wellness
Birmingham's Top Walking Trails Rated by Distance and Difficulty
City parks offer graded routes from flat loops near the city centre to steeper paths on the northern edge.
How we reported this
Birmingham City Council released updated trail ratings this week for five main parks, sorting paths by distance and incline to help residents pick routes that match their fitness goals.
The ratings arrive as more locals seek outdoor exercise amid rising summer temperatures and ongoing wellness programmes run through neighbourhood centres. Parks teams recorded a 12 per cent increase in footfall on marked trails between April and June compared with the same period last year, according to council visitor counters.
Routes in central and northern parks
Cannon Hill Park on Pershore Road provides the shortest option, a 1.8-mile flat circuit around the boating lake and arboretum that takes most walkers under 40 minutes. The path stays paved and level, making it suitable for beginners or anyone recovering from injury. Further north, Sutton Park near Streetly offers three graded loops: a 2.4-mile lakeside track rated easy, a 4.1-mile mixed-terrain route through Long Meadow rated moderate, and a 6.7-mile circuit that climbs the park's central ridge and is classed difficult.
Highbury Park in Moseley adds a 3.2-mile option that combines woodland and open fields, rated moderate because of several short but steep sections near the former Highbury Hall grounds. Both Cannon Hill and Sutton Park fall under the council's Active Parks scheme, which supplies free printed maps at visitor centres and runs monthly guided walks on the first Saturday of each month.
Numbers behind the ratings
Sutton Park covers 2,400 acres, the largest urban park in the country, and its longest trail was last surveyed and signposted in March 2025. Parking at the Streetly entrance costs £2 for up to four hours, while Cannon Hill remains free. A council report from May showed that 47,000 residents logged at least one trail visit through the Active Parks app during the previous 12 months.
Walkers planning to try the routes can download the latest maps from the Birmingham City Council website or collect paper copies at the Sutton Park visitor centre on Park Road. Those new to the longer distances are advised to start with the moderate loops and carry water, especially on days when temperatures exceed 22 degrees.