Explore Black Country on foot
Twenty short walks reveal a greener and more varied Black Country than its industrial reputation suggests. Brendan Hawthorne combines canals, nature reserves, reclaimed landscapes and local history, showing how wildlife and leisure have returned to places once shaped by mines, quarries, furnaces and heavy industry.
Routes include the remarkable geology of Wren’s Nest, Smestow Valley, Saltwells Nature Reserve, Sandwell Valley, Baggeridge Country Park and Cannock Chase, together with walks beside the historic canal network at Tipton, Dudley, Bumble Hole and Galton Valley. The guide is particularly strong on the stories behind the landscape: old workings, waterways, bridges and industrial remains become points of interest rather than simply scenery passed on the way.
Each walk provides clear route directions together with mapping, photographs and practical information covering distance, gradient, difficulty, approximate walking time, parking, paths, facilities and places for refreshments.
