Online directories

Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground

Address

Cole Bank Road, Birmingham B13 0BD

Plan your journey

How to get there and parking

Entrances off Cole Bank Road (B4146), Wake Green Road and Green Road.

Nearest bus stops on Cole Bank Road and Wake Green Road.

About the park

Follow in the footsteps of author J.R.R. Tolkien who as a young boy lived in the hamlet of Sarehole. He spent many hours playing in and around this peaceful open space – describing it as the happiest time of his life.

So much so that when he came to write his world-famous fantasy books The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, many of the fictional locations were inspired by his vivid childhood memories.

For instance, what is now Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground and the surrounding area is thought to be the model for The Shire – the blissful home of the hobbits. The grade II listed Sarehole Mill is believed to be the inspiration for the mill at Hobbiton.

It is easy to see why Tolkien fell in love with this place. Its green open spaces and tree-lined river walk make it a great place to get away from it all.

It also forms a section of the larger Shire Country Park (named in honour of Tolkien) which follows the course of the River Cole through much of south Birmingham and allows for much longer walks along the river side.

Wildlife enthusiasts are also catered for – with an abundance of birds and even otters using the River Cole as a source of food and water.

Adjacent to the recreation ground is the 18th Sarehole Mill which was restored in the 1960s and is now run as a heritage museum. It also features a Tolkien exhibition for those who want to learn more about his early life.

Path through a grass area in Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground. Trees line the boundaries of the grass.
Video introduction

Facilities at the park
  • An open grass area suitable for events
  • Parking – next to Sarehole Mill off Cole Bank Road
Toilets
There are no toilets on site.
Points of interest
  • River Cole – rich in fish and a food source for otters – and a great place for dipping
  • Sarehole Mill – a 250-year-old watermill famous for its association with author J.R.R Tolkien
  • Part of the Shire Country Park
Other features
  • Surfaced path along the river
  • Walking routes
  • Wildlife – including kingfishers, woodpeckers and sparrowhawks
Park friends group

The Shire Country Park Friends

An active Friends group interested in the land alongside the River Cole between Yardley Wood and Tysley.

For further information, or to get involved, visit the Shire Country Park Friends' Facebook page.

Parks friends group activities

Activities include:

  • litter picking
  • raising awareness of events taking place in the park, including ranger walks and activities
  • working with the Birmingham Parks Ranger Service to maintain and conserve the park

The Sarehole Environmental Action Team (SEAT) conservation group help to look after the site, as part of the Shire Country Park Friends.

rating button