Where is the Harborne Walkway?

You can start or finish The Harborne Walkway at Forest Drive, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9HW or Summerfield Park in Summerfield, Birmingham, B16 0HG.

 

In brief

The Harborne Walkway is a former railway line that ran between Harborne and Summerfield Park.

It can now be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists and dog walkers alike.

It is 1.5 miles long. 

 

History of the Harborne Railway

The Harborne Railway opened in 1874 and was closed to passengers in 1934 and to freight in 1963. There were four stations at Harborne, Hagley Road, Rotton Park Road and Icknield Port Road. The line continued over the main Birmingham to Wolverhampton railway line and the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line at Monument Lane Junction (also called Harborne Junction).

Remains of the old railway line can still be found.

Remains of the buttress of the bridge that used to carry the Harborne Railway at Harborne Junction. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Route of the Harborne Walkway

From the Harborne end of the walkway, you can join it at Forest Drive in Harborne, Birmingham, now a cul-de-sac.

Path from Forest Drive onto the Harborne Walkway. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The path then goes over a railway bridge that crosses Park Hill Road.

Park Hill Road Bridge. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

Park Hill Road Bridge. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It then passes the Harborne Nature Reserve and Westfield Road Allotments, alongside the Chad Brook. 

Westfield Allotments. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

Chad Brook. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

 

The first bridge you walk under is at Woodbourne Road.

Woodbourne Road Bridge. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The second bridge you then go under is at Hagley Road.

Hagley Road tunnel. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

Hagley Road tunnel. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

Tunnel under Hagley Road Bridge. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The third bridge you go under is at Portland Road.

Portland Road bridge. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

Portland Road bridge. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The fourth bridge you go under is at Rotton Park Road.

Rotton Park Road Bridge. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The fifth and final bridge to experience is at Selwyn Road, before you enter Summerfield Park.

Selwyn Road bridge. Photography by Daniel Sturley.

Selwyn Road bridge. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Then you enter Summerfield Park

Summerfield Park. Photography by Daniel Sturley. 

 

The former line of the railway continues into the park, passing Icknield Port Road, Barford Road towards Northbrook Street, although this is all beyond the actual walkway. All that remains at the canal and the exisiting railway is the brick abutments, where the former railway viaduct used to reside.

The former site of Harborne Junction from Northbrook Street in Summerfield (February 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

We hope you get to experience this wonderful walkway by foot or by cycle.