Around Sutton Park
Walk from the car park to the entrance road, and go left and shortly right at a five-way junction to follow the tarmac lane up to Keeper’s Pool. At the corner of the pool turn right and follow its edge, continuing northwards uphill through the trees on a path until you descend to reach Blackroot Pool. Walk close to the left edge of the pool for about 220yds (201m), then follow the path bearing left (northwest) and keep ahead through the woodland of Upper Nut Hurst. In about 0.5 miles (800m), bear right and cross the railway bridge, via two gates, to get to Bracebridge Pool.
Turn right along the edge of the pool and at the end, bear right along a track just before the Bracebridge restaurant. Continue along the tarmac lane and through the car park until you reach a T-junction by housing. Turn left, and in 150yds (137m) leave the road and go left by a large oak tree on a wide path, which soon bears right by ancient oaks in the woodland of Gum Slade. Continue ahead to a junction of paths, then go left and up to a grassy clearing. Cross it and continue ahead on a gravel track. Where this bears right continue ahead, ignoring minor cross paths, and descending gently. Maintain your direction then continue ahead on a track that arcs left and descends to cross a footbridge at the end of Bracebridge Pool.
Bear left, following the track into the woods. It then arcs right to cross the railway line again, via two gates. Keep on the wide track until you reach a road, then go right for 500yds (457m) up to a parking area on the left.
At the far end of the parking area turn left by a post, and take the path that dives through the trees and passes a golf green. Now keep to the left of the fairway, descending to a small stream. Here, turn left on to a straight path flanked by silver birches. This is the Roman Ryknild Street. Continue, initially within the golf course, but later across heath, until you reach a track leading to an exit. Turn right and then left just before the exit gate and follow the path through the trees of Westwood Coppice until you come to the car park by Banners Gate.
Bear left up the road, passing to the right of Longmoor Pool. About 100yds (91m) beyond the end of the pool, turn right along a path. Join a path from the left and continue on it, passing to the right of a copse of silver birches. Soon you walk alongside a fence and trees, drop through a tree belt and cross an open grass area close to Powell’s Pool to reach the roadway, via the car park near Boldmere Gate.
Go left at the road, then soon bear right, along the edge of Wyndley Wood, and join a tarmac lane. In 150yds (137m), bear right at a four-way lane junction on to a straight road that descends to pass a footbridge and ford at the end of Wyndley Pool. Continue ahead to return to the visitor centre.
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Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
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