A 10+ mile circular walk through varied and beautiful Warwickshire countryside led by Angus & Tracey Mills. Starting from The Stag at Offchurch the route heads towards Newbold Comyn Park then winds its way along a charming section of the Grand Union Canal to Ridgeway Lane exiting the canal at this point and heading North to pick up the Millennium Way towards Hunningham. From Hunningham Hill the route continues along the Millennium Way to Hall Farm Meadow Nature Reserve before looping back around to Offchurch via more minor footpaths.
A map of the route and a link to a GPX file follow below the the photo album and the route description.
Directions: Keeping the pub on the left head along the road for about 200 yards passing a junction on the left to a stile on the left. Cross the stile and follow the path ahead to a tarmac track; turn right and head towards a large Cedar Tree which marks a left turn. Follow the path ahead to a footbridge which crosses a stream. Cross the stream and turn right on a diagonal that moves away from the stream towards a tall wooden stile with three steps. Cross the stile and continue ahead up a slight incline to a hedge gap on the right; pass through the hedge gap and cross an open field to a wooded area.
The path heads in two directions at this point – turn left and continue down the path until reaching a large opening on the right. Turn right at this point and continue ahead towards a gap which becomes a wide footpath with signage for Millennium Way. Walk along this path until reaching a car park. At the corner of the car park turn immediately left along the edge of the car park to a tarmac track leads left to a pavilion. Follow the this track to the pavilion (there is a toilet stop option here when the pavilion is in use). At the pavilion the path continues to the right crossing a stream via a footbridge to a car park leading to Radford Road. Turn left heading along Radford Road, crossing the road when it is safe to do so. After a few hundred yards there is an opening on the right which leads to the canal towpath. Turn left and walk along the canal towpath for approximately 5km; the walking is good, the canal towpath is wide and this is a very pretty and peaceful section of the Grand Union Canal.
Exit the canal at Ridgeway Lane where HS2 is leaving its mark and the walk becomes interesting rather than being charming. Continue along Ridgeway Lane passing Stowford Lodge and crossing the old Railway line before reaching Fosse Way (B4455). At this point there is a short section of road walking to the crossroads at Hunningham Hill and then left a little further along the road to a stile on the left. Cross the stile and head diagonally right across the field to another stile (on the recce there were some rather feisty young cows in this field; as an alternative to crossing this field, remain on the road a little longer until reaching a metal 7 bar gate; climb over this gate and then climb over another 7 bar gate immediately on the right; turn left and walk for 200 yards to meet up with the route). Continue along the Millennium Way to a road near Hall Farm Meadow Nature Reserve. Upon reaching the road, turn left and then turn almost immediately right at a road junction; the path leaves the road at this point on the left (no signage). Follow the path ahead passing an impressive Georgian House on the right.
Pass through a metal gate into a field and look ahead and left for another metal gate. Pass through the second metal gate and continue to the left following a stream; this is a pretty spot and an ideal stopping point. Continue ahead following the path of the stream towards an opening between the hedge and some trees. Continue to follow the stream looking for a path on the left which heads away from the stream through a field of crops (on the recce the crop was oilseed rape and the path was obscured somewhat). Upon reaching an open field the path heads left following the hedge line (keep hedge on the left) to some barns that are part of Fields Farm. After passing the barns, continue ahead to a small wooded area crossing a stream and heading towards Manor Farm. Pass through Manor Farm, cross a field to a metal gate and a path which leads directly to the Stag pub on Welsh Road, Offchurch.
Click the Learn more button above to open the map in Outdooractive from where you can download the route to the free Outdooractive app for Android or iOS, or export the route to a GPX file for use in other apps. A GPX file for this route can also be downloaded from here. For more about using Outdooractive, and a list of all our routes with GPS files, see: GPS Routes
