Baddesley Clinton and Hay Wood Circuit

Baddesley Clinton is a moated medieval manor house in National Trust care, set in parkland that connects directly into Hay Wood, an ancient woodland stretching between Baddesley and Rowington in the quiet countryside south of Solihull. This 6.4 km circuit moves from the formal estate grounds, past the lake and through managed parkland, before crossing into the wood where the character changes entirely: the canopy closes overhead, the paths narrow to muddy tracks, and the understorey thickens with coppiced hazel, holly and seasonal wildflowers. Bluebells carpet the floor in spring and fungi appear on fallen timber through autumn. The 59 m of climbing barely registers, making this an easy and absorbing half-day.

Dogs get a particularly rewarding dog friendly walk here thanks to the transition from open parkland into dense ancient woodland. Hay Wood is rich with scent from the woodland floor and muntjac deer frequent the area, which dogs register immediately. The network of paths through the wood makes it difficult to stray far from the route, and off-lead walking is possible in the deeper woodland sections. Leads are needed through the Baddesley Clinton estate grounds and in areas where livestock graze the surrounding fields. The terrain is soft and mostly level, suiting dogs of all ages. A dog-welcoming pub in nearby Rowington makes for a good finish.