The fabulous Clent Hills are located less than ten miles from the centre of Birmingham. They’re an oasis of natural beauty and the perfect place to escape city life for the day. Managed by the National Trust it’s home to many well marked trails, sites of historical interest and stunning views all the way to Wales. You don’t have to push yourself or spend hours here to make the most of your day. The Clent Hills is a great option for kids as there’s plenty for them to see, climb on and space to run free. This loop takes less than an hour to complete and the trail is easy enough even for the littlest legs. So grab a coffee from the cafe, pack a picnic for the peak and follow this short, circular Clent Hills walk.
Where to start the Clent Hills Walk.
The Clent Hills are located between the villages of Clent and Romsley. There’s a National Trust Carpark at Nimmings Woods. Use postcode B62 0NL to find it. It’s free for National Trust members or £3 all day for non members. Although it’s a fairly decent size, this car park can get really busy on a nice day. Aim to arrive early to secure a spot. Or even late afternoon, this walk is quick enough to complete in less than an hour but the car park does shut at 4pm.
The Clent Hills Walk route
Once you’ve found a parking space follow the signs to the start of all the walks. It’s up past the cafe and to the left. You’ll go under a large totem pole style archway and find the path.
Follow this trail up into the hills. It meanders gently upwards, first through thick woodland before opening into spacious grassy areas with several idyllic spots to stop and take in the views.
You’ll pass many huge trees, some of which are believed to be over 250 years old. This truly is an ancient pocket of woodland.
One you emerge into the grassed area, look to the left where, on a clear day, you’ll see the Malvern Hills, Wenlock Edge and even across to the Welsh border. This is my favourite place to stop for a picnic.
Follow the trail upwards and to the left. You’ll come across some fascinating standing stones. These are known as the Four Stones. These are not actually as old as they may seem, they were erected in 1763 by Lord Lyttleton of Hagley Hall. I still think they’re pretty impressive and they mark the peak of this Clent Hills walk.
Pass by the stones following the peak straight ahead. You’ll soon be heading back into a wooded area.
From here it’s a gradual winding path through the trees back down the hill. As you near the bottom you’ll reach the top of a wooden staircase. These are the only steps on the route and can be a bit slippy so take care on your descent.
Then it’s a sharp left to return to the car park and the end of your walk.
Have a look at this Clent Hills Walk Map and bookmark this page in case you loose signal. Double click to zoom in and explore the terrain.
Clent Hills Walk with kids
My daughter absolutely loves this walk on the Clent Hills. It’s short enough so she never moans on the way round and there’s always a new game to play on route. She loves hopping over tree stumps and climbing up falling trunks. Plus we always promise a hot chocolate from the National Trust cafe at the end.
Clent Hills with dogs
This is another great route to complete with dogs. There are plenty of sticks for them to chase and open areas to run free in. Make sure you keep dogs on a lead in the Car Park, it does get very busy and in areas with grazing livestock. Please always clean up after your dog and take all your rubbish with you. You’ll find bins near the Cafe in the car park.
Route Details
Walk Duration
This loop normally takes us around 45 minutes. This always includes a couple of breaks and time to play. If we take a picnic and outdoor games then obviously it’s a lot longer.
Walk Length
This route is just over a mile long. There are plenty of options for longer routes should you be after a bit of a challenge.
Walk Difficulty
Although not exactly difficult this route does include some pretty steep incline and declines. It can be muddy, slippy and the stairs at the end are a bit of a challenge on the knees. The trails are well marked with very few gates or stiles to navigate. Make sure you wear the right shoes, walking boots or sandals if possible.
Facilities
You’ll find toilets and a cafe in the National Trust carpark at the start and end of the walk. There are no other facilities on this route.
Make sure you join the Marvellous Midlands Walks Facebook Group where you can share your favourite routes, photos and recommendations for walks in the Midlands. It’s also a great place to ask for recommendations and find inspiration for your next hike.
if you’re local to Birmingham and looking for lovely open spaces to enjoy a hike, head to Sutton Park, just twenty minutes drive from the city centre. One of out favourites is from Bracebridge Lake.
