Dorridge & District Residents Association Baddesley Clinton To

Dorridge & District Residents Association Baddesley Clinton to Wroxall Abbey This walk of around 5 miles takes around two hours. It starts from Baddesley Clinton. Whilst the parking there is free, it is National Trust property and Sunday's can be busy, so bear in mind you are taking a liberty parking there unless you are visiting the house. Alternative parking can be found either at Hay Wood or at the lane that runs to the church which is just off Hay Wood Lane. This walk goes through Hay Wood, through some farm land across the other side of the Warwick Road, and back through Wroxall Abbey, taking in some glorious rolling Warwickshire countryside on its way. The walk has only one style (we think, but can't remember where!) but can be muddy when wet; there are no steep hills. It does cross the Warwick road so small children would need to be carefully supervised. The pictures are from a sunny morning in June 2006.

1: From Baddesley Clinton, find the lane to the 2: Walk straight through the Church Grounds Church. The footpath goes Assuming you are straight along, starting from the car though you might park at Baddesley wish to pop your Clinton, from the grassy head through the extension car park, looking up from the Church door and entrance to the right, admire this small there is a large wooden church. gate that leads to a path. Turn left along the path and walk to the Church. 3: Leave the Church Grounds 4: Turn Left along the lane

Leave the Church, After turning left, walk continuing straight on a short way and you from the path, will find a track on the through the gate and right. onto the small lane that shortly joins Hay Wood Lane.

5: Turn Right up the track 6: Go through the gate to the woods

Turn up the track, past After a short while, a small bungalow you will find a wooden gate. Go through this and then you walk for a mile or so through Hay Wood, always going straight ahead.

You eventually arrive Carrying on still at a cross roads - further, eventually the carry straight ahead. path bears to the left. At the same point there is a gateway to the right. We go right through the gate, following the way marked trail.

9: Go diagonally across the field 10: Go through the gate

Walk diagonally The gate has an across the field to the unusual fastening. barns on the other Carry down the side. There is a gate pathway up to the just to their left. wooden gate.

11: Go through the gate and turn left 12: Bear to the right

Turn left through the Follow the track out gate - the path goes to the right and you in front of a private will join a small house. country lane. Follow this on to the main road - Warwick Road.

13: Cross and turn left 14: Go through the middle of the farm

Taking care crossing Turn right between the road - not busy the walls and walk to but traffic comes at the farm buildings. speed. Turn left along the pavement and walk for a couple of hundred metres until you find a farm house.

15: Go to the left 16: Follow the track

The path goes to the Follow the track for left of the building at some time until you the end, you then join arrive at a gate onto an obvious track. a small lane.

Turn right and follow Eventually you reach the lane. At first it an iron fence. There passes between is a gate on the right fields, but then you which we go through. will see a few On Sunday picturesque cottages afternoons, the hall on the left. the fencing surrounds provides afternoon teas according to roadside signs.

19: Through the field and cross the road. 20: Through the gates

Keeping to the left of Go through two large the field, you soon gates and follow the arrive back at the obvious track Warwick Road. Taking care crossing the road with fast traffic, cross over and take the track that can be seen opposite.

21: As the track bears left, take the gate to carry 22: Through a new gate and up to the wood. on. After a few steps After a while, you there is a new gate. arrive at a fence Go through this and where the path head up to the woods appears to bear left. and then take the There is an old iron path through them. kissing gate ahead and we take that, following a similar line to the path we have just been on, up to the wood ahead.

23: Out of the woods, bear slightly left 24: Bear to the right

Follow the path to the As you reach the next left of the next tree, take the path to woodland area. the right following the way mark.

25: Through the gate and straight on 26: Go to the left of the Oaks

Go through the gate, As you walk through and then follow more the field, you will see or less straight on up woodland ahead. the small slope in the There are two large open field. oaks in front of this. Bear to the left of them (you might just spot the yellow blobs of a way mark on them) and then walk near the edge of the field.

At the distinctive gate The path follows a post, go through the slow curve to the left gate and turn right. around the edge of the field. At the gate at the end of the field, go onto the lane, turning right.

29: Walk along the lane to the next junction 30: Passed the limit, spot the path on the right

Walking along the Just after the speed lane, go to the next limit sign, you will turning on the left, find the pathway on which is signposted the right which we Rowington. Follow the take. From now on road for some time we essentially walk in until just after the 40 a straight line all the mile an hour signs. way back to Before then you Baddesley Clinton... might notice the interesting house on the left based on an old windmill. 31: Pass the farm 32: Take the main track on the right...

33: Take the footpath ahead when the track turns 34: Through another gate left and keep following the same line across the barely noticeable bridge.

35: Keeping to the right, we find another gate 36: Go back through the Church yard to Baddesley Clinton Following into the right of the field, we At the end of the path you join the lane to the church; turn left eventually come to to take you back through the Church and along the lane to the another gate. Carry on car park on your right. through and the path carries on to Baddesley Clinton Church with a wire fence on the left and hedge on the right.

If you have any problems, comments or suggestions on this walk, send them to us at [email protected]. If you have any favourite local walks, let us know and we could publish those too.