Route developed by: Patricia Hetherington

Starting from South Birmingham College, Hall Green Branch, Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8ES

[1] Leaving the college, turn left onto Cole Bank Road and take the next left into Southam Road. Walk down the hill and turn left onto Sarehole Road. Keep to the left and cross the road when you reach the No. 5 bus stop, before continuing on to the roundabout.

[2] At the roundabout turn right onto Robin Hood Lane which becomes Brook Lane. After a short distance, again on your right, you will see the entrance to a walkway. Turn onto this path and follow the River Cole, which will be on your right.

This walkway is called the John Morris Jones Walkway (A) after a school teacher who had a passion for local history. It is part of the Cole Valley walk which continues on the other side of Brook Lane, along Coleside Avenue to Trittiford Mill Park. The walkway is quite overgrown and is rough and muddy in places but the area includes a variety of trees and is home to kingfishers, wrens and dunnocks.

[3] Continue past the playing fields to your left, until you reach some wooden gates that lead back onto Cole Bank Road. Using the pedestrian crossing opposite Sarehole Mill Museum (B), cross the road and walk through the car park to your right.

The mill is open from April to October, Tuesday to Sunday from 12-4pm. It is closed on Mondays, except for Bank Holidays. The park ranger’s office is beside the mill entrance on the left and staff can provide access to toilet facilities. Some seating is available here and there is a notice board showing information on the Cole Valley area.

[4] Continue past the mill, on your left, to a wooden footbridge. Cross the footbridge and follow the path, with the river on your right, past the recreation ground to the ford at Green Road.

For a shorter walk you can turn back here to Sarehole Mill, returning along the recreation ground and back through the car park, to turn left onto Cole Bank Road and walk back to the college.

[5] Cross the ford and turn right onto Green Road. Continue over Sarehole Road and take the next turning right down Southam Road, keeping to the left, back to Cole Bank Road. Turn left and cross Cole Bank Road to return to the college entrance.