A great day out for all!
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Recommendation added: 09/04/2006 01:23
By: dewberry (YSUK rating +1061)dewberry has been thanked 3 times for this contribution
"At some point in history, what is now Sutton Coldfield was completely covered in a huge forest which spread throughout most of The Midlands. Sutton Park is one of the very few areas of this forest which still remain today. Sutton Park covers a whopping 2400 acres making it, without a doubt, the biggest park in Birmingham and one of the biggest in the whole UK!
I love this place. Because the park covers such a vast area, there are several entrances to choose from and each will take you into a different section of the park. For example, going in the entrance which is closest to Sutton Coldfield Town Centre will lead you to the small funfair, onsite pub and one of the large lakes in the park. Another entrance opens into part of the forest itself, while yet another entrance will bring you to a fantastic kids outdoor play area complete with tyre swings and ice cream van.
Entry into Sutton Park is free, although on weekends and bank holidays there's a nominal car parking fee of £2.00 for any length of time. A lot of people say the car parking should be free, but I really don't begrudge paying this small amount and can't blame the park for charging on the busiest days of the year as the money raised through the parking fees goes back into the park in one way or another.
The park is made up of some very different areas. The forest is by far the main 'attraction' of the park and it's pretty much left alone by the park staff, when trees fall they're generally left on the ground (unless there's a safety issue) and the woodland plants grow in a haphazard fashion throughout the park. Sutton Park is totally unspoilt in the main; the park authorities have improved and developed the outskirts of the park but left the heart of it unchanged.
There's more than just trees to see in Sutton Park, however. There's an original roman road which travels a short distance through the park, and mounds which have been tested and proved to be of prehistoric origin. You've got seven lakes to visit, all of these you're allowed to fish providing you have a valid angling license. My fella fishes and has caught some decent fish in these lakes, following the unwritten rule of throwing the fish back to keep stocks plentiful for 'next time'.
Talking of fishing, one of the best places is the lake which is right next to The Boldmere Gate. Here you've a gorgeous lake (complete with battleship replica in the centre) which houses some fantastic (according to my fella) fish, and sits alongside the LA Reserve pub. You can literally buy your pint and carry it to the lakeside, and after you've finished fishing pop in for a reasonably priced meal.
The Boldmere Gate is probably the best entrance to the park overall if you're visiting as a family. Not only do you have the lake, but there's one of those cheap fairs which the kids love. You know, 50p a go on the (slow) carousel and an ice cream - my kids love this place. Also, this gate gives you the Sutton Park cows. Honestly, a herd of cows walks around Sutton Park during the day and they're not shy at all. My kids love going up and stoking them – although I'm very aware of how close to cow pats they're treading!
From whichever entrance you choose, a short walk is all that's required to get you into a countryside setting. Pathways are brilliantly laid out, linking one significant area of the park to another allowing you time and distance to take in the prettiness of the place. These pathways are also ideal for cyclists, both my children learned to ride their bikes on the Sutton Park track ways and (unbeknown to the rangers) my nine year old recently learned how to steer her quad bike in the lesser known regions of the park.
A favourite day for us is a picnic and a wander around Sutton Park; it really is the ultimate in cheap days out. We'll choose a route at random and walk around seeing something new every time, how many places can you say that about? Hidden deep within the park are ruins of some long gone building, a spring which is so clear you can let your kids sip water from it, a forgotten lido of the 60's. There are also some very olde worlde wooden fingerposts along the pathways of the park, each leading you to one of the more developed areas and giving you some much needed orientation. Another thing worth mentioning, the car parks are all linked via the pathways and fingerposts so don't feel afraid to wander around the park because you really won't get lost!
There's a very basic visitors centre within the park. We live a short walk away from the park and have gotten to know it pretty well, so don't often come to the visitors centre. For first time visitors I'd suggest a look as there are some printed routes around the park which point out some of the main attractions, nothing that you wouldn't find for yourself though so don't worry if you can't find the (well hidden) visitors centre.
Sutton Park caters for everyone. I love walking around seeing the general greenness of the place, my partner goes for the fishing and the steak dinners at LA Reserve and the kids just adore the freedom of the park. Disabled visitors and pushchairs are catered for as much as it possible, the pathways are all pretty straightforward but because of the nature orientation of the park some areas are completely inaccessible to anyone with mobility problems.
So go on, summer's coming and Sutton Park is a cheap, if not free, day out. Head into Sutton Coldfield from Birmingham City Centre, if you're travelling by car take the A38 North and follow the signs. By train from the City Centre grab the Lichfield train from New Street Station (Birmingham) and get off at Butlers Lane Station, a quick 10 minute walk will take you to Sutton Park."
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