Walks you can reach from Shirley by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Shirley.
Alvechurch to Earlswood (Worcestershire)
8 minutes direct from Shirley.
Hilly north Worcestershire landscape. River Blythe rises near Earlswood Lakes.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Cars travel fast on twisty road with no pavement; busy A435 dual carriageway crossing.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Honeybourne to Stratford-upon-Avon (Gloucestershire)
30 minutes direct from Shirley.
Beautiful line through the northern Cotswolds. Trackbed of old railway line, fields, roads through villages and flat greenway. Route follows the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway from 1859, closed for passenger services in 1968-1969, finally closed in 1976. Now a greenway.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: First section still in use for goods traffic; moderately busy road between Pebworth and Long Marston.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Wood End Circular (Warwickshire)
15 minutes direct from Shirley.
Warwickshire countryside paths, village lanes and river crossing.
Time: 2h30 (1h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Request stop; no shops in Wood End or Tanworth, stock up before arriving.
Walk details: Heart Rail Trails (PDF).
Danzey Circular (Warwickshire)
15 minutes direct from Shirley.
Farmland, woodland and rural lanes.
Time: 3h (1h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Request stop; no facilities on trail, bring provisions.
Walk details: Heart Rail Trails (PDF).
Henley-in-Arden Circular via Henley-in-Arden Guildhall (Warwickshire)
30 minutes direct from Shirley.
Historic high street, farmland, Millennium Way, rural lanes, fields and woodland edges.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be overgrown summer.
Walk details: Heart Rail Trails (PDF).
Stratford-upon-Avon Circular (Warwickshire)
30 minutes direct from Shirley.
Town-centre pavements and riverside paths.
Time: 3h (1h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Heart Rail Trails (PDF).
Whitlocks End to Birmingham (Warwickshire)
3 minutes direct from Shirley.
Towpaths and river banks. Urban walk tracing Birmingham's waterpower heritage from suburbs to city center.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Busy roads to cross; low bridges on canal sections.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Wythall to Longbridge (Worcestershire)
6 minutes direct from Shirley.
Rural with woodland, fields and suburban areas. Walk traces River Cole source on Severn-Trent watershed; passes moated medieval farmhouse; passes Shire Country Park.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Busy main roads; muddy footpath sections.
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Earlswood to Wythall (Warwickshire)
8 minutes direct from Shirley.
Farmland, heathland, woodland, wet meadow, golf-course edge and river crossing.
Time: 2h30 (1h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Heart Rail Trails (PDF).
The Lakes to Earlswood (Warwickshire)
15 minutes direct from Shirley.
Reservoir-side paths and woodland tracks through nature reserve.
Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Heart Rail Trails (PDF).
Wood End to Dorridge (Warwickshire)
15 minutes direct from Shirley.
Umberslade Estate features a manor house built 1695-1700 and the Umberslade Obelisk constructed in 1749 by the 1st Baron Archer.
Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Birmingham to Kings Norton (Warwickshire)
15 minutes direct from Shirley.
Canal towpath (Worcester and Birmingham Canal). Kings Norton was site of a 1642 English Civil War battle.
Waterway: nine tenths along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Birmingham Back to Backs (National Trust)
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).