Managed by the National Trust, the Clent Hills are over 440 acres of woodland heath that rise up to 1000 feet, just a short distance from Birmingham city centre. With miles of footpaths, trails, and bridleways to explore, they’re an ideal destination for walkers, cyclists, and equestrians.

Getting There

The Clent Hills are located between the villages of Clent and Romsley about 10 miles southwest of Birmingham. They are signposted off the A491, southeast of Hagley, 6 miles from J4 of the M5.

There is a National Trust car park at Nimmings Wood which has a family run café and toilets. Free parking is also available at Walton Hill and Adams Hill

Public transport options include taking a train to Hagley Station, about 3 and a half miles from Clent Hills. There is also a bus stop about a 20 minute walk away from Nimmings Wood car park, on the route between Birmingham, Halesowen, Hagley and Kidderminster.

Although there is no designated cycle route to Clent Hills, there are numerous suitable pathways and trails in the surrounding hills. Cycle parking is available in Nimmings Wood car park.

About The Hills

The village Clent is noted in the Domesday Book as ‘Klinter’ which may be derived from an old Scandinavian word for cliff.

Once covered in forest, evidence of prehistoric human activity has been found with an Iron Age hillfort at Wychbury Hill. During the medieval era, the hills were used for grazing and timber production, and by the 18th century they became a popular destination for day-trippers.

The hills now consist of grassland, heathland, and woodland, and on clear days offer panoramic views of the Black Country, Worcestershire, Shropshire, the northern Cotswolds, and the Welsh Black Mountains.

Walking

With almost 40 marked trails covering a variety of landscapes, the Clent Hills offers something for walkers of all abilities.

One of the most popular routes begins from Nimmings Wood car park through the carved wooden archway. Follow the Viewpoint footpath through woodland until you come to a clearing where you’ll see a huge beech tree, thought to be at least 250 years old.

Continue up the steep path, taking in the beautiful views before arriving at the Four Stones. Although this appears to be a megalithic site, the stones were actually erected in 1763 by Lord Lyttleton of nearby Hagley Hall. He also built a castle and an obelisk in the grounds of the estate which can still be viewed today.

From here, you can follow a path back to the car park through Horses Mare Woodland where you’ll pass by old beech pollards, trees that were cut just above head height for cattle. Today the woods are home to a variety of woodland birds such as thrushes, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. Look out too for stonechats and yellowhammers on the surrounding scrubland.

Alternatively, you can take a more challenging route, descending first through Dark Pool Valley and onto the village of Clent. Pass by St Leonard’s, a pretty church with stained glass windows, and take the path behind the graveyard pausing to look across to the Malvern Hills.

Continue to climb, until you reach Walton Hill, the highest peak in the Clent Hills, which rises 1,037 feet above sea level. From here, there are sign-posted lanes that will take you back down to Nimmings Wood car park.

Throughout the year, the National Trust offer guided walks through the Clent Hills with knowledgeable volunteers sharing insights about the wildlife, landscapes, and history of the area.