By bus: From Corporation Street, Birmingham catch No. 65 ‘bus to Streetly Road near to Short Heath Road. The starting point is near to the bus stop.

By car: Post cade B23 7AL. From Birmingham take the A38(M) following the signs to the A5127. At the first roundabout take the first left (A4040). Follow this road to the first traffic light controlled junction. Turn right into Streetly Road. The starting point is on the left.

Route developed by: Ann Griffiths & Chris Wingrove

[1]  Turn right out of the centre and walk along Streetly Road. After a short distance turn right off Streetly Road onto the paved path on the green space. Keep the stream on your right. Walk along it until you come to Bleak Hill Road, which you cross over.

[2] Continue opposite onto the grassy area, taking a stretch of gravel path (about 200 yards), which should be manageable by wheelchair/pushchair users. You soon join the metalled path where you bear left, continuing more or less in the same direction. On your right you’ll see the smaller of the Witton Lakes(A), with lots of water birds such as mallards, moorhens, coots and swans.

These lakes were originally reservoirs containing drinking water for Birmingham. They were created in the early nineteenth century in what was then countryside. While the water was fairly clean when the reservoirs were built, it became increasingly polluted and the lakes were superseded by the supply from the reservoir in Elan Valley in central Wales (constructed between 1893 and 1904). The Witton lakes are fed by two natural brooks one of which rises at Bleak Hill. They are now a leisure amenity and are used for nature conservation and for model boating; the path around them is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists.

[3] Continue along the tarmac path, keeping the lake on your right. You’ll soon come to the end of the first lake. Continue to walk in the same direction, passing the second lake. At its end, turn right so the lake is always on your right and turn right again so you’re opposite the bank where you came in.

[4] When you come to the path between the two lakes, turn right onto it

It is possible to continue on this side of the lake, without taking the path between the lakes. This does mean encountering about 100 yards of path that could prove difficult for wheelchairs and buggies before rejoining the metalled path and coming out in Perry Common Road and continuing as from point [6].

At the T-junction turn left and for a short while follow your outward route.

[5] Ignore the gravel path you came in on and continue on the metalled path, going past a wood on your left. At its end you’ll cross over a stream. Continue on this metalled path until you come out on the main road, Perry Common Road.

[6] Turn right into Perry Common Road and cross Bleak Hill Road. After a short distance turn right into Streetly Road to return to the centre.