Clowes Wood Nature Reserve - Solihull

Barry J. D.

This was a lovely walk around a lake, with good bird life, plenty of fish topping and leaping, and there must be a Heronery near as we saw about 20 fly into the lake, plenty of butterflies on the wing, a few information boards would be useful and some road signs, the map was a bit faded, a few more benches would be nice to sit and watch the wildlife, overall it was a great visit.

Kate T.

This expansive woodland is a real hidden gem, much larger than you'd expect, and teeming with wildlife, especially birds. The paths are easy to follow, though they can be a bit uneven, so they may not be suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. However, for those who can walk, it’s the perfect spot to unwind, escape the hustle and bustle, and reconnect with nature. A truly peaceful retreat

Helen P.

I've been visiting Clowes Wood for some years now, to walk my dog. It's quite safe to let dogs off the lead so long as you are aware, there is a railway at the top end. It's an extremely pretty and ancient wood, situated a little way from Earlswood Lakes. With an abundance of wildlife, birds, streams, and meandering paths, it's easy to get lost if you don't keep to the designated pathways. There are several routes you can walk, some are short, about a mile or so and some more like three miles. There are few sitting down places unless you sit on a fallen tree, so it would be a challenge for anyone with a bad back. It isn't wheelchair friendly in any part of the wood and on a lovely day, parking can also be tricky. To get to the car park, drive past Manor Farm (the lane opposite The Red Lion pub in Earlswood) all the way to the last house on the left and it's a sharp left turn into the car park. In the autumn and winter it can get very wet and boggy so wear wellies. Children will love it, it's a magical place for children and the wood is so big, you won't bump into too many people. Afterwards you can drive back down the lane to the tea rooms at Manor Farm and have a nice hot cuppa! One last thing, if you are old enough to remember the Blair Witch Project, this primarily Beech Wood can be reminiscent of the movie....... 🙂

Mia M.

Such a wonderful sense of serenity within the woods.
Caught the bluebells on their way 'out'

Paul T.

Great place to take the dog on a hot sunny day. Lots of shade about.

WA H.

One of our favorite family walks. Lots of different routes to learn and explore. Lota of dens and logs for kids to enjoy. Plenty of room to not bump into people too frequently which with a nervous dog is a must for us. There are plenty of places to dive if your dog is excitable or nervous around other people or dogs too.

Marie M. (.

Not accessible for Rollers unless you have off road equipment.

Happily I have off road tyres for my wheelchair and a Triride capable of up to 20mph on bike trails and roads.

I enjoyed a whizz around on muddy trails but didn't use any facilities so I'm unable to comment further.

Wobbly wanderers would enjoy this compact site though ability would determine how far they can explore.

Harsha A.

One of our favourite place to walk our dog. It’s an ancient woods which is nice all round the year. It can get wet and boggy during the wet season.