'48 Hours in Birmingham' - a biker's (cyclist) delight as recommended by Lisa, Biking Adventure

So, you’ve arrived in Birmingham with 48 hours to enjoy. You've come with your bike and you're eager to explore our great city. Get ready for an urban (and countryside) adventure on two wheels, all from your base in the City. Oh and if you haven't brought your own bike, don't worry, you can always hire one.

 

Let's see how Lisa (Biking Adventure) would recommend you enjoy a great 48 hours in and around Birmingham.

 

Take the article link below. For other 48 hour suggestions, take the project link.

 

 

Day 1 ....

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Day1-Map.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield (cycle route suggested by Biking Adventure) 

 

A good day on the bike always starts with a good breakfast, I would recommend one of the great independents we have in the town centre. Cherry Reds or Yorks Café are a good shout, quirky but homely and both offering great food and drinks, catering for all.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/YorksCafe.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Coffee at Yorks Cafe. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

Once you're all fuelled up, head across town getting on the canal behind the Symphony Hall, this is where you will start your journey to Sutton Park.

 

The Birmingham canal system has more waterways than Venice and is a very different way to view the city, traffic free on two wheels. The canal towpaths connect with parks, trails and open spaces to take you on a real touring adventure, you almost forget you’re in a city.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BhamWaterways.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham - the heart of the Waterways. Photo by Biking Adventure. 

 

The beginning of this route is a bit up and down over a series of locks and bridges but luckily not for too long and it makes for an exciting ride. It’s quite an industrial part of the city and passing under the famous Spaghetti Junction is an experience in itself but be sure to keep a look out for all the cute encounters along the way.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CanalCuteness.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

'Cute encounters' along the canal. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

Coming off the canal at Egerton Rd you are led to Pype Hayes Park via a few small roads, keeping to the path brings you to the trail following Plants Brook Stream through New Hall Country Park, an enjoyable ride with beautiful scenery for a few miles as you approach Sutton Park.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NewhallValley.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New Hall Country Park. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

You might want to put aside a few hours to explore Sutton Park, either on your bike, checking out the dirt trails and bridle ways or by foot (great bike parking outside the leisure centre). A picturesque 11 mile traffic free ride and you have reached one of the largest urban parks in Europe. 2,400 acres of National Nature Reserve where you’ll find lots to do. Open heathland, woodlands, several lakes, wetlands, and marshes. There’s even wild ponies and cattle grazing if you’re lucky enough to see them or you can even head over to the Donkey Sanctuary.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WildPoniesSutton.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Wild Ponies in Sutton Park. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

This is one of the most amazing outdoor places in Brum with so much to do and see you’ll find it hard to leave. If you need a coffee stop there are a few pubs and cafes in the park, my fav is Blackroot Bistro, a lovely little pit stop set in a wonderful location.

 

After all your exploring I’m sure you are ready for food, head for the town gate where you can easily access Sutton Coldfield town centre. I can recommend Brew House and Kitchen, a great food menu accompanied by some great beers that are brewed in-house.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BrewHouseBeer.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Brewhouse, Sutton Coldfield. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

The 'Beer Can Chicken' paired with an English Ale is very popular. I don’t know about you but I love nothing more than a great beer after a ride and they have a great choice of beers. There are also veggie/vegan options although you will also find Earths Kitchen close by, serving up some great Vegan dishes to die for!

 

Your day has been jam-packed and I’m sure you will have had time to sample a few craft beers on your last stop. We wouldn’t want you wobbling back to Birmingham Town centre on your bike and 10 miles back will probably not looking too attractive, so I would suggest hopping on the train, a short 30 min journey for £3.60.

 

Day 2 ….

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Day2-Map.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham circular route (cycle route suggested by Biking Adventure) 

 

After a busy day yesterday, you deserve a lie in. You’ll need it because you are in for another adventure today! Before you set off, get yourself a hearty breakfast down at the canal basin. The Canalside Café serves up great grub for meat eaters and vegans alike. Unfortunately, you will have to miss out on the great beers they have on offer, unless a breakfast beer is your thing? (We won’t judge promise!)

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CanalsideCafe.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Canalside Cafe at Gas Street Basin, Birmingham. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

This is a wonderful place to start the day. There’s lots of photo opportunities with all of the barges, Venice-style bridges and reflections making it a very picturesque part of town.

 

Now it’s time to head off down the canal towpath, you will follow the train line towards the university. Surprisingly a very green, scenic route taking us out of the city.

 

A short enjoyable ride where you will come off at the university, you just have to cycle under the arch of Old Joe, the tallest freestanding clock tower in the world which is believed to have been the inspiration for the tower of Orthanc, the black tower of Isengard, in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BigJoeUni.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

'Old Joe', Birmingham University. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

If you’re lucky you might even spot the famous Peregrine falcons, who nest in the clock tower. If you’re into your museums and art galleries there’s a few hidden gems worth a stop. On the university site you have The Lapworth Museum of Geology and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts - both are a good shout.

 

Only a few miles of cycle friendly roads and a section of the Rea Valley route, roughly 20 mins takes you to the best lunch time stop in the cycling world. You’ve done the tourist thing and you must be gasping for a drink and some food, Gorilla Coffee is Birmingham’s designated cycle café.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/GorillaCoffeeCafe.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Gorilla Coffee Cafe, Kings Heath, Birmingham. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

A great atmosphere with all the cycling banter you could ask for, very chilled and laid-back, cycle themed décor with great food and beer. You may never leave…

 

If you do manage to leave you will be full after lunch so we are taking some side roads and a hill, but don’t worry its downhill so enjoy the ride. At the bottom of the hill there is a gap in the trees which is the John Morris Jones Walkway, following the River Cole it is part of the Shire Country Park taking us to the next point to call, Sarehole Mill, which is only a 15 min ride from the café but well worth the stop. Sarehole Mill dates back to 18th Century with a fully working waterwheel used to grind wheat every Wednesday and Sunday, Sare(w)hole meal flour is available from the mill shop. There’s also a charming tea room on site. The mill is another place connected with JRR Tolkien, he lived across the road from the mill, and it has been said the mill and rural surroundings inspired his writings of Middle-earth.

 

This green space is a fantastic cycle route, as you continue following the River Cole, shortly coming to what I like to call the river splash! This is not compulsory as there is path/bridge but go on… put some fun between your legs and ride through the river.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RiverSplash.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

'River Splash!' at River Cole. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

Adults out there, you are never too old for some fun on a bike. This is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and you will soon dry off, it’s not that deep. Continue to follow the path through the country park. There’s a few road crossings but very clearly marked and you will soon reach the Ackers Adventure Centre. You may want to book ahead to join on one of the activities they have on offer from skiing and archery, to canoeing and rock climbing. It’s definitely worth a quick stop just for the Tobogganing. They have a mini slope which is a fun activity for children but don’t worry adults, they have a few rubber tubes which are awesome fun for us too.

 

Continuing on the off-road paths, you will see the signs directing you to the Union Canal.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/JohnMorrisJonesWalkway.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Union Canal. Photo by Biking Adventure.

 

There are a few steps to tackle while getting down onto the canal or you can take the long way around on the road. Then there is a short journey on the canal taking you to your final destination. Again, there will be a few locks to tackle and a few cobbled towpaths to test you, but a great route and you’ll soon pass some great industrial Birmingham inspired street art which is how you will know that you have reached Digbeth.

 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CanalArt.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Industrial street art, Digbeth. Photo by Biking Adventure. 

 

You’ll be amazed by the quality of the work that puts a splash of colour to an otherwise quite dull part of town. I would suggest coming off the canal at Fazeley Street and going on a little wander on the side streets to take in all the works of art that adorn the walls of old factory buildings.

 

Head under the arches of the bridge, check out the amazing graffiti filled Trinity Street car park with the quirky crushed car entrance before locking your bike up at the Custard Factory. There’s loads to check out from the city centre brewery, Dig Brew, Mockingbird Theatre and Bar, a bit of Ghetto Golf, The Ruin or craft beer house Clink. You’ll be spoilt for choice on how to spend your evening but I’m sure you will have built up an appetite.

 

I know the itinerary was jam-packed and you probably need another 48 hours to recover but I hope you’ve had a good time and will be back to Birmingham again soon.

 

*If you happen to have left your bike at home, I can recommend Midland Cycle Hire with a drop off and pick up service, if you want to make a real adventure of it they even do tandems.

 

More from Lisa, together with a great selection of photos, posts and links for cyclists of all abilities can be found at Biking Adventure.