Beacon Way
Sandwell Park Farm, West Bromwich to Gentleshaw
40km/25 miles EASY
Signed
A route through the "green wedge" to the north of Birmingham from Cannock Chase to the Sandwell Valley via canals, community woodlands and country park, visiting woodlands, heathlands, agricultural land and lakesides. This area, now part of the Forest of Mercia, was formerly known as Beacon Regional Park, named after the 227m summit at Barr Beacon where beacon fires were once lit.
This is largely a rural, off-road
route using many unsurfaced paths. Contact Walsall council or the Forest of Mercia
for details of easy access sections.
Public Transport
There are no rail stations convenient for the route, but there are good, regular bus services to numerous points along the way with links to Walsall and central Birmingham, including at Sandwell Park Farm, Forge Mill Lake, Merrions Wood, Barr Beacon, Hayhead Wood, Park Lime Pits, Pelsall North Common, Brownhills Common and Chasewater Country Park.
See West Midlands regional page for more about local transport services in Birmingham and the Black Country.
Publications
Route cards dividing route into 10 sections in Routes and Leaves: Walks for all binder, £10 + £2 p&p from Walsall council and Forest of Mercia. Price includes regular additions and updates.
Contacts
- Walsall council
Regions
Local authorities
Connecting routes
- Birmingham Canal Navigations
- Heart of England Way (E2)
- Forest of Mercia Healthy Walks
- Forest of Mercia Timberland Trail
Parks and countryside
Maps
Explorer
220,
244
Landranger
139
Route is shown on maps.
Local street atlases may be more useful in built-up areas. See
Walking
in West Midlands: Maps
More about maps