Coughton

A walk of 8 miles / 13km , based on this route from OSMaps.com, led by Tas Hind on Sun 14 Jan from The Throckmorton, Coughton Hill, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5HX (directions in Google Maps). The route is on footpaths over fields and through woods, and on some quiet lanes. Expect a fair amount of mud in winter. 

This walk was led by Tas Hind and started from the Throckmorton, Kings Coughton, B49 5HX, at 9.30 am. The walk is 7 to 8 miles.

From the Throckmorton, walk south past Coughton Court and turn left into the lane the other side of Coughton Court. Continue along the lane to a ford, go over the bridge on the right and at the other side turn left along the Arden Way. Proceed along the Arden Way to Spernal Lane, turn right and then immediately left along a lane, continue to a left turn through "Mutton Farm" on the Heart of England Way.  

(Continued) 

This walk, led by Bob Reid, started from The Green Dragon Inn, Sambourne, B96 6NU (Google Maps) at 9.30am and was just over 8 miles long. There is ample car parking space.  At least 50% of the walk is on lanes to avoid mud where possible but there will always be some mud in winter and after prolonged rain. From Sambourne the route goes through the new Haydon Way Wood in the Heart of England Forest to Spernal, past the Purity Brewery, past Coughton Court and Park, and then back to Sambourne. 

This walk of 11 miles leads to two National Trust properties, Coughton Court and The Kinwarton Dovecote, and follows the lovely River Arrow for some of its length.

The walk starts at The Throckmorton Arms (Coughton Hill, A435, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5HX) and passes along the frontage of Coughton Court which is an imposing Tudor house set in beautiful gardens. Coughton Court is the home of the Throckmorton family who have lived at Coughton since 1409. John de Throckmorton, Under Treasurer of England to Henry VI, acquired Coughton in the early 15th Century through his marriage to Eleanor de Spiney. Their descendants have held it for 600 years and, although the National Trust has owned the house since 1946, the family still live here.  The origins of Coughton Court lie in pre-conquest times: the present building was begun in the 15th Century. The walk also passes two beautiful churches in the grounds.