Walks near Birmingham by train
Stations: Birmingham New Street · Birmingham Moor Street · Birmingham Snow Hill
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Birmingham and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Birmingham.
Derby Circular via Allestree Park (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street.
Parks, river and heritage trail.
Time: 5h–10h30
6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h–2h30 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h–6h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–6h in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Similar walk: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership.
Wellington Circular (Shropshire)
45 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street.
Town streets, woodland tracks, steep ascent to The Wrekin summit with panoramic views over Shropshire and beyond.
Warnings: Steep climb to summit; can be windy on top.
Walk details: Wellington Walkers Are Welcome.
Great Malvern Circular (Worcestershire)
1 hour direct from Birmingham New Street.
Steep dramatic hills rising from flat vales, ancient woodland, open grassy commons with bracken and heather, scrub and rock ridge and rolling pastures.
Time: 6h30
Warnings: Steep ascents and descents.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Duffield Circular via the Chevin (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Birmingham New Street, with one change.
Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Belper Circular via Kilburn (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Birmingham New Street, with one change.
Hilly countryside with several steep climbs. Alport Heights — a 314 m peak five miles away — is visible from the route on clear days. Route passes Holbrook.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Ambergate Circular via Pentrich (Derbyshire)
1 hour from Birmingham New Street, with one change.
Mixture of hilly and flat terrain with stiles along the way. Telling the story of the Pentrich Rising of 1817, exploring the local men who took part. Route passes through Fritchley and South Wingfield.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Nottingham Circular via Attenborough Nature Reserve (Nottinghamshire)
1 hour from Birmingham New Street, with one change.
Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Bromsgrove to Barnt Green (Worcestershire)
15 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street.
A gentle climb through open country on the Monarch’s Way and canal towpath.
Waterway: three fifths along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Time: 3h30–6h30
Walk details: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (PDF).
Bromsgrove to Droitwich Spa (Worcestershire)
15 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street.
Mostly along canal towpaths with field paths and road sections. Walk through mid-Worcestershire from Bromsgrove to Droitwich Spa, tracing salt industry heritage and Victorian spa development via canal routes. Droitwich is a town literally constructed on salt.
Waterway: four fifths along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Time: 3h–6h30
Warnings: Be careful of fast-moving cars on lane; towpath muddy in places.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Reverse direction: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (PDF, inc. GPX) and Railwalks (inc. GPX).
Bromsgrove to Alvechurch (Worcestershire)
15 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street.
Most pleasant rolling countryside. Pastoral yet industrial terrain of north east Worcestershire. Two towns shaped by 18th-19th century canal development. Alvechurch has long history under Bishop of Worcester from late 8th century.
Waterway: four fifths along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Time: 2h30–5h
Warnings: Fast cars on lane; narrow busy road with no pavements.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Worcestershire Parkway to Pershore (Worcestershire)
30 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street.
Open farmland and field paths through quiet villages.
Time: 2h30–4h30
Walk details: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (PDF).
Hagley to Barnt Green (Worcestershire)
30 minutes direct from Birmingham Snow Hill.
Ridge walk over North Worcestershire Hills, open hilltops, scrubland, gorse, woods, pastures, motorway bridge crossing, country parks and heathland with bilberry and heather.
Time: 5h
Warnings: Steep descents.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).