Leasowes Park, an Autumn Woodland Walk between Birmingham & Halesowen

Another random discovery for a pleasant walk on the outskirts of Birmingham. I spotted it during a refreshment break on my Netherton Tunnel Adventure. It was on the bus route home, so it was very convenient to hop off the bus to explore, then hop back on a later bus.

Getting to Leasowes Park via public transport is pretty simple using the X10 or Platinum 9 bus routes from Colmore Row. The bus journey typically takes between 30 and 40 minutes.

After some research about the area, I missed plenty on my walk, including some historical buildings and interesting history. Including a visit from former Presidents Adams and Jefferson.

Leasowes Park in Halesowen

The Leasowes Park is a 141-acre estate in Halesowen, west of Birmingham. The estate consists of some old buildings, a golf course and a garden; it is a fantastic place for a nature walk or dog walk. They classify the parkland as listed Grade I on English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens.

The poet William Shenstone designed the Leasowes estate and gardens between 1743 and 1763. The site is one of the most important landscapes of the 18th century. It was one of the first naturally landscaped gardens in England.

It has a very diverse landscape of wooded valleys, open grasslands, lakes and streams, all created by Shenstone. These natural features make this site so important for local wildlife. They have managed this site with nature in mind since the mid-18th century and have provided a wealth of habitats for birds, mammals, invertebrates, and rare plant species.

My Walk in the Woods

I thoroughly enjoyed the dog walk in the small part of the park that I visited. These are some parts I came across. On this hike, I wandered pretty aimlessly, taking photos and relying on my sense of direction. The sun also helped to keep my bearings rather than checking a map app.

I initially started at the bus stop, near the B&Q superstore. Then crossed the main road to head down Sylvan Green. This took me past some houses, then swiftly into the countryside.

I included the approximate route I took on the Komoot map below, up until I went off the main tracks.

Memorial Orchard

On the left of the lane was a gated field labelled the Memorial Orchard. They planted the orchard to provide a great habitat for wildlife. Trees in the orchard include apple, pear, cherry and plum trees, to name a few. The orchard is a haven of wildlife, and woodpeckers, nuthatches, treecreepers and starlings benefit from it. Many wildflowers flourish here, including the common orchid.

Bats and many rodents, including voles and field mice, benefit from this area too. It is a nice place to sit and reflect.

Meadows & Views

Turning right at the end of the first lane brings you to a meadow with some stunning views of the woodland. A great place for exercising dogs. It even has a bench to admire the view and a bin for canine waste. The autumn colours really made the views special here, with greens, yellows and reds poking through.

At the end of the field is the Leasowes Car Park and a children’s play area. Visitors arriving by car can park here to explore the area.

Lapal Canal

To the east of the site is the Lapal Canal, which is currently being restored. This canal joins the Dudley No. 2 Canal, going via the Netherton Tunnel area if you head north from here. This is a beautiful stretch to walk along, with lots of wildlife to observe in the water and reeds.

The canal has remnants of a narrow-gauge railway line alongside the footpath; I bet it was fun when it was operational. There are information boards about the canal’s history and restoration projects to read.

Walking here is level and close to the car park, so it is a pleasant stroll for less able people to enjoy some beautiful scenery. The short section of the Lapal Canal overlooks Leasowes Park and has some splendid views. There is also a picnic table and benches where you can sit and enjoy views of the lake below.

In spring, the views of the woods and lake are excellent, and there’s lots of wildlife to see. However, in the autumn the colours of the trees are well worth the visit, as are most areas of woodland as the trees change colour. The canal path is also a splendid spot for watching the sun during golden hour as it sets.

Breaches Pool

Not far along the canal towpath is Breaches Pool in a valley below. The views from the top are beautiful. Trees surround the pool, some green and some turning autumnal. To reach Breaches Pool, there is a narrow path with a wooden fence to keep you safe. This is not overly challenging, although it may be trickier after the rain.

The pools were stunning from above and were equally nice from ground level. They were home to a few breeds of wildfowl, including mallards and coots. I followed the path round anti-clockwise and then walked some nice woodland trails rather than the meadow to the left.

This led me to a smaller pond after crossing a few streams and passing a few other dog walkers.

Leasowe Walled Garden

These woodland trails led me to Leasowe Walled Garden. I was clueless about what this was, but it sounded interesting. Sadly, the attraction was closed on arrival but looked interesting and was earmarked for a future visit. The walled garden is not open to the public much; I will research when it is open, as it looks fascinating.

The Golf Course

Heading away from the walled garden, I happened upon the golf course. It looked like a well-maintained course. There were many people playing on the course, so I headed back into the woods, via smaller trails, and tried to get lost.

Getting Lost in the Woods

I have zero idea of the route I took through the next section of the woods in terms of my position on the map. The trails were small, and very few people were about for the first half. I would have done some wildlife spotting if alone, but the dog seems to scare off any encounters.

This part had many streams running through it, including some small waterfalls. I knew I was heading in the right direction, but was unsure where I would end up on the main road. The brown leaf-covered floors with small wooden bridges here were nice, so I just enjoyed them. The dog loves running through fallen leaves too, so it’s a treat for him. As a bonus, he enjoyed drinking stream water, as he often does.

Further up the stream, there were some stone bridges crossing it, one with a waterfall coming out of the side. People were here, so now I was close to somewhere; I expected we were near the start.

Birdwatching

The park is also a great place to spot wildlife or do some birdwatching. They have some handy signs up to let you know about the resident birds. Many of these can be seen in the forest or swimming on the lake.

Bird species in Leasowes Park include.

• Kingfishers
• Great Crested Grebe
• Mute Swan
• Moorhen
• Coot
• Canada Goose
• Grey Heron
• Grey Wagtail
• Mallard

Sunset

Walking around Leasowes offers some lovely views in the late sun. It’s one of many great sunset spots in the West Midlands. The higher ground in late autumn really impressed me during the sunset.

Homeward Bound

Indeed, we were after finding the first meadow, a familiar welcome sight. Then walked back to the road to catch the X10 bus back to Birmingham.

If you enjoy walking, Birmingham has many walking routes to try out.