Leader: Bill Calvert
Start: 10:30 am
Distance: 4.4 miles
Finish: 12:30 pm
Map: OS Explorer 221
Weather: Sunny to start heavy showers later
Going: Mainly dry until after the downpour
Walk: Bill Calvert, Jean Irvine and Chris Widdowson
We assembled at The Anchor Inn, Leek Wootton. Leaving The Anchor we turned right towards All Saints’ Church visiting the church which is now open for visitors, past the Warwickshire Golf Club Fitness Centre, across the bottom end of the golf course to a kissing gate towards Middle Woodloes, going past the Ordanance Survey Trig point which has long been superseded by SatNav and GPS devices. We then went back towards the Golf course and along the West side of the golf course eventually cutting through on to the Millenium Way when the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour causing lots of minor flooding, We passed Goodrest Farm and instead of following the edge of the Golf course we went back to Leek Wootton via Rouncil Lane and Woodcote Lane back to the Anchor to dry off and enjoy a well earned lunch where we were joined by Shirley Calvert and Richard Hole.
AREA: Bascote
LEADER: Margaret Pearson
START: 10.30 am
DISTANCE:
WEATHER:
GOING:
PRESENT: Jean Irvine, Chris Widdowson, Margaret Pearson and John Page, Bill Calvert
AREA: Cherington
LEADER: Lindsay Rushton
START: 10.30 am
DISTANCE: About 3 ½ miles
WEATHER: A hill walk, with nice views
GOING: Dry underfoot, considering the rain we've had recently.
PRESENT: Jean Irvine, Audrey Ward, Chris Widdowson, Margaret Pearson and Ann Farr from Snitterfield
THE WALK:
Turn right out of the car park, and follow the road until just before it bends to the right. Turn left down a track next to a house, through a gate and across the field diagonally left, towards a footbridge, after which go diagonally right up the field towards another gate leading into a small copse. This leads into a farmyard. Straight across to a stile to the right of the farm gate, onto a small path, and follow the path when it turns left through the trees, beside the farm (on your left) to the main farm exit which takes you to the attractive village of Sutton under Brailles. Keep left, past the houses and go up the road towards the church. Keep left, and go through the grounds of the house on your left, using two stiles, and cross their orchard, making for a gate into a stubble field at the far end.
Walk diagonally left across this field, and through a gate in the hedge, on to a farm track. Turning right, follow the track until you come to a gate into a field with the path climbing steeply towards another gate at the top. Still going upwards, follow the path to the top. Ignore the arrow- signed path which goes straight ahead, and turn left. This takes you across a field, and through a gate. Keep going (superb views over Shipston on the right, across to Ilmington, and even to Broadway Tower further to the left) until you have passed through two gates. Turn left after the second gate, and facing south, follow the hedge on the left, go through a small gate, and commence the descent of the hill, with an elegant re-development of a farm ruin on your left.
A steep downward grass path leads to a drive which leads down to the road. Turn right, and follow the road for about 300 yards, enter a gate on the left through a copse, and follow the left hand hedge down to the valley bottom, crossing a section of ridge and furrow. Cross the stream by a wide bridge, and head left towards a narrow bridge. Cross the field and through a gate. Turn right, after this bridge, and head diagonally upwards towards the church. At the corner of the field, cross a stile into the road. Turn right towards the church. Pass through the churchyard, with the church on the right, through a kissing gate, and, diagonally left across another ridge and furrow field to a stile next to the houses. The path cuts through the houses and back into the car park.
RAMBLE NO: 309 Saturday 31 October 2015
AREA: Berkswell, Warwickshire
LEADER: Margaret Pearson
START: 10.30 am FINISH: 12.15
DISTANCE: 4.4 miles approx
WEATHER: Sunny and mild
GOING: Muddy in parts
PRESENT: Margaret Pearson, Bill Calvert, Richard Hole
I used Ordinance Survey map no. 221.
The walk started from the car park in Berkswell village. We began by walking up to the cross roads with the Bear Inn diagonally on our right. Here we turned left along the Meriden Road and approximately half a mile along this road turned off left onto a well marked footpath leading across fields to another metal road. Richard left us half way across these fields to return to the car park. From here we turned left and followed the way markers past the turnoff for Park Farm. We then skirted a landfill site on our right and a sand quarry on our left before leaving the metal road and taking the waymarked path across the fields with Marsh Farm to our right. (please note sign for bull in field although on Saturday he had been moved across to another field for the convenience of ramblers!).
We then passed through a series of woods (Sixteen Acre wood marked on the map), mostly of firs and then on towards the Berkswell Manor estate land with views of the lake and the main house (now divided up into luxury flats). Here we joined the Heart of England way and crossed a boarded walkway leading us back to the village and Berkswell church and graveyard. We popped into the church to have a look around. Berkswell is famous for its Thompson mice (we were told that there are 9 of them carved into the wood all round the church). The church warden was there and he pointed out a mouse and a lizard! The crypt was also open so we visited that too.
Lunch was not in Berkswell but in Balsall Common at the Brickmakers Arms. Here we were joined by Shirley Calvert and Jim Inglis.
Walk No: 308 Saturday 26 September 2015
Venue: Lower Shuckburgh
Leader: Lindsay Rushton
Start: Met at 10.15 for 10.30 start
Distance: 4 miles (2 hours)
Going: Sunny and very dry.
Parking: In Lower Shuckburgh, turn left past church, and park in lay-bye next to
the canal bridge.
Lunch: The Kings Head, Hatton,
Present: John Redshaw (IAM), Chris Widdowson, John Page, Lindsay Rushton.
We were joined for lunch by Jim Inglis and Richard Hole.
Walk through Shuckburgh Hall Estate.
Walk towards the main road, past the church, cross this road and through a gate opposite. Head towards the houses, through two gates close together, and go right up the hill, following signs. Go through a tall metal gate at the top of the hill, then carry on until you see farm buildings. The Manor House and church are on your left, hidden in the trees.
Go on down, past the farm buildings, through another metal gate, and turn right on to a farm track. A hundred yards or so, go through a farm gate on your right into a field. Head straight up the hill, through a gate half way up, and to another gate at the top of the field. Keep on through this field, and the next, until the grassy track you are following goes on through an open gate, and here you keep right, diagonally across this field. Follow the path across three fields and you will come to a tarred road at a junction.
Turn right along a long narrow tarred and gated road which leads straight down the hill,
with lovely views, to the main road you originally crossed. Cross over and walk back to your cars.
Walk No: 307 Saturday 29 August 2015
We assembled at The Anchor Inn, Leek Wootton.
We drove to the lay-by on Rouncil Lane and went towards Goodrest Farm passing the World War II Gun Emplacements and site of the former Italian Prisoner of War Camp. Then taking the Bridleway we walked towards Wedgenock Lane. When we arrived at the Wedgenock Lane/Bridleway crossroads we turned right and walked for about a mile until we came across another Bridleway near to Bull Oak Farm which led us to Banner Hill Farm. We then went past the abbatoir, which fortunately is closed on Saturdays, and back on to Rouncil Lane to where the car was parked and returned to Leek Wootton for lunch.
We met up with the non-walkers for a delicious lunch at the Anchor Inn.
Leader: Bill Calvert
Start: 10:30 am
Distance: 4 miles
Finish: 12:15 pm
Map: Kenilworth and Beyond (Country Walks)
Weather: Very Sunny
Going Underfoot: Dry going
We all assembled at The Anchor Inn in Leek Wootton. Leaving The Anchor we turned left onto Woodcote Lane heading towards Warwickshire Police Headquarters, which used to be the home of the Wise and later the Waller families. We then crossed over the road and went through the Police Headquarters copse onto the Memorial Recreation Ground, which afforded us views across the fields of Kenilworth. The Leek Wootton Sports Club is situated on the Recreation Ground and also the Village Hall and the War Memorial. We then crossed over the Warwick Road and went down a path beside the last house (1) and along a fenced path to a kissing gate. We carried on and crossed the bridge over the A46 (2) passing through Wootton Spinnies, a strip of woodland with Beech, Chestnut, Hawthorn, Sycamore and Oak trees predominating. At this point the bridge over the railway crosses the single line between Coventry and Leamington. The path continued through Wootton Spinnies and crossed the B4115 (3) on to a wider section of the Spinnies. There are paths turning either back on to the B4115 or leading to the centre of Hill Wootton.
We took the lower path near to the River Avon (4) and followed the path on to the road, which took us back towards Hill Wootton, which was named Hulle in 1248 and later Wootton Hulle in 1315.
We walked through the village of Hill Wootton and continued on that road back to Leek Wootton (5). Between Hill Wootton and Leek Wootton we were able to see St. Mary’s Church, Warwick, in the distance. At the top of Hill Wootton Road in Leek Wootton, we turned right onto Warwick Road, which took us back to the Anchor Inn. We were joined there by Shirley Calvert, Wendy Shakespeare, Jim and Jean Ingles, Gillian and Peter Wilson, and Richard Hole for lunch.
The walk started from the Dun Cow pub/inn at Dunchurch, near Rugby at 10.30 approximately.
The weather was very cloudy and it began to rain quite heavily as we set off across the fields towards Thurlaston. On the way to Thurlaston the path took us across fields of alpacas, of different colours and sizes. We then crossed beneath the M45 and very soon after crossing the only field of cows encountered during the whole walk (some with very long horns), we reached the village of Thurlaston and its church.
From Thurlaston we took the waymarked path down the hill towards Draycote reservoir, where the rain eventually stopped. Here Richard left us to walk back to Dunchurch along the route outlined above. The rest of the party turned left on reaching the reservoir and followed the road round the edge of the lake visiting a small fruit, vegetable and herb garden on the way. When we reached the causeway we branched off again left across the fields to the A426 Rugby to Southam road, passing a Severn Trent installation on our left hand side. Crossing the very busy A426 we continued along the waymarked route across 4 or 5 fields until we came to a metal road. Here we turned left and made our way to Whitehall farm which we skirted and from there followed the waymarkers through fields of grazing sheep until we climbed the hill back to Dunchurch.
The distance was approximately 4 - 5 miles and we arrived back at 1 pm.
Unfortunately our lunch venue the Dun Cow was full and so we headed across the road to another pub where there were less people and where we ate a pleasant meal.
WALK NO. 303 Saturday 31 January 2015
Leader: Lindsay Rushton
Area: Alveston, Stratford upon Avon
Venue: The Ferry Inn
Time 10 a.m.
Distance: 3 ½ miles, 1 ¾ hours.
Going: Muddy in places, but on the whole a good winter walk.
Present: Lindsay Rushton, Chrissie Widdowson, Jean Irvine, John Page, Moira Tsolaki
(Sorry, forgot to take my camera!)
Parking: Tiny car park in front of pub, but plenty of parking on the road.
The Walk
Turn right out of the pub carpark and follow the road past some houses and through a gate leading on to a narrow path running along the right hand side of the river. The path eventually emerges on to a road. Turn right and go along the pavement, until you reach the next turning on the left, which is a farm track. Cross the road and follow this long track past farm buildings until you get to a gap in the hedge on the left, just before the next farm entrance. Go through this gap, and turn right along the edge of the field (this is usually muddy) towards another large field, where you turn right and follow the right hand edge along a grassy path.
Go on, round the corner of the field until you come to a stile on the right, leading to a narrow path between two fields, (fence on the left, and beware of rabbit and badger holes). Just before you reach the house in front of you, take the stile on the right. Keep on down towards a gate at the bottom of the field, leading on to a road.
Turn left and walk for about 200 yards, past a large house, then turn right onto a farm track. Follow this track right down to the main road. Cross the road, turning right, until you get to the fork leading down to the village. ¾ of the way down this road, look out for a small path on the left, signposted “Old Church”. Follow this path, past a house and through a garden gate, and across a drive on to a path leading through some trees. Keep going until you reach a tiny chapel (peek through the window). Go through the gate and turn left on the road. Keep going through the village – keeping left at a fork - until you reach the pub.
AREA: Claverdon
VENUE: The Crown Italian pub
LEADER: Lindsay Rushton
START: 10 a.m
DISTANCE: 4 Miles
GOING: Dry, sunny spells
Present: Chrissie Widdowson, Jean Irvine, John Page, Moira Tsolakis, John Redshaw (IAM)
We were joined for lunch by Don Rushton and Richard Hole.
THE WALK
From The Crown Inn car park, cross the road, turning right for about 100 yards, then left through a gate into a field. Follow the path, turning left off it towards the village. Out into a tarred road, turning left, and walk on until you get to a T junction. Turn right, then first left towards the church. Go through a wooden gate into the churchyard, church on your right. Out through a gate onto the road, and turn right. After about 300 yards, you will see a gate on the left, leading into a field. Follow the path, with big houses on your right, and a lovely view to the left. At the end of this path, a gate leads into a farm track. Turn right up the slope and through a gate on to the road. Turn left for about 100 yards, then turn left through a gate into a large field.
Keep on the left and pass through another opening into the next field. The path leads down the hill towards some bushes at the bottom. Through these, you turn right up the hill towards a large white house. Through two gates next to this house, and the track takes you to the road.
Turn left down the hill, bearing right at the bottom towards some houses. Keep on this road down the hill, and at the bottom, take a footpath to the right leading through the woods, for quite a long way. At the end of this path (house on left, private drive to the right), go on down some steps to the road.
Turn left for about 300 yards, then turn right through a gate (to the left of the farm gate) into a small fenced area. Over a marked stile into the field, and straight up the hill in front of you. At the top, through a gate into another field, with a farm on the left. Over this field to the road.
Turn left for about 200 yards, then take the stile on the left into a small field, with a house to the right. Across this field
towards some trees, through a gate, and follow the path along the fence, with views to the left. Past a house, through
the gateway, and follow the drive, bearing right until you see a gate on the left leading into a field (small gate on the left of the farm gate). This path leads to the gate you originally came through, with the pub just across the road..