Route Checker: Ann Grifiths

Start: Bournville Chocolate Factory, Bournville, Birmingham.

[1]  From the Cadbury factory exit on Main Street South, turn right along Bournville Lane to the crossroads with Linden Road, where you turn right.  Follow the road down the hill, passing the Bournville Recreation Ground and the entrance to Cadbury World, both on your right.  Just before Sycamore Road you will see the Bournville Parish Church of St Francis.  Turn right into Sycamore Road and you are in the heart of Bournville Village.  Notice the Rest House (A) on the hill to your left, with a blue plaque to George Cadbury.  Walk along Sycamore Road, cross over Maple Road and turn left into it. Note (B) Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves on your right. About half-way up the hill, take the path on the right that runs along Stock’s Wood (a remaining portion of the Forest of Arden). Follow this path alongside the wood until you come out in Acacia Road, where you turn right.

(A) The Rest House was built by Cadbury workers for George and Elizabeth Cadbury’s 25th wedding anniversary.

(B) Selly Manor is a 14th century manor house, which George Cadbury moved here from its original site to save it from demolition. The 750 year old Minworth Greaves was also moved to Willow Road from the Sutton Coldfield area, by Laurence Cadbury in 1932. It is a medieval manor house.

[2]  At the end of Acacia Road, turn left into Willow Road and walk to its junction with Raddlebarn Road.  Turn right along Raddlebarn Road, with the old Selly Oak Hospital site on the opposite side of the road.

[3] Cross Elm Road, then the road bridge over the railway, over Umberslade Road and Gristhorpe Road.  When you reach  Warwards Lane turn right and continue all the way down to the bottom of the hill.

For a shorter route, turn right down Elm Road. At the crossroads at the bottom, turn right into Laburnum Road and walk along to rejoin Sycamore Road.  At Linden Road turn left and then left again into the entrance for Cadbury World.  Follow the pedestrian path round until you reach a zebra crossing. Cross over and enter the factory grounds.  Follow the path round past the car park and alongside the factory, until you pass the Bournville Recreation Ground on your right.  Take the ramp or the steps up onto Bournville Lane.  Turn left and walk back to your start point at the factory exit.

[4] Turn right into Ribblesdale Road.  Keep walking across Cherington Road, Gristhorpe Road and the roundabout at Umberslade Road. Continue straight over and turn left into Bond Street. Turn right into Oxford Street and follow to the T junction with Bournville Lane (Note: The right-hand pavement ends half-way along this road, so cross to the opposite side in good time).  Turn right.  Passing under the railway bridge, return to your starting point at the factory exit.