South Staffordshire countryside highlights
Here, 80 per cent of the countryside is designated as Green Belt, preserving its rural character whilst offering never-ending adventures for walkers, cyclists, wildlife lovers, and heritage explorers alike.
The golden heathlands of Highgate Common burst with ecological richness and stunning seasonal colour. This is a magical reserve, home to rare insect species and glow-worms, and cherished for its displays of purple heather in summer. Highgate Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Visit it for family walks, wildlife spotting, and enjoying sweeping views under big skies.
Baggeridge Country Park has gone from coal pit to countryside haven. Before its reinvention as a nature reserve and site of biological importance, this landscape was the site of one of the world’s most productive collieries, producing 12,000 tons of coal per week and employing 3,000 people.
Today, the only sounds you’ll hear across its Green Flag-awarded 150 acres are the gentle choo-choo of the miniature railway, children laughing in the play areas, and the occasional scream from thrill seekers on the high‑ropes Challenge Academy – all with the ever-present birdsong in its wooded glades and lakes.
Discover the South Staffordshire villages
Explore postcard-worthy, timeless village centres, each with its own character, pubs, markets, and hidden histories.
Brewood
This ancient market village, perched near the River Penk, boasts a captivating medieval and Georgian heritage, visible in its historic high street, Grade I listed St Mary & St Chad’s Church, and fine examples of Gothic Revival architecture
Brewood offers engaging local experiences, including guided historical tours.
Nearby Chillington Hall, Boscobel House, and Moseley Old Hall add layers of intrigue, in royalist history and stately charm.
Codsall and Bilbrook are a cluster of quaint villages with a vibrant community atmosphere, local shops, pubs, and easy transport links.
Home to the iconic Kinver Edge, a National Trust site famed for its panoramic views and ancient rock houses carved into the local sandstone rocks, Kinver will charm walkers and heritage lovers alike.
Inhabited up until the 1960s, the rock houses were among the last true cave dwellings in England and feature hidden chimneys, centuries-old graffiti, and inscriptions within their walls.
It is said that J.R.R. Tolkien, who lived nearby, discovered inspiration for hobbits and their homes right here amongst the caves, whilst local lore tells tales of a panther-like creature dubbed the Beast of Kinver, roaming the surrounding heath.
Penkridge’s ancient weekly markets are legendary in this neck of the woods, offering a rich blend of riverside charm and rural trade that’s endured through the ages.
Quietly scenic, Perton offers countryside walks around its lakes. Visit in springtime to wonder at the serene bluebell woods, a true conservation gem.
More than simply a village, Wombourne encompasses green spaces, canal paths, and heritage trails. The Wom Brook Walk, South Staffordshire Railway Walk, and views of the Bratch Locks guarantee visitors a fascinating mix of nature and industrial history.
South Staffordshire is quintessential English countryside, known for its heritage sites, rolling landscapes, charming villages, each with its own unique character, and vast green spaces.
Yet, it’s not remote or out of reach, with great transport links from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Stafford, and even further afield.
South Staffordshire is where the countryside begins, just beyond the city. It’s a perfect rural retreat without the long drive.
It offers a peaceful, rural escape rich in heritage, nature, and charm
