Pooley Country Park Travel Forum Reviews

Pooley Country Park

Description

Tucked away in the green folds just outside Polesworth, Pooley Country Park is one of those places that you sort of stumble upon, and once you do, you wonder how it flew under the radar for so long. I’ve visited a handful of times – sometimes for a lazy weekend stroll, sometimes just after a “I just need to clear my head” kind of week, and once for a madcap kids’ birthday party (that one involved cake in hair and mud everywhere). This place wears many hats, for sure.

Pooley Country Park is an ex-mining site turned into a sprawling 62-hectare nature escape, and you honestly see remnants of its industrial past if you know where to look – old brickwork peeking between wildflowers, pools snug in between hillocks, paths that wind through shifting scenery. It’s not manicured or “dolled-up”. It has that slightly wild air, where you might spot a kingfisher if you’re lucky, or just a friendly dog walker happy to share local gossip.

What stands out most to me? I think it’s the fact that the park is genuinely open to everyone. I’ve seen families with buggies squeeze past hikers muddied to the shins. The surfaced paths actually help a lot—in my not-so-humble opinion, more country parks should have those. If you or someone in your party needs mobility support, you won’t feel shut out; there are scooters for hire and disabled parking close to the main routes. And if, like me, you always plan your days around the promise of a decent cuppa, the cafe’s tea room is bright and unfussy, slinging out traybakes that’ll stick to your ribs.

Admittedly (and I always try to be fair), Pooley isn’t Disney World. Don’t come expecting perfect lawns and noise-cancelling bliss. Occasionally, you’ll catch a grumpy dog—or a grumpy owner. And yeah, the weather plays a big part in shaping your experience; after a rainy spell, some bits get properly squelchy. But the park’s popularity is easy to understand—the adventure play area is a magnet for excitable children, the orienteering course is the kind of challenge you pretend to do with the kids but secretly love yourself, and between the woodland, the pools, and the wildflower banks, you feel like you’ve snuck away into a quieter, happier corner of life.

It’s a rare thing, a park that feels this lived-in but not overrun, friendly but not polished to a city sheen. I’ll say this: if you carve out a few hours to wander Pooley, you might leave with muddier shoes and happier memories than you expected.

Key Features

  • Surfaced Paths: Whether you’re rolling a pram, wheeling a mobility scooter, or just hate muddy socks, those paths are a game changer.
  • Tea Room / Café: Friendly staff, proper British tea, simple cakes, and surprisingly decent coffee. It won’t bankrupt you, either.
  • Classroom Facilities: Great for birthday parties and hands-on learning sessions. My nephew’s birthday here was loud and wild—exactly as it should be for eight-year-olds.
  • Accessible Toilets & Restroom Facilities: Not glamorous, but clean and genuinely useful—exactly what you want after an afternoon walking or play.
  • Mobility Scooter Hire: If you or someone in your group needs extra help getting about, you’ll find excellent support here.
  • Adventure Play Area: Slides, swings, the sort of climbing things that send parents’ hearts into their throats—kids love it.
  • Orienteering Course: Fun way to make a walk a bit more thrilling if you’re a fan of maps or just looking to tire the kids (or yourself!) out.
  • Picnic Tables: Enough that you’ll always find a spot, and well-placed for views of the lakes or wildflower meadows.
  • Wildlife & Natural Beauty: Kingfishers, herons, butterflies, foxes… and on a sunny day, the dragonflies are everywhere.
  • Dog Friendly: Leashed or off (check signs), canine companions are very much welcome—if you’ve got a ball-mad spaniel, this will be their idea of paradise.
  • Onsite Parking: Plentiful, with accessible options, and you can pay by card or even with your phone if you’re one of those people who forgets coins (guilty).
  • Kid-Friendly Hikes: Not epic distances, but loop options of around 1-3 miles let younger walkers join in without complaints (well, fewer complaints).

Best Time to Visit

Okay, here’s where opinions come in. Personally, my favourite time is late spring—think May or early June—when the wildflowers explode into colour and the pools are full of ducklings. But I’ve also loved coming in the odd crisp autumn for the copper-coloured leaves, which crunch underfoot and look like something out of a nostalgic children’s book. You’re less likely to bump into big crowds once the schools go back, by the way, so if peace and quiet is your thing… aim for a weekday during term time.

Summer, obviously, gets busy—good for buzz and energy, bad if you’re after solitude but excellent for kids running riot in the play area. Winter is hit-or-miss: you’ll need good boots and a hardy spirit, but the frost makes the landscape look, for lack of a better word, magical. And bonus: you might just have the place to yourself, save for a few hardy dog-walkers and the very stubborn.

If I could give a single piece of advice? Check the forecast. Pooley’s charm sky-rockets on sunny days, but don’t be scared off by a bit of drizzle—bring your waterproofs and make a hot chocolate stop your reward!

How to Get There

Traveling to Pooley Country Park is refreshingly straightforward, whether you’re driving in from nearby Tamworth, arriving by bike, or using public transport. If you’re on four wheels like me (with a tendency to toss half the boot full of picnic blankets and snacks), you’ll appreciate there’s a solid and signposted car park directly at the park. Parking’s rarely an issue—unless you’re visiting on a scorching bank holiday when everyone suddenly remembers they like the outdoors.

If you’re coming by train, Polesworth station is a stone’s throw from the park. Okay, maybe a very determined stone’s throw, but the walk connecting the two is doable if you pack light. Not every train stops at Polesworth, so do check times—this isn’t London, after all, and missing a train can mean some creative problem-solving!

For cyclists, I’d say bring a lock, and don’t sweat the path conditions; there’s enough surfaced track to get a decent ride in. The local bus services dip in and out of the area, mainly connecting Tamworth and Polesworth—ideal if you want to leave the car at home and let someone else navigate. Taxis are available but not cheap—wrangle a mate with wheels if you can!

Tips for Visiting