[1] From the Station, take the exit over the footbridge to Fiery Hill Road. Cross over the road, turn left and then almost immediately, take the tree lines footpath to the left of Cherry Hill Drive. When this track emerges onto Cherry Hill Road, cross over a slightly staggered left and continue past a Country Park sign into Pinfield Wood.
(A) Pinfields Wood is an area of ancient woodland with a wide variety of trees and wild flowers.
Once inside the woods, continue on the main track to a fork in the main track - with a seat placed in the fork. At this point take the left-hand path which heads slightly uphill. You should soon reach a waymarked public footpath crossing the track at a point where there is open ground to your left. From the tracks ahead of you take the one running along the edge of the open ground, which you keep on your left. The Country Park has waymarked this path as part of the Woodpecker Trail.
At the far corner of the open ground take a good path continuing in your previous direction. You are changing from the Woodpecker Trail to the Bluebell Trail. Continue along the Bluebell Trail until you come up to a T junction with another major path. There is a seat by the junction facing back the way you have come. Cross over the main path and take a small track to the left of the seat heading in roughly your previous direction. This track becomes intermittent in open woodland but by heading for the houses you should now see ahead, you will strike a more substantial path running parallel to Twatling Road. Follow this path north until the Lych Gate is visible or a Woodpecker Trail waymark points the way out onto Twatling Road, cross over the road here.
[2] At the Lych Gate entrance to burial ground, go through the gate and walk up the path alongside the burial ground to reach a gate at the far end opening on to Old Birmingham Road. Cross the road and walk left for 50m to find a gate in the hedge to your right. Go through the gate and follow a track through trees to reach the monument.
(B) The monument is a giant obelisk, now largely hidden by trees, dedicated to the Sixth Earl of Plymouth, a distinguished local landowner.
Go round the monument to the corner of its enclosure opposite to the direction from which you came. Follow a small path that leads into the trees at this point and look out for a Woodpecker Trail waymark pointing right to take you out to Monument Lane. Walk left along Monument Lane, disregarding a footpath on your right (marked Judith's Way).
Go through the gate into woodland opposite 49 Monument Lane. Take a small path heading roughly north which then runs parallel to Monument Lane along the top of a slope.
Turn right when you meet a wider path at a junction with a partially bricked surface. Then turn left onto a slightly rising path crossing over a three plank bridge after 20 metres and up some rough steps. At the top of the steps go ahead on a straight track heading roughly north-west which brings you to open grassland. Continue on to the Miniature Castle.
(C) The Castle marks the highest point on the Lickey Hills and contains a toposcope. There are good views in most directions. The views towards the Malverns and (on a clear day) the Welsh hills are perhaps best seen from the nearby car park.
[3] From the Castle walk west along the top of the slope to find a clear path descending the slope through trees. This path is roughly parallel to Beacon Hill Road but does not join it. At the bottom of the hill turn right along a private road which is also a public footpath. Pass a farmhouse and cottage and join the golf course. The path now follows the left-hand edge of the fairway.
You will now pass various tracks leading through the bushes to your left. These can be disregarded until you reach a point, behind one of the holes on the golf course, where the fairway enters a cul-de-sac. Here the simplest option is to take a path through to Rednal Hill Lane / Eachway Lane, follow the road to the right for 50 metres and re-enter the country park where the road bends to the left.
Continue along the left of the fairway to a point behind the 14th tee where a path leads through to a Tarmac track below Rednal Hill.
[4] Turn left here and after 40 metres take a path on the right which climbs the hillside above an old quarry.
(D) The hill top offers an excellent view towards the centre of Birmingham. It also provides one of the best examples of lowland heath in the Lickeys. This is a now rare type of habitat, characterised by heather and bilberry, which once covered much of the built up area.
Follow an obvious path south along the ridge. This path becomes a public footpath and you can follow the waymarks as the path turns left, descends a slope and then swings right to emerge on Rose Hill Road, opposite the Bilberry Hill Centre. Cross the road with care. Walk to the right past the Bilberry Hill Centre and on to the bus stop. Take a track to the left, over a small stream and into the woods. The track leads to the bottom of some rough steps. Go up the steps and turn left at the top.
You now follow a well made path along the ridge of Bilberry Hill. Various waymarks are evident - your route follows the Champions Trail.
You may feel the name of this trail is a fair reflection of your achievements in climbing the last couple of hills, but it is actually a trail to explore the local geology.
(E) There are extensive views to the east along the hill top path. For instance the cement works at Rugby can be made out on the horizon.
[5] On reaching the car park near Lickey Hills visitor centre, follow the Champions Trail onto a path going downhill from the eastern end of the car park (Note if you start from Lickey Hills Vistor Centre this is the far end of the car park). This section is part of the North Worcestershire Path and you can follow the pine cone waymarks. Look out for the point where the route turns left, down some rough steps to reach and cross over Barnt Green Road. Your view is restricted so care is needed crossing the road. Take the waymarked public footpath down a tarmac drive opposite. Continue on to an obvious path along the edge of two fields.
At this point you have a view south towards Bredon Hill.
The path will shortly cross a tarmac track (The Stocken). From here you can see your route descending a slope and then turning right along a hedge line to reach Cofton Church Lane. Turn left along Church Lane and enter the churchyard through the car park on your right.
(F) Cofton Hackett Church is a grade II* listed building dating from the 14th century.
Follow a track to the right of the church, which will eventually lead back to the lane through a gate and down a flight of steps. Walk under the railway bridge and continue to a road junction
[6] At the junction, take the private road right to Barnt Green Sailing Club, which is marked by public bridleway waymarks as well as forbidding red notices aimed at motorists. At this point you part company with the North Worcestershire Path.
The small stream to your right is the infant River Arrow.
At the entrance to the sailing club continue straight on along a track marked No Exit. Go through the next gate on your left, which is signed as a public bridleway. Here a path takes you up onto the dam of the Upper Bittell Reservoir.
(G) The Bittell Reservoirs regulate the water supply to the Worcester and Birmingham canal and the River Arrow. The upper reservoir was a late addition, constructed in 1837 when the canal system was already in decline. Together the reservoirs form the largest area of open water in Worcestershire and provide an important location for waterfowl.
Walk along the top of the dam and at the far end take the waymarked footpath through a gate on the right which leads to Bittell Farm Road.
[7] Cross the road and then follow the waymarked footpath to the left of the farm entrance. This takes you through a hard surfaced area often used for storing vehicles. Turn right in front of a large barn and then left to join a track leading to a canal bridge. On the far side of the bridge take a path to your left leading to the canal towpath which you follow under the bridge you have just crossed and then continue onwards past the Lower Bittell Reservoir.
As you cross the embankment you can look down on the River Arrow to your left.
Continue on to where the canal crosses a small aqueduct and then runs under the M42. Part of the canal here was diverted when the motorway was constructed.
[8] When the path reaches Canal bridge 61, go under the bridge to find a path taking you up onto the road. Over the bridge you enter the hamlet of Withybed Green and pass the local pub, the Crown. Continue straight on and although the tarmac soon runs out your route carries on as a signposted footpath. Follow the footpath uphill through fields to reach Foxhill Lane. Turn right and walk along Foxhill Lane to the junction with Coopers Hill, which you should cross here.
[9] Your route straight ahead follows the waymarked public footpath over a stile and alongside a hedge.
(H) There are views of the Malverns and the Abberley Hills to the west. Looking ahead, past the motorway bridge, you may gain a rare view of the Monument.
Cross the footbridge over the M42 and continue down a slope keeping a hedgerow on your left. The path emerges onto Blackwell Road in Barnt Green. Cross the road and turn right. Take the first turning on the left and walk up Hewell Lane, just before the railway bridge. Look out for an entrance to Barnt Green station on the right, just before the road narrows to cross a second railway bridge.
If you have chosen a different starting point for the walk you can avoid going through the railway station by continuing on Hewell Lane and turning right onto Fiery Hill Road.