Birmingham - Surroundings

Bewdley (pop. 8,700) is a quiet town on the Severn. The town is surrounded by Wyre Forest, offering walking and cycling paths through the woodlands. The Bewdley Festival is held each year in October and a Carnival in June.

West Midland Safari And Leisure Park has over 40 exotic animals and includes a wide range of rides in the leisure area.

Brackley (pop. 6,600) is an old town located between Oxford and Northampton on the A43. A market is held every Friday in the town square and the piazza was rebuilt in 2006 of York stone. Rugby, tennis and football are popular sports facilities in Brackley.

Bromsgrove has a handsome Perpendicular church and gabled houses. There are several museums such as the Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings and thr National Telephone Kiosk collection. Visitors can also enjoy fishing and walking at the nearby Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

Chaddesley Corbett is located outside the Chaddesley Woods in Hereford and Worcester. Of interest to historians will be the town's church which has a Norman font featuring a carved dragon.

Chaddesley Wood is a 250 acre nature reserve with numerous cycling and walking paths. The forest has a wide variety of trees, but the most prominent are oak, birch and hazel coppice.

Four ancient standing stones are located at the summit of Clent Hill. Walton Hill (1,303ft/315m) is the highest point in the region and provides splendid views.

Dodford has an isolated pre-reformation Augustinian priory. Fergus O'Connor founded the Chartist land colony here in 1848.

The village of Dodford has a parish church that was founded in 1066 and rebuilt 1100.

Drayton is located on the B4017. It has a church with 16th century alabaster carvings.

Dudley (pop. 300,400) is located 10mi/16km northwest of Birmingham. The Dudley Zoo is located on the grounds of the Dudley Castle with twelve Art Deco style buildings.

Dudley Canal is a popular spot for fishing, cycling, and walking. The Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve in Dudley is a notable geological location with over 700 fossils discovered.

The museum is a recreation of a Black Country village with chapel, cottages, baker and chemist. There is a chainmaker's house with a canal boat dock.

There are numerous ancient rocks throughout the hills. The Lickley Hills Country Park Visitor Center is located near a 19th century church.

Tamworth is located near Lichfield. The town is noted for the Tamworth Castle and Moat House as well as the nearby indoor ski-slope.

Tamworth's castle is a rare shell-keep of Norman traditions which has been occupied more than 800 years. Rooms open to the public include: Tudor Great Hall & Chapel, Jacobean apartments and Victorian suite.