Birmingham has many parks for those who want to go walking in nature, which is great way to get exercise. Research has shown that walking, even for 30 minutes, is great for mental and physical health.
From parks right in the city to those you can reach via a short ride - there are multiple options. Most of them are connected via public transport as well, for instance one of the most popular city parks is located in Moseley and the bus can drop you right at its entrance.
For those who you want to stay in the city and still enjoy the views of natural beauty, there are parks in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell. Or, if you want to head out of the city and are looking for some challenge, there are hills not too far from Birmingham.
While spring is already here the weather is still chilly and layering up on your walks will be beneficial to make it a pleasant experience. You can turn it into a fun family day as well by packing a picnic along.
Here are eight great places to go walking in and around Birmingham:
1. Cannon Hill Park, Moseley
Cannon Hill Park is the most obvious choice for a walk in the winter. It covers 250 acres consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas. | Creative Commons
2. Canalside, Birmingham
Birmingham has many canals connecting different parts of the city. Walking along the canals during spring is a pleasurable activity and there are multiple restaurants and cafes along it in the city centre. You can just pop into one if it starts raining. | Asmita Sarkar
3. Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Park is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. The park has open heathland, woodlands, seven lakes, wetlands, and marshes - which you can discover by foot or by cycling around the area. | Stephen McKay/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license
4. The Shire Country Park, near Moseley
The park is a local nature reserve and follows the River Cole Valley for four miles and crosses one of the few remaining fords in the city. It contains wetlands, grasslands, woodland and heath, which all support a wealth of animal and plant life. The park was named to honour the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien who lived within its borders as a young child. | Elliott Brown/flickr