The colourful cover of the 6th edition of this guide shows scenes along this varied 100 mile walk between Cannock Chase and the Cotswolds. There are lakes, ponds and canals, heather and bilberry on gravely heath land, willows and alders in reedy river valleys and shapely limestone hills. The Way passes close to the populated, industrial Midlands but you see none of it. You walk through rural villages and the small cathedral city of Lichfield via Meriden, Henley in Arden, Alcester and Chipping Campden to Bourton on the Water. The Heart of England Way links the Staffordshire Way, Centenary Way, Midland Link, the Cotswold Way and the Oxfordshire Way.

The step by step directions and maps have been fully revised and updated to reflect the continual small changes to the countryside and paths. You can start from either end of the route and notes on places to stay, buses and trains at 27 locations let you plan the walk in your own stages. There are lots of photos and pages of interesting comment on the landscape, the churches, the villages and the sights.