On a sunny day, even if the rural footpaths will be damp, the centre of Tamworth offers a pleasant and varied day out, strolling on paved surfaces. It provides a delightful waterside and sculpture park stroll, along with options for a castle visit, food and even shops.

Tamworth Castle stands in a strategic location, high above the confluence of the Rivers Tame and Anker. It is open weekends only until April, then daily except Monday through the summer. Its 15 historically furnished rooms are set out to reflect, in turn, Saxon, Norman, Tudor and Victorian life in the castle.

Artefacts include a permanent display of 18 pieces from the Staffordshire Hoard and the castle tower provides panoramic views over the heart of the town.

The Planet Walk is a sculpture trail set within the castle gardens, with ten representations of the solar system, from the Sun through to Pluto. It is possible to walk it so that each distance between them is to scale, but this route takes an alternative course.

It begins at the Car Park on Fazeley Road. To access this, leave the A5 at the Tamworth junction. At the second roundabout, after passing John Lewis at home and Sainsburys, take the third exit. A brown signpost here points to the Castle.

This is Bonehill Road and to the left here is the River Tame. The car park can be found at its end and around to the right.

Leaving the car and crossing the river bridge, then following the path to the right, under the Riverdrive dual carriageway, takes you to the edge of the Lake and then on to the Holiday Inn Express.

From the hotel car park an overbridge crosses Riverdrive again into the castle gardens. Here a right turn along the Planet Walk leads to the Neptune and Pluto sculptures and to the banks of the Anker.

A short distance ahead is a tight group of five exhibits from the Sun through to Mars and beyond that the bridge over the Anker which leads to the formal raised beds of the floral terrace with the classic bandstand at its heart. Up a surprisingly steep slope from here is the castle entrance.

Returning across the bridge from these, an immediate right turn leads to the remaining planets and the bridge back over the Tame to the Car Park.

For those who fancy a bite en route, Roasters on George Street, beyond the castle, is very popular for its all day breakfasts, salads and roast meat sandwiches. As is Druckers, found amongst the retail therapy of the Ankerside Shopping Centre, the entrance of which is almost opposite Roasters.