30/03/26 - Three Parks and the Highbury

City Green Spaces

The Ramblers - of whom I am both a big fan and a member - posted on Facebook a claim that a lack of green spaces is inhibiting city dwellers in their ability to work.

I attempted three times to say utter nonsense but stopped myself each time. I cannot do with the trolling.

Let me present the evidence from two recent walks. Last time in London, I walked 5 miles from Hyde Park, through Green Park and into St James Park and only crossed two roads.

Today's latest AZ City Walk in Birmingham has me walking through Kings Heath, Highbury and Cannon Hill parks for an experience similar in length and quality.

The original FB poster was from Scotland. I felt like adding that Edinburgh has a fecking mountain in the middle of it.

Today's walk has been completed before. A repetition, mainly as I am completing the AZ in order and I have noticed a previously unexplored CAMRA Heritage Pub in the vicinity.

Photos of the parks:

Kings Heath - standard, swings, tennis courts, grass

Highbury - wild and best place to dump a getaway car/hide a body

Cannon Hill - Boer War Monuments

Cannon Hill is the Jewel in the Crown. Lakes, Medieval pubs transported from Digbeth, the River Rea running along the edge and this little curio. Adventure Lab Caching taking me to a model of the Elan Valley - celebrating when fresh water arrived into Birmingham.

Dam

And the plaque

The walk ends at the Stirchley Fringes, where my CAMRA Heritage Pubs of the Midlands has an entry for the Highbury. I should have been suspicious when it was text only, with no photos.

A typical large Birmingham suburban pub, built in the 1920s for Mitchells & Butlers. The public bar at the front corner of the pub still has its original counter, an elegant bar back (with 'M&B' carved in the pediment), wall-panelling to two-thirds height, and a decorated fireplace. The door to the rear lounge has given way to a wider opening and this room is now used for pool. The wall panelling here is a little more elaborate and the beams are decorated. The small curved counter is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. A separate side entrance leads to a mostly modernised lounge (formerly gents only in the days when it was still legal to exclude women from parts of a pub) and a plain function room with panelled walls and a segmental-shaped ceiling. A former off-license can also be discerned between the two entrances.

At first, I think it may be closed but the parked mobility scooter provides both hope and an indication of Monday lunch punters.

Solid looking boozer

Inside, I look for signs of why it could be in the guide. It's a two roomer - front room, knocked through with the well described but not particularly impressive bar back. A pool table, with unusual leaning seats for non-combatants. A rear room offering more of the same on a smaller scale.

M&B etched in the pediment

With the external posters showing pictures of their wares (Guinness, smooth-pours, Carling), I was right to be sceptical of the Cask Marque sign. The first time I have used the form to update the CAMRA Heritage Web Site which claimed two real ales.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 8

Walk Inspiration - AZ City Walks, Walk 12

Previous Birmingham AZ Walks - Walk 1 & 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8, Walk 9, Walk 10, Walk 11