough: steep ascents. 17km. 4h30–8h.
Repurposed railway track along the Great Northern Greenway.
Lunch stops: the Bell and Harp (1h–1h30 in), or the Three Horseshoes (2h–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Waterfall, or the Merry Widows.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Lichfield Trent Valley Station Circular via Whittington Heath (Staffordshire)
1h from Smethwick Galton Bridge, with one change.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–9h.
Golf club, heath, woodland, and Heart of England Way. MOD firing range — check access.
Lunch stops: the Tame Otter (2h–3h30 in), or the Red Lion (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Horse and Jockey, or the Turnpike.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Barrow-upon-Soar Station to Leicester Station (Leicestershire)
1h from Smethwick Rolfe Street, with one change.
Tough: 21km. Flat terrain. 5h30–9h30.
On decent paths.
Lunch stops in Birstall (3h30–6h in): the Earl of Stamford, the Old Plough, or the White Horse.
End-of-walk rewards: the Corn Exchange, or the Rainbow and Dove.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Birmingham New Street Station to Kings Norton Station (Warwickshire)
7m direct from Smethwick Rolfe Street.
10km.
Canal towpath (Worcester and Birmingham Canal). Kings Norton was site of a 1642 English Civil War battle.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Birmingham New Street Station to Bournville Station (Warwickshire)
7m direct from Smethwick Rolfe Street.
8km.
Canal towpath, urban paths, and suburban streets. Walk along the Worcester-Birmingham Canal from city centre to Cadbury's model village.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Birmingham New Street Station to University Station (Warwickshire)
7m direct from Smethwick Rolfe Street.
5km.
Spectacular modernist architecture. Canal towpath and university campus paths. Urban walk through Birmingham's industrial heritage and prestigious university grounds. Steep slope approaching campus.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Old Hill Station to Tipton Station (Staffordshire)
9m direct from Smethwick Galton Bridge.
9km.
Wild and dramatic escarpment (Rowley Hills). Mostly along canal towpaths through suburban towns and villages. Walk celebrates William Perry, the 'Tipton Slasher', a renowned 19th-century bareknuckle boxer born in Tipton in 1819. Over two miles through dark Netherton Tunnel (option).
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Wednesbury Great Western Street Station to Wolverhampton Station
15m direct from Smethwick Galton Bridge.
9km.
Largely paved paths, pavements and canal towpaths through residential streets, industrial estates, a nature reserve, and a former-railway path. Route follows a section of the Monarch’s Way long-distance footpath. Well-served public transport returns to the start. Footpath across wasteland between Walsall and Wolverhampton is ill-kempt with fly-tipping; gap-in-fence section near the mound is tricky to navigate.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Solihull Station to Birmingham Moor Street Station (Warwickshire)
15m direct from Smethwick Galton Bridge.
12km.
Mostly towpath along the Birmingham branch of the Grand Union Canal. Canal authorized in 1793 connecting Digbeth to Warwick; modernized in 1930s; freight traffic ceased by 1970s. Some low bridges requiring ducking; steep ramp at end.