Outdoor training in Solihull: Olton Jubilee Park, Elmdon Park and Brueton Park

Training outdoors is one of the simplest ways to make exercise feel less like a chore. You get space to move, fresh air and a change of scenery from your living room or the gym. Solihull is lucky to have some excellent council-run parks, and three of them are my regular training spots: Olton Jubilee Park, Elmdon Park and Brueton Park.

Here is what each park offers, based on Solihull Council's own information, plus how a park session works and how to train outdoors safely through the year.

Why train outdoors at all?

A park gives you room for things that are awkward indoors: sprints, shuttle runs, carrying weights over distance, partner drills and circuits with cones. You can mix strength and conditioning in one session without worrying about the furniture.

It also helps you build towards the UK Chief Medical Officers' recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, because a park session naturally includes walking and moving between stations. And if you do not enjoy gyms, it is a very different atmosphere.

Olton Jubilee Park: what is there?

Olton Jubilee Park is on Lyndon Road, Olton (B92 7RQ), and is open 24 hours a day. The council describes it as having large open spaces, and it holds a Green Flag award. Facilities listed by the council include:

• Large open spaces for running drills and circuits
• A children's play area, a basketball area and a BMX pump track
• A football pitch that teams can book through the council
• Hatchford Brook, which runs through the park

The council notes there are no managed car parking facilities, so it is best for people who live nearby and can walk or cycle. Bus route 58 stops nearby and Olton railway station is about half a mile away. It is the closest of the three to my base in Olton.

Elmdon Park: what is there?

Elmdon Park has two entrances, on Tanhouse Farm Road (B92 9EY) and Damson Parkway (B91 2PP). According to Solihull Council, it offers:

• Wide open spaces and a hilly landscape with views across the region, which is great for hill walks and hill sprints
• A lake
• An outdoor gym, with equipment including a rower and horizontal bars
• Walking trails, including a heritage trail
• Tennis courts that are free to hire, a football pitch and a play area
• A local nature reserve

There is free car parking off Tanhouse Farm Road and Damson Parkway. The car parks open from 8am and close at different times in summer and winter, so check the council page before an early or late session.

Brueton Park: what is there?

Brueton Park forms part of Malvern and Brueton Parks, close to Solihull town centre. The Brueton end is on Warwick Road (B91 3HA). The council lists:

• Wide open recreation spaces
• A lake, mature woodland and walking trails, including the Brueton Tree Trail
• Tennis courts that are free to hire
• A play area and a local nature reserve
• Free car parking at the Warwick Road end

Brueton Park also hosts a free, weekly 5km parkrun every Saturday at 9am. You need to register and bring your barcode to get a time. It is a handy goal if you want something to train towards. Bus routes 5, 5A and 899 serve the park, and Solihull and Widney Manor stations are within walking distance.

How do the three parks compare?

What does a park PT session look like?

For park sessions I bring the kit: kettlebells, adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, boxing gloves and pads, a suspension trainer, mats and cones. A typical 60-minute session might run like this:

1. Warm-up (about 10 minutes): brisk walk or easy jog, then mobility and a few practice reps of the main movements.
2. Strength block (about 20 minutes): kettlebell squats and deadlifts, suspension trainer rows and press-ups.
3. Conditioning (about 15 minutes): cone shuttles, pad work or a carry circuit, pitched at your level.
4. Cool-down (about 10 minutes): easy walk and stretching, and a quick chat about what to do before the next session.

Everything is scaled to you, so a park session can be gentle for a beginner or very demanding for someone fitter. If you are new, read what your first month of personal training looks like.

How do you train outdoors safely all year?

• Dress in layers. You will warm up quickly, so start with a layer you can take off.
• Wear the right shoes. Grass gets slippery. Trainers with decent grip matter more than looking the part.
• Plan around daylight. Winter evenings are dark early, so lunchtime or weekend sessions often work better from autumn to spring.
• Bring water, even in cold weather.
• Be a good park user. Keep clear of play areas and paths, and share the space considerately.

When the weather really turns, sessions can move indoors to your home. That flexibility is one of the main advantages of a mobile trainer, as explained in mobile PT vs gym PT.

Fancy training in the park?

If you live in Olton, Solihull, Elmdon, Sheldon or nearby and want to train outdoors, WhatsApp me on 07914 046329 for a free 15-minute chat. Your first session is £30. For prices, locations and what to expect, see the guide to personal training in Solihull.