From Barnt Green to the Lickey Hills Country Park Visitor Centre and back

In April 2017, I got the train to Barnt Green Station in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, and went into the Lickey Hills Country Park on the walk up the hill to the Visitor Centre. I was aware of the entrance near the station on a previous visit to Barnt Green during April 2015 (2 years earlier). And the other side from Rose Hill and Barnt Green Road in April 2013.

For my first Lickey Hills post click this link: Beacon Hill at the Lickey Hills Country Park.

In April 2017, I caught a Class 323 train on the Cross City Line to Barnt Green Station, for the walk up the Lickey Hills Country Park towards the Visitor Centre. After popping into the Visitor Centre, I passed an Orchard on the way to Rose Hill. The walk was so long and steep, I felt it was easier to return to the station by walking along Barnt Green Station. Back in April 2013 when I first want to go to Beacon Hill, I was close to the area, but ended up going to Cofton Park instead. On my first train trip to Barnt Green I found the entrance to the Country Park there in April 2015, and made a mental note to return one day. Took me two years before I came back.

2013

In April 2013, I made my first attempt to get to the Lickey Hills Country Park. With the desire to go to Beacon Hill, at the time I did not know how to get there. I walked along Rose Hill near Cofton Hackett, but the paths up to the Visitor Centre side were closed at the time.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Rose Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Rose Hill Cofton Hackett (April 2013) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Footbridge over a stream, you can get to the Lickey Hills Visitor Centre by heading up the path to the left.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Rose Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Rose Hill Cofton Hackett (April 2013) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The paths goes steep up the hill. But some were closed due to the diseased trees.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Rose Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Rose Hill Cofton Hackett (April 2013) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

So at the time, this was as close as I would get to the Visitor Centre. There was a pedestrian diversion in place at the time. I only wanted to go to Beacon Hill at first (which I did a few weeks later).

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Rose Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Rose Hill Cofton Hackett (April 2013) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I also headed down Barnt Green Road, so many trees down here, but at the time didn't walk all the way down. So wasn't until 4 years later that I spotted paths into the country park. On this side is Bilberry Hill.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green Road Cofton Hackett (April 2013).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

So instead I went into Cofton Park, which is south of Longbridge (post coming soon once the project is set up).

2015

I first got a train to Barnt Green in April 2015, mainly for a look around the Barnt Green area (and not to go into the Lickey Hills Country Park). But I did see the entrance to the park from Fiery Hill Road. Cherry Hill Drive is to the right.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green (April 2015) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

According to the Welcome sign, the Lickey Hills Country Park Visitor Centre was 1.25 miles away from here.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green (April 2015) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The dirt path from Barnt Green goes up the hill.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green (April 2015) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Horses and bicycles are now allowed up this section.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green (April 2015) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was also this wooden shelter with maps of the park on both sides. At this end it is called the Pinfields Wood. It would be two years before I got the train back to Barnt Green.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green (April 2015) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2017

I next got a train to Barnt Green Station during April 2017, this time for the walk towards the Lickey Hills Country Park Visitor Centre. From the gate, view of the station near Fiery Hill Road.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Similar view to 2 years earlier near Cherry Hill Drive, except this time I would walk up the hill. It leads to Cherry Hill Road. This is the Pinfields Wood.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Approaching the end of the first section at Cherry Hill Road. Had to cross over the road and continue into the section known as Lickey Warren.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading into the Lickey Warren part of the Lickey Hills Country Park on the long walk to the visitor centre.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On the Bluebell Trail, a field of bluebells.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The path continues amongst the trees with the bluebells on both sides.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Hope Hut with picnic benches underneath.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Still heading up as some kids have fun running about. Trees are quite tall here.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Approaching the Lickey Hills Country Park Visitor Centre for a drink and a sit down.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The car park on the other side of the Visitor Centre. After my break, I next walked down towards Rose Hill.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Barnt Green to Visitor Centre (April 2017) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now on Warren Lane, this brick building is the School Room. Would assume that this is the classroom used by visiting schools that come to the Country Park, before they go out and explore it for educational purposes.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading down Drovers Way, then a brief stop on the left at the Orchard.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It's the Lickey Hills Community Orchard. The trees were planted between 2012 and 2014 by the Lickey Hills Society and the Ranger Team.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A close up look at the new trees in the orchard. At this point, they had only been there for 3 to 5 years.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back onto Drovers Way on the path down to Rose Hill. Some fallen trees in the wood.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Some small wooden bollards on the path. Not too far down to Rose Hill. A bit further on the path would get a bit muddy.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A while later on the walk back to Barnt Green Station, I was now on Barnt Green Road. At Kendal End was this wooden gate. A bit muddy here. Was near a quarry. All part of Bilberry Hill going this way.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

At least two gates to the quarry at Kendal End. Some of the plants around here were still diseased so you had to stick to the footpaths and have clean footwear. Also don't remove plant material from the site.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Fingerposts to Barn Green Road Quarry and the other to the Visitor Centre.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I only briefly checked out this entrance before going back onto Barnt Green Road.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was another path and gate to Kendal End a bit further down. Even from here was signs warning you about the diseased plants.

dndimg alt="Lickey Hills Barnt Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lickey Hills Visitor Centre to Barnt Green (April 2017) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I will next for this area have to do a Cofton Park post. So watch this space. Coming soon.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.