Walks you can reach from Birmingham New Street by train

Parks, river and heritage trail.

Museum of Making

Darley Park

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.

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.

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).

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).

Reverse direction: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

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).

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).

Open farmland and field paths through quiet villages.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Walk details: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (PDF).

Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal and Erewash Canal.

Time: 5h30–11h

2 lunch spots: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h30–5h30 in), or the Navigation (3h–6h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Largely urban walking on pavements and a riverside path, through parks and along the line of the Derby Canal.

1 lunch spot: Waterside Café

Warnings: Only a few trains a day call at Peartree.

Walk details: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership (tips and turn-by-turn directions).

Mixture of off-road cycle path and on-road sections. Part of the longer London-to-Lake-District route.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Towpath along canal with suburban and greenbelt sections. Nearly 1000 years ago Kings Norton was valued five times higher than Birmingham for taxation; canal junction constructed 1796; area incorporated into Birmingham in 1911.

Waterway: three quarters along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Narrow road with fast traffic; dark tunnel to avoid (2.5km Wast Hill Tunnel).

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Hilly north Worcestershire landscape. River Blythe rises near Earlswood Lakes.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Cars travel fast on twisty road with no pavement; busy A435 dual carriageway crossing.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).