Knowle and the surrounding area are home to some of the best dog walks in Solihull. Whether you’re after a short stroll before work, a family walk with the kids and the dog, or a longer countryside ramble, you’re spoiled for choice. Here are some of our most popular and scenic places to explore with your four-legged friend.
Knowle Park
Located in the heart of Knowle, Knowle Park is a favourite among local dog owners. It has large open grassy areas, well-kept paths, and plenty of benches and bins to make life easy.
For water loving dogs, Purnell’s Brook runs alongside the local nature reserve which is perfect for dogs & owners to explore, especially if you’re seeking a little shade on a sunny day.
It’s an ideal spot for everyday walks and at peak dog walking times, you’re sure to bump into fellow dog walkers. Walk loops around the pathways, walk along the tracks of the nature reserve or around the duck pond, or extend the walk to the canal via Knowle High Street.
The Children’s Field
This local favourite is a open space off Kixley Lane, tucked away behind Knowle Parish Church. It’s often used by families and dog owners and is perfect for a quick off-lead run. While it’s not officially a park, it’s well-trodden and loved by those who live nearby. It’s particularly handy if you’re looking for a quick walk close to home. There are times that the local football club use the field for games (with permission from the National Trust), so access to the whole field may be restricted.
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal runs through Knowle and is easily accessed from several points, including Kenilworth Road at Knowle Locks, down Kixley Lane, and via Hampton Road. It’s ideal for a flat, relaxing walk with lovely views. You’ll pass narrowboats, herons, and other wildlife while the canal is surrounded by peaceful fields.
Be cautious near the water’s edge and when sharing the towpath with cyclists. There are a few ways to incorporate the canal into a circular walk, either by :
- Using the footbridge between Kixley Lane and Hampton Road to circle back to Knowle
- Starting at Kixley Lane and exiting at Queen Eleanors Drive near Jacobean Lane
- Starting at Kixley Lane and Knowle Locks and coming off at the Herons Nest to follow public footpaths back towards Knowle (with some walking along the country lanes in Lapworth).
Credit: Terry Grove
Copt Heath Golf Club
There’s a walk from the top of Longdon Road towards Copt Heath Golf Club. You can exit via Barnbrook Road, or continue to the Golf Clubm where you’re walk across it (beware of golf balls and stick to the path) to come out on Warwick Road. Alternatively, you can continue along the footpath towards Lady Byron Lane.
Barston Ford
There are walks of various lengths that you can do following public footpaths to Barston Ford situated on Elvers Lane. Follow public footpaths from Kixley Lane, Elvers Green Lane or from Hampton Road, passing through open fields and hedgerow-lined tracks until you reach the shallow ford.
It’s a lovely spot to stop for a break, and on warmer days, dogs often enjoy splashing around in the shallow stream. From there, you can go onto Barston village, loop back for a circular walk or extend the walk further across the surrounding countryside.
We’ve got a 2.5 walk or slightly longer 3.5 mile circular walk that both start and end in Knowle if you’d like a stroll to the ford.
Walk to Temple Balsall
It’s a peaceful, rural walk that takes you through rolling fields and wooded patches, with the historic church and almshouses at Temple Balsall as a scenic destination. It’s ideal for a weekend ramble with your dog, especially in spring and autumn when the countryside is at its best.
Walk to Packwood House
A popular dog-friendly route takes you from Knowle via footpaths and country lanes to Packwood House, a beautiful Tudor manor set in peaceful Warwickshire countryside. Once there, you can enjoy a short circular walk through the estate’s parkland and woodland areas, which are perfect for dogs (on leads) and offer a good mix of shaded paths and open fields. There’s also a longer circular route of about four miles that loops past St Giles Church and through surrounding meadows and farmland. Dogs need to be on a lead around livestock and near the main house, but water bowls are available in the café courtyard, and the grounds make for a lovely rest stop before heading back. It’s a great half-day outing with varied scenery and a peaceful, rural atmosphere.
Credit: Terry Grove
Walk to Baddesley Clinton
For an even longer walk, take the route from Knowle to Baddesley Clinton. You can follow the canal towpath for a large part of the walk, or go across fields and footpaths through Chadwick End. The walk takes around 1.5 – 2 hours one way at a steady pace, and ends at the National Trust Baddesley Clinton estate, where there are woodland trails and a café with outdoor seating. It’s a great day out for both dogs and humans. These walks are usually quiet, peaceful, with views of our local countryside. Just be sure to keep dogs under control near livestock and stick to marked paths.
If you don’t fancy the long walk, drive to Baddesley Clinton, walk around the estate, and then head over to Hay Wood, a fabulous spot for dog walks whatever the season.
Bentley Heath Park
Often quieter than the larger parks, Bentley Heath Park is a hidden gem. It has wide open grassy areas, a small woodland, and a path that loops around the edge. It’s a good option for dogs who prefer a calmer environment or if you’re looking for a quieter walk. From here, you can also link up with residential paths that take you back toward Knowle or Dorridge.
Dorridge Park
A short drive or a decent walk from Knowle, Dorridge Park offers a blend of open spaces and shady woodland. It’s a bigger than Knowle Park and gives dogs more variety to explore. There’s a good circular walk that loops through the woods and back to the car park. There’s also plenty of space for ball games in one of the fields. The park also connects with other footpaths if you want to extend the walk.
Browns Lane
Walk from Brown’s Lane along footpaths and the river Blythe. You can either double back, or walk all the way to Brueton Park. A circular walk coming back along the old Warwick Road takes around 2 hours.
Brueton and Malvern Parks
You’ll find Brueton Park and Malvern Park just a few minutes drive from Knowle, near Solihull town centre. There’s a large car park for Brueton Park, with walks around the large pond, along the river Blythe, and along the pathways. With large open spaces, it’s a great place for a game of ball.
Solihull Riding Club
The fields and public footpaths around Solihull Riding Club, just off Four Ashes Road, offer some fantastic countryside walking for dog owners. While the club itself is private land, you can become a member of the Club to gain access to several acres of beautiful open space. It’s a peaceful area to explore, especially in the early morning or late afternoon, and dogs love the wide, grassy paths. Just be sure to keep them under close control around horses and follow any signage.
Hampton In Arden
Behind the sports ground in Hampton in Arden is a fabulous spot for dog walking. With parking facilities, walk just beyond the sports facilities to access open areas, woodland and streams.
Public Footpaths and Byways
Knowle is surrounded by public footpaths that connect it to nearby villages and fields. Many of these begin on the edges of the village and pass through farmland and open countryside.
Tips for Local Dog Walkers
- Most parks have dog bins, please use them to keep the area clean.
- Bring water for your dog, especially on longer walks or warmer days.
- Think about the outdoor temperature – only walk in temperatures that are suitable for your four legged friend.
- Watch out for cyclists on canal towpaths and some shared-use trails.
- Be respectful of livestock when using rural footpaths & ensure dogs are kept on leads around livestock.
Final Thoughts
There’s no shortage of great places to walk your dog in Knowle and the surrounding area. From peaceful canal paths to rolling fields and popular local parks, from short 20 minute spins around the block to long leisurely walks, there’s a route for every type of dog and every kind of day.
And if your walk takes in Knowle High Street, don’t forget we’ve got plenty of dog-friendly cafes, pubs and shops – read our blog on dog friendly places in Knowle!
Wherever your walk takes you, enjoy the beautiful surroundings Knowle has to offer.
Credit: Terry Grove