Victorian Tourists

Just eight miles from Birmingham city centre, the Clent Hills have attracted huge numbers of visitors since the early 19th century when they formed a picturesque back drop for Hagley Park, the fine home and estate of Lord Lyttelton. One Victorian report raised concerns about ‘midnight revelling’ and to discourage such rowdiness the park gates were locked to the public for a while. This didn’t last for long though and by the early 1900s, the hills were more popular than ever.

Horse’s Mane Woodland

As you walk through this area, you’ll pass lots of old beech ‘pollards’. These are 250 year old trees which were cut just above head height so that they sprouted a mass of branches low down, providing food for livestock. Today, they are home to insects, beetles and nesting birds.

Distance, Terrain & Accessibility

This is a gentle 1ml (1.6km) walk. A wide ‘all-ability’ path, with compacted gravel and little gradient, goes to the fantastic viewpoint of The Four Stones. It is suitable for pushchairs and most wheelchairs. The circular route returns via a steeper and slightly more uneven woodland trail.

Many paths criss-cross the National Trust’s Clent Hills estate. If you want to extend your walk and explore the area further, try taking a route off to the south west from The Four Stones, towards Adam’s Hill, for more interesting countryside and Clent village (see dotted-line on this map). Refer to an OS map to help plan where to go.

The Clent Hills

The Clent Hills have been enjoyed by day-trippers from nearby Midlands towns and cities for over 200 years. This short walk leads through woodland to the top of a hill where on a clear day the Welsh Black Mountains are visible on the horizon. Visitors in spring will see the hillside and woodland floor coloured lilac by bluebells.

The Clent Walk

1. Climb up a gentle zig-zag slope into the woodland from Nimmings café and information point. Turn right and follow an easy access path through the trees, with some fine views and resting points on the way.

2. Emerging from the woods you reach a sweeping panorama looking west towards Wenlock Edge and the Malvern Hills. Return to your start point via the ‘all-ability’ path you came on or turn left and walk up to what appears to be some prehistoric standing stones... ‘The Four Stones’ are not in fact ancient at all but were erected in the 1770s. The views from here are some of the best in the Clent Hills. To the west is the Severn Valley and the Welsh border, while to the north is Birmingham and the Black Country.

3. Skirt to the left of the clump of trees behind the standing stones and enter through a gate into Horse’s Mane Woodland. Listen out for or try to spot birds like thrush, nuthatch, perhaps even a greater-spotted woodpecker.

4. While taking care not to trip on exposed tree roots, look up through the woodland canopy and you may catch sight of buzzard circling above. Skirt left and return to the car park.

Conservation

Donkey rides and grass-toboganning were among the activities that thrilled visitors but led to quite severe erosion of the Clent grassland. At the same time local farmers grazed their sheep and cattle less and less on the hills. All this meant that if the open landscape wasn’t being churned into mud by tourists, it was being invaded by bracken and scrub. Today the National Trust is restoring acid heathland here. It is now a rare habitat throughout the UK, but a great environment for supporting birds like linnet, butterflies such as the small heath and small copper, and solitary bees.

Wildlife

Despite being close to a major city, there is a good variety of wildlife to search for in the Clent Hills. Try to spot birds like buzzard, yellowhammer, redstart and warblers. Butterflies can also be seen flitting over the grassland in summer.

Getting Here & Facilities

The Clent Hills are SW of Birmingham, not far from the M5 (Junction 4 then the A491).

Regular buses (Kidderminster-Birmingham) take you within 10mins walk of the start of the walk. Go to www.traveline.org.uk for public travel advice.

Map & start grid ref: OS Explorer 219, SO 938807.

Facilities include accessible toilets, a café, picnic spot and information point. A National Trust leaflet is available with more walk options around the Clent Hills.