WALKING THROUGH TIME - SELF GUIDED WALKS

You may have already seen the information panels and pyramids in Sutton Park.

These FoSPA panels and pyramids mark some of the historic assets within the Park and form 6 recommended walks.

If you'd like to learn as you explore Sutton Park click of the photo of the pyramid for each walk below.

Walk No 1: Starting from Streetly Gate

Suggested route about 2.5 miles (approx. 1.5 hours)

From Streetly Gate follow the path to the right of the panel. Turn along a path to the right into the woodland. After a short distance this path crosses the Roman road...

Walk No 2: Starting from Town Gate

Suggested route about 2.5 miles (approx. 1.5 hours)

From Town Gate walk alongside the tarmac road towards the Visitor Centre. The hollow on the right opposite the Visitor Centre was a bunker in a 19th century golf course. Turn right along the road to Keepers Pool, then go along the dam when you reach the pool...

Walk No 3: Starting from Banners Gate

Suggested route about 2.5 miles (approx. 1.5 hours)

From the car park, walk along the surfaced track alongside the wood. This is Westwood Coppice, which was planted in the 18th century and surrounded by a bank and ditch which you can see next to the track. Continue straight on beyond the corner of the wood up to the cinder track (Lord Donegal’s Ride) and turn left along it...

Walk No 4: Starting from Boldmere Gate

Suggested route about 1 mile (1 hour)

The road to Boldmere Gate (Stonehouse Road) runs alongside the large grassy dam of Powell’s Pool, which was built in 1730 and powered a watermill which made spades and later rolled steel. There were experiments in using water power to spin cotton here.

Walk straight ahead from the panel along the tarmac road to a junction of tarmac roads...

Walk No 5: Starting from Blackroot Bistro

Suggested route about 1 mile (1 hour)

From the panel walk away from the Bistro, across the car park and grass to the far end of the fence along the railway...

Walk No 6: Starting from Bracebridge Pool

Suggested route about 0.5 miles (0.5 hours)

Bracebridge Pool was built in the 15th century as a fishpond. In 1577 permission was given to build a watermill (to visit the pool walk along the tarmac road).

Walk along the path down the hill...

In July 2017 the new Archaeological Interpretation Scheme (AIS) created by FoSPA, which took over two years to complete, was launched by the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP for The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield.

The scheme was made possible by a generous bequest to FoSPA by Mr. Laurence William Loader, donations from Sutton Charitable Trust and Severn Trent Water.

Invaluable input from Dr Mike Hodder archaeologist and author, and Roger Lea historian and author, together with the Sutton Coldfield Civic Society.

It is hoped that the new panel maps and pyramid markers will help visitors understand the fascinating archaeology and history of this beautiful and diverse place Sutton Park National Nature Reserve.