🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
🅿️Parking nearby — easy to reach by car
🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
🅿️Parking nearby — easy to reach by car
Good to know
£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome
🅿️Parking
Best for
6 activities
🦅
Bird watching
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
🦉
Wildlife
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
🐶
Dog walks
Strong match
Dogs allowed — nature reserve
Free
🌲
Forest walks
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
🍂
Seasonal nature
Good match
Nature reserve — seasonal wildlife and habitats
Free
🧺
Picnic day out
Moderate match
Nature reserve — public outdoor space
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km
🚶
Walking
▾
6 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Four Commons WalkWalking route9.5 km▾
Circular route following the Wyrley & Essington Canal to Clayhanger Common – one of Walsall’s much-loved areas of green, open space.
Distance: 6 miles/9.5 km(approx)
Duration: 120 mins(approx)
Named routeLength 9.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Clayhanger Common WalkWalking route9.5 km▾
Short, circular route following the Wyrley & Essington Canal to Clayhanger Common – one of Walsall’s much-loved areas of green, open space.
Distance: 6 miles/9.5 km(approx)
Duration: 120 mins(approx)
Named routeLength 9.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Beacon WayWalking route40 km▾
Starting at Sandwell Valley via the outskirts of Birmingham and the countryside of Walsall into Staffordshire. Take in the Forest of Mercia, lakes, nature reserves, woods, and canal banks. Named after Barr Beacon, one of the highest hills in this area.
Named routeLength 40 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Forest of Mercia Timberland Trail (Short Route)Walking route12.9 km▾
8-mile circular route based on PRoW and canal towpaths, which would've been used by local miners, iron workers, and farmers. Car Parking at the start on Wood Lane.
Named routeRef FoMTTLength 12.9 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Forest of Mercia Timberland Trail (Long Route)Walking route16 km▾
10-mile circular route based on PRoW and canal towpaths, which would've been used by local miners, iron workers, and farmers. Car Parking at start on Wood Lane.
Named routeRef FoMTTLength 16 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Named routeRef Starley NetworkLength 804 kmRegional cycle route
Sneyd Junction to Cannock Extension CanalCycling route8.8 km▾
A semi-rural route following the curves of the canal, until it opens out into parkland at the Cannock Extension.
Distance: 5.5 miles/8.8 km (approx)
Duration: 45 min (approx)
Named routeLength 8.8 kmPoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
Cannock Extension Canal to Longwood JunctionCycling route11.2 km▾
Canalside route leading past Clayhanger Common and through Rushall, with a pub along the way.
Distance: 7 miles/11.2 km (approx)
Duration: 60 min (approx)
Named routeLength 11.2 kmPoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
Longwood Junction to Rushall LocksCycling route2.4 km▾
A straight ride, beginning close to Hay Head Local Nature Reserve and continuing to the Rushall Lock Flight.
Distance: 1.5 miles/2.4 km (approx)
Duration: 60 min (approx)
Named routeLength 2.4 kmPoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
National Cycle Network Route 5Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 5National Cycle Network
About this nature reserve
Shire Oak Park is a 25-hectare local nature reserve in Walsall, West Midlands, England. It contains a variety of habitats, including grassland and woodland, which attract wildlife, creating peaceful walking paths for visitors.
