Five Birmingham Walking Trails Get Official Distance and Difficulty Ratings

Birmingham City Council published its updated trail ratings on July 8, 2026, listing five main walking routes with measured distances from 1.8 miles to 8.4 miles and difficulty levels from easy to strenuous.

Warmer July weather has drawn more residents outdoors for daily exercise, and the new ratings give clear options for people who want to match routes to their fitness level without paying gym fees.

Shorter routes near central neighbourhoods

Cannon Hill Park on Pershore Road offers the 1.8-mile lake circuit rated easy, with mostly flat paths suitable for beginners. The route starts at the main gate opposite Edgbaston Road and loops past the boating lake and wildlife area before returning to the same entrance. Further out in Sutton Coldfield, the 3.5-mile Blackroot Pool path inside Sutton Park runs from the Boldmere Gate off Lichfield Road and stays on gravel tracks with gentle slopes, also marked easy.

The council added signposts and QR codes at both sites in spring 2025 so walkers can scan for live distance and elevation data on their phones.

Longer and steeper options further afield

For more challenge, the 5.6-mile Lickey Hills loop starting at the visitor centre on Lickey Road in Rednal climbs 400 feet to the Beacon and is rated moderate. The 8.4-mile figure-eight route through Sutton Park from the Streetly Gate off Thornhill Road includes steeper sections around the old golf course and earns a strenuous label.

Council visitor logs from June 2026 recorded 92,400 entries at these four gates combined, a 19 percent rise from June 2025. Entry remains free, though on-site parking costs £2.50 for up to four hours at the Lickey Hills and Sutton Park car parks.

Walkers can pick up printed maps at the Sutton Park visitor centre or download the council app before heading out. Anyone starting a new routine should check with their GP first, especially on routes longer than four miles.