Pooley Country Park

I agree with Jeff Bryan about signposting etc. However, having talked to the lady in the visitor centre/cafe (who seems to be doing it all on her own and is brilliant) I bought the map, which was very useful. The Golden Tower of Leaves is interesting, at the top of an old slag heap, but not particularly noticeable or publicised, even though the council apparently spent £100k having it erected. Great views from up there on the hill. Nice walks through the wood and by the canal. Well worth a visit. A bit of extra funding would really help.

Lovely walk. Except for the MTb trail.

This was an absolute gem for walking and views... Had a stroll along the Canal looking at all the barges moored to the side. Loads of different paths and a place where cyclists tackle the difference levels of bike trails. Don't hesitate... Go and see.

Great place to go for a walk or relax. There's a park here for young children there's also a small cafe. If you think you'll go back regularly buy a yearly ticket online for 36 quid

Lovely area for walking. Walks in the park include along the canal bank. This time of year the trees are beautiful. Very quite and relaxing. Car parking £3 by card only. Dogs welcome. Has tea shop and toilets. Recommended.

Do not park in either carpark after 4/5pm as you WILL get locked in till way past 10am the next day. The sign says gates open at 7am which is not true.If you go later on in the day please park outside the gates if you want to be able to leave so you don't get stuck all night like we did.Shame as it's a lovely place otherwise.

There is a great walk to do along the canal and depending which way you go will take you to a pub. We went to the Samuel Barlow which was fabulous and dog friendly. At the park there is a small play area, toilets and it's only £2.50 al day to park.

Lovely area for a stroll. It was very empty today due to weather. Must have walked for 30+ minutes before seeing another human. I think the parking fee probably puts some people off too when the weather is so changeable. Had some really nice cheese toasties served by a very nice staff member in the tea room.Worth a visit!

I was over at Pooley Country Park (just outside Tamworth) last week dropping someone off, and as it was a nice day I took the opportunity to have a little wander around.There are several miles of woodsy pathways, small pools, and canal-side walks around this nature reserve that has been reclaimed from an old disused mining site. Even the old slag-heap has been recaptured by nature and now has a gently winding path up the outside and a golden monument at the top. At the far end of the park is a working canal boatyard and the remains of Alvecote Priory. It's all self-guided, but there are some map signs dotted around.It's council-owned and run by the same team that operate Kingsbury Water Park. Free to enter, but there's a small daily parking charge. There's a nice little Tea Room for drinks, ice creams, and a few light snacks that normally opens 11-3 on weekends plus seasonally during the week in school holidays. There's a small display of artefacts and the history of the industrial heritage inside, plus local info and maps.The one downside is that the M42 bisects the site, and the West Coast Main Line railway runs nearby. But once you have walked a few hundred yards past the motorway bridge (which leads from the tea room/parking area into the main park) the traffic noise fades away into the distance and it's remarkably peaceful and rarely crowded as very few people seem to even know it's there. It's not a very commercialised site, you just explore on your own, so check the map before setting off from the car park. Excellent for dog walkers.