Are you seeking inspiration for great dog walking areas in Kidderminster, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire and the West Midlands? You’re spoilt for choice! From short strolls to lengthy rambles, there’s something for everyone.
Are you unsure about letting your dog off the lead? Don’t worry! The Confident K9 can provide assistance. Join our intensive recall training sessions in Kidderminster to teach your dog how to come back when called, and to allow them to enjoy walks more safely and confidently.
As dog owners, we tend to have our go-to favourite dog-walking spots in Kidderminster, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire and West Midlands. Use this list to expand your horizons and try some new routes today.
Dog walks in Worcestershire.
Here is a list of dog walks within easy reach of Kidderminster that will inspire you to explore.
Clent Hills, Worcestershire
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clent-hills
There are many designated off-lead areas where your dog can run free, but the National Trust kindly request that you keep them under close supervision and control at all times. It’s important to be mindful of other dog walkers, horse riders, cyclists, and visitors to the hills, and to be considerate of their presence.
The café at Nimmings Wood car park is a family-run business that welcomes dogs, providing water bowls and a variety of delicious treats for purchase.
Keeping control of your dog
The National Trust’s definition of close or effective control is:
- Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
- Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
- Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
- Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one
Remember, if you are not yet confident about letting your dog off the lead, contact a local dog trainer to help you.
Habberley Valley Nature Reserve, Worcestershire
This nature reserve is around 27.5 hectares (68 acres) located between Kidderminster and Bewdley. A popular walk is the circular walk which is around 2.8 miles through heath, woodland, pasture with stunning views, a bubbling brook and ancient rock houses along the way.
Worcester Woods, Worcestershire
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/directory_record/3312/worcester_woods_country_park
Springfield Park, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
https://friendsofspringfieldpark.weebly.com/history-of-the-park.html
Springfield Park has around 17 hectares which is owned and maintained by Wyre Forest District council and lies adjacent to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. . A community cafe was opened as a collaborative project between Wyre Forest Special School and the Friends of Springfield Park.
Blossom Tree Cafe in Springfield Park was opened by Kidderminster Mayor, Councillor Mary Rayner, and will be open term time only, on Tuesday and Wednesday between 9.30am and 11.30am, and Thursday between 12.30pm and 2pm.
Facilities and Attractions in Springfield Park
• Car parking
• Blossom Tree Community Cafe
• Disabled access toilets
• Enclosed Children’s Play Area
• Teenage Area
• Multi-Activity Play Area
• Football Pitches
• Picnic Area
• Large ornamental pool with fishing rights for local residents
• Old, preserved factory chimney at the side of the pool
• A fitness trail
• Wood carving trail
• Large open space for all types of activities
• Football pitches with changing rooms
Wood Carving Trail, Springfield Park
https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/parks-and-green-spaces/parks/springfield-park-kidderminster/
Spennells Valley Nature Reserve, Kidderminster
https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/countryside-and-nature/nature-reserves/spennells-valley-local-nature-reserve/
Brinton Park, Kidderminster
https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/parks-and-green-spaces/parks/brinton-park-kidderminster/
Brinton Park is a large park of 12.067 hectares near the centre of Kidderminster. A £2.4 million Heritage Lottery Grant has been awarded to the council for an ambitious project in Brinton Park. It aims to reinstate the heritage aspects of the park and improve its use with new facilities and activities.
The Richard Eve memorial and the bandstand in Brinton Park, Kidderminster (photo from Birmingham Live)
The main entrance to the park is from Sutton Road. Other entrances can be found at Park Lane and Stourport Road/Park Lane. Nearest postcode for main entrance DY11 6QT.
Stanklyn Lane to Spennells, Kidderminster
https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/stanklyn-wood-wyre-forest
A lovely walk through fields to the south of Kidderminster. A patchwork of short footpaths takes you around the edge of Spennells, a suburb of Kidderminster located to the east of the A449.
Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve, Worcestershire
https://www.forestryengland.uk/wyre-forest
Trimpley Reservoir, Eymore Wood, Bewdley, DY12 1PJ
https://www.stwater.co.uk/our-visitor-sites/trimpley-reservoir/
A lovely walk around the reservoirs, down to the river and across the Severn Valley Railway line.
Bodenham Arboretum
https://www.bodenhamarboretum.co.uk
Bodenham is situated in a protected valley, away from traffic noise and visual intrusions. Its 170 acres contain mature woodland, specimen trees and shrubs – over 3000 species in total which include important collections such as Acers, North American Oaks and Alders, and two chains of pools and lakes, integrated within a working farm.
The plantings and water, combined, cover 54 acres. And visitors can explore over 5 miles of wonderful woodland walks.
Hurcott Pool and Woods
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/hurcott-wood/
The reserve is approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) in size and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its wetland habitats, in particular, the wet woodland.
Chaddesley Woods National Nature Reserve
https://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/nature-reserves/chaddesley-woods
The nature reserve is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Its area is 101 hectares (250 acres), and there is a network of paths and rides, mainly on the western side.
The eastern half of the reserve is ancient woodland, being at least 400 years old; it is thought that it has been wooded since the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. There is mostly oak with coppices of hazel. Some old and dead oak trees are left for hole-nesting birds, fungi and invertebrates.
Severn Valley County Park
http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/site/severn-valley-country-park/
In the peaceful, scenic valley of the River Severn, the Severn Valley Country Park offers over 51 hectares of beautiful countryside and wonderful views.
Hartlebury Common
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/directory_record/3319/hartlebury_common_and_hillditch_pool_and_coppice
An area of lowland heath in north Worcestershire, England, situated just outside the town of Stourport-on-Severn. Hartlebury Common and Hillditch Coppice are a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest which covers an area of 90.2 hectares(229 acres).
Rifle Range Nature Reserve
https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/countryside-and-nature/nature-reserves/rifle-range-site-of-special-scientific-interest/
An area of approximately 43 hectares (106 acres). It is designated by Natural England as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its high quality lowland heath habitat, which is composed of a mosaic of heather, wavy hair grass, bare sandy low nutrient soil, interspersed with areas of gorse, broom and silver birch scrub.
The Devil’s Spittleful and Blackstone Farm
https://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/nature-reserves/devils-spittleful-and-blackstone-farm-fields
Adjacent to the West Midland Safari Park at Bewdley, and to the south-east, are these two continuous nature reserves, maintained by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Wyre Forest District Council respectively.
The area contains a combination of lowland heath, grassland, scrub and some woodland. Three adjacent fields acquired from Blackstone Farm in 2007 are gradually being restored to heath status. Some public footpaths and bridleways do cross the reserves, but there are many more tracks open for exploration.
The Devil’s Spittleful is a rocky sandstone knoll with a cave, and several mature Scots Pine trees.
Burlish Top Nature Reserve
https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/countryside-and-nature/nature-reserves/burlish-top-local-nature-reserve/
An important area of lowland heath, Burlish Top Nature Reserve is 86 acres (35 ha) and a lovely place to ramble around. Grassland, oak and birch scrub provide a vital habitat for insects, reptiles and rare plants. If you look closely, you’ll see concrete roads and the odd building foundation here, remnants from the reserve’s former occupation as an American army camp during the Second World War.
Arley Common (Locally known as The Snipes), Stourport-on-Severn
The site, locally known as the Snipes was an unallocated Greenfield site which predominately falls outside of the settlement boundary of Stourport-on Severn.
Dog Walks in West Midlands.
Saltwells Local Nature Reserve
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/environment/countryside-in-dudley/nature-reserves/saltwells-local-nature-reserve/
Saltwells National Nature Reserve is the UK’s most recent geological national treasure, designated in 2020. It is one of the largest urban nature reserves in the UK covering 247 acres (100 Hectares) and it’s now a beautiful woodland that is a great place to relax or explore, that is packed with wildlife and industrial heritage to discover. It contains three geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Cotwall End Nature Reserve
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/nature-reserves/cotwall-end-local-nature-reserve/
The reserve, area 56.04 hectares (138.5 acres), contains grassland, woodland including ancient woodland, and lowland heath.
Buckpool, Fens Pool And Burrow Hill Nature Reserves
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/nature-reserves/buckpool-fens-pools-and-barrow-hill-nature-reserves/
A network of local Nature Reserves within Pensnett and Gornal that exhibit a diverse range of habitat to support wildlife. The reserve contains 4 large irregularly shaped pools. Three of these pools: Fens Pool, Middle Pool and Grove Pool are grouped together in the north eastern part of the reserve.
The Leasowes
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/environment/countryside/nature-reserves/leasowes-park-/
Set in 154 acres, the Leasowes presents a mix of mature woodland and meadows. The Leasowes has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is also a site within the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark.
Himley Hall and Park
https://www.himleyhallandpark.co.uk
Himley Hall is a commanding 18th Century building set amongst 180 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland. Once the family home to the Earls of Dudley and host to royalty and high society.
Dog Walks in Shropshire.
The Clee Hill and the Corvedale
The Clee Hills and the Corvedale
Shropshire Hills AONB
https://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk
Dog Walks in Staffordshire.
Highgate Common
https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/nature-reserves/highgate-common
Enville and the Sheepwalks
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/staffordshire/enville-and-the-sheepwalks
Baggeridge Country Park
https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/baggeridge-country-park.cfm
Bunkers Hill
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/bunkers-hill/
Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kinver-edge-and-the-rock-houses
Private, Secure Dog Fields to Hire Near Kidderminster.
Not ready to let your dog off the lead? Why not practice your recall at one of the local secure dog fields. The Confident K9 have compiled an easy-to-use list of dog-walking fields in Worcestershire and the West Midlands, which are located within easy reach of Kidderminster. Take a look at the local secure dog walking fields. Don’t let your dog miss out on their off-lead walks, and seek the help of a local dog trainer.
The National Trust Dog-friendly Places in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
For further information on National Trust walks take a look at these top places in Worcestershire and Herefordshire to visit with your dog.
Do you have a favourite dog walking route in Kidderminster, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire and West Midlands?
Contact us with the details, and we can add it to our list of dog-friendly walks in Worcestershire.
Happy walking!
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