Rowley Hills

The Rowley Hills are located in the county of West Midlands, England. The hills are made up of Turners Hill, the highest point in the West Midlands, Portway Hill and Darby's Hill. Falling under the councils of Sandwell (since 1974, having previously been part of Warley and until 1966 Rowley Regis) and Dudley, the main populated areas nearby are Dudley, Rowley Regis, Tividale, Brickhouse and Springfield.

With its relatively high elevation, views from the summit include the Clee Hills, Clent Hills, Cannock Chase and much of Birmingham and the Black Country. The height has also led to numerous radio, TV and mobile phone transmitters dotted over the top.

The most important 'export' from the hills is the quarried Rowley Rag stone, a form of Dolerite notably used to make kerbstones used across much of Birmingham.

Over the centuries that the hills have been inhabited, there have been four churches located there, all named St. Giles, in the village of Rowley Regis.

The ridge forms part of the east/west watershed with rainfall on the western side going to the Bristol Channel via the River Severn and rainfall on the eastern side ending up in the North sea via the Trent.

In 2011 the Rowley Hills nature reserve was established on the Bury Hill by the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country.

See also

• Turners Hill
• Turners Hill Transmitter