We had arrived in Sutton Coldfield on the Saturday following a walk around Shugborough Estate. On the Sunday we went for a long run along the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. When we got back we were too tired to do anything else that day except eat! Thus the next place for us to visit was after we had left Ramada Sutton Coldfield when we went to Sutton Park.

Sutton Park is a national nature reserve and one of the largest urban parks in Europe and the walk took us around its perimeter. It began at the Visitor Centre and first took us past Keeper’s Pool.

Then through the trees to Blackroot Pool.

  

We took an early break at the Boathouse Restaurant, thankfully arriving just before it closed for the afternoon.

Feeling refreshed we continued our walk up through Gum Slade.

We arced left across the top of the park and past the top end of Bracebridge Pool.

Through Rotary Coppice and the golf course.

And Westwood Coppice.

Until we came to Banners Gate where we turned again to walk past Longmoor Pool.

Then close to Powell’s Pool and through Wyndley Wood.

Finally we arrived back at the Visitor Centre. Apparently there are Exmoor Ponies wandering freely around Sutton Park, indeed we had a chat with a local resident who informed us to this effect. Sadly they were wandering in other areas of the park on this day. Never mind …perhaps next time.

We covered over 8 miles on this walk and after a weekend with plenty of running and walking our feet (and our bodies) were now ready for the journey home.