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West from Henley-in-Arden

Warwickshire Walk

County/Area - Warwickshire

Author - Millennium Way

Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km    Ascent - 200 feet / 61 metres

Time - 3 hours 0 minutes    Grade - easy

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - West from Henley-in-Arden
Click image to see photo description.

This delightful Warwickshire circular walk starts from the 15th century church of St John the Baptist, situated on the corner of the High Street and Beaudesert Lane in Henley-in-Arden. (It is usually possible to park for up to 4 hours at the top of Beaudesert Lane, but please check the restrictions). The walk takes us across mostly flat farmland with just a few gentle inclines. Very suitable for a gentle ramble before arriving back in Henley for some well-deserved refreshment. The first part of the walk incorporates an attractive section of the Millennium Way, where you will be guided by the distinctive black Millennium Way way markers.

A - With your back to St John the Baptist church on corner of High Street and Beaudesert Lane in Henley-in-Arden, we set off on the Millennium Way and go right (past the Guild House). After a few yards cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and go left along High Street for approx. 30 paces to turn right up alleyway signed to The Station. (You will see the distinctive black Millennium Way way markers to guide you along the first half of the walk). Stay up alleyway and through the car park of the Swan Pub. Continue following signs to Station (into Swan Croft). At the end of alleyway cross the road bearing slightly left then go up slope on right to cross the railway bridge. Continue forward on fenced path with allotments on both sides and take metal kissing gate. Go ahead through further metal gate and then along tree lined passage (be careful of low branches) to go left through another metal gate. Ignore kissing gate immediately on right and go with trees right to find footbridge with metal rails. Cross footbridge over ditch, under fallen branch, to take kissing gate. Go slightly right along tree covered path with hedge on left and right and into sunken way up to stile. Cross stile and go up steps to reach field. Go up field over summit, then stay ahead to pass through a fence gap and past an isolated piece of fencing with waymarks and continue down to take stile to road just opposite Well Cottage.

B - Cross road then go up drive to right of Well Cottage (take a moment to look down old well) and cross interesting stile in brick wall to right of gate. Go ahead over stile into small orchard. Continue forward over stile into paddock and cross another stile into field. Go diagonally left down field keeping trees right to reach another stile near field corner. Cross stile and go right down steps then left across ditch to cross another stile then forward to metal footbridge over stream. Turn diagonally right across field to pass marker post and on to stile in hedge. Cross stile and go diagonally left across field, maintaining same direction, to cross stile in hedge and continue diagonally left to take another stile by gate in hedge. (There is a commemorative wooden bench to Jim Chambers here if you would like to sit a while and enjoy the wonderful view).

Go diagonally right down field to cross stile and wooden planked footbridge over deep ditch. Continue forward to cross stile in next hedge and stay ahead towards narrow field corner gap by solitary oak tree. Take gap and continue along with hedge right. Go through gap in hedge at field corner and stay along next field with hedge right. At the field corner, where there may be noisy dogs, go through gap in hedge to reach lane. (Here we leave the Millennium Way).

C - Turn left and walk gently up lane for approx. 3/4 mile passing by the edge of Five Acre Wood. Continue past a farm to where a side road joins from the right. Ignore side road and continue along lane for 250 yds to take waymarked public footpath on left through a "gate in a gate". Proceed along track and stay ahead with hedge left. Where hedge ends continue ahead on wide grassy path. Go through metal gate ahead and continue with wire fence and hedge right.

Where the hedge turns slightly right stay ahead to take mid hedge kissing gate just to right of tree. Stay ahead on the enclosed path to take next kissing gate into field. Bear right here and continue along long field edge with wire fence left and hedge right. On reaching field corner go through metal gate and continue ahead on track between trees. Stay ahead past open hay barn to pass through next metal gate to T-junction of tracks. Cross over track and go forward to take metal gate then turning left to go through another metal gate with wire fence on your left. Continue along to take stile to road.

D - Cross the road and take stile slightly right opposite continuing up slope with hedge and trees left. At the top of the slope take metal kissing gate and go ahead between wooden fences to take wooden gate just to left of farm buildings. Go ahead across driveway (avoid walking into private property) and take very small gap in fence, and then go a short distance with fence left to exit by awkward gate in corner. Take gate and turn right on track to cross a railway bridge.

Stay ahead on track to pass old Warwickshire College building right until you reach the main A3400 road. Turn left and go across the traffic lights continuing into Henley High Street. As you go up the High Street to your starting point, you will pass the famous Henley Ice Cream Parlour and Tea Room on your left - always worth a visit. Soon you will arrive back at St. John the Baptist church. There are numerous pubs and restaurants in Henley for refreshments.

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