Warwickshire

Warwickshire conjures up countryside images of an undulating farming landscape with mature hedgerows and an abundance of woodland and leafy lanes. Attractive red brick is a common building material typical of many villages and farmhouses and is even seen in much older timber framed tudor buildings. Warwickshire is perhaps most famously known for Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and the countryside round about is undoubtedly beautiful, particularly along the willow edged river Avon. But there is much more to Warwickshire than Stratford-upon-Avon and most of the county can offer locations for very pleasurable walking, although the south has the edge.

In Shakespear's day the area north of Stratford, known as the Forest of Arden, was heavily wooded and formed the setting for his play As you like It. There are places in the area which still provide pleasant woodland walks, such as Withycombe Wood near Wilmcote and Austy Wood near Wootton Wawen. A delightful and interesting waterside walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Wilmcote and Wootton Wawen can be made along the Stratford-upon-Avon canal. This narrow waterway has more the feel of a quiet sleepy river than a canal, particularly once past the long flight of locks south of Wilmcote. Within the attractive village of Wilmcote, Mary Arden's house can be visited.

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Walking in Warwickshire by: Brian Conduit. 30 walks spread over all parts of the county and covering all aspects of its landscape and history. Locations include: Polesworth and Alvecote Priory; Kingsbury Water Park; Coleshill and Maxstoke; Hartshill Hayes and Coventry Canal; Sutton Park; Berkswell and Meriden; Knowle and Temple Balsall; Brinklow and Easenhall; Coombe Abbey and Birchley Wood; Newbold-on-Avon and Little Lawford; Napton on the Hill and the Shuckburghs; Earlswood Lakes; Tanworth-in-Arden; Packwood House and Lapworth Church; Henley-in-Arden and Lowsonford; Hay Wood and Baddersley Clinton; Kenilworth; Wilmcote and Aston Cantlow; Alcester, Exhall and Wixford; Stratford-upon-Avon and Shottery; Stour Valley villages; Warwick and Guy's Cliffe; Ilmington Downs; Tysoe and Compton Wynyates; Edge Hill; Burton Dassett Hills; Brailes Hill; Long Compton, Whichford and Cherington.
	50 Walks in Warwickshire & West Midlands by: Roger Noyce. 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles, each with fascinating background reading. There are clear, easy-to-follow route descriptions, including detailed sketch maps, for every walk. The walk locations include: Wightwick; Pedmore; Dudley; Leasowes Park; Woodgate; Sandwell Valley; Walsall; Hay Head Wood; Birmingham; Studley; Alcester; Bidford-on-Avon; Earlswood Lakes; Sutton Park; Welford-on-Avon; Henley-in-Arden; Solihull; Kingsbury; Baddesley Clinton; Stratford upon Avon; Shottery; Ilmington; Shustoke; Berkswell; Ettington; Meriden; Polesworth; Charlecote; Warwick; Kenilworth; Long Compton; Brailes; Hartshill Hayes; Coventry; Ratley; Bedworth; Harbury; Chesterton; Eathorpe; Dassett; Draycote Water; Napton on the Hill; Harborough Magna.
	100 Walks in Warwickshire and West Midlands compiled by: Irene Boston. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The book is ideal as a valuable reference book for residents and visitors to the region. The wide choice of routes are spread across both counties, with approximately two thirds of the walks in Warwickshire. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Discovery Walks in Warwickshire by: Dennis Kelsall. Readers will be surprised and delighted by the treasure-trove of interesting places unearthed in this book. The walks range from 2 to 10 miles and have been devised to suit the entire family. Wherever possible, Denis has directed walkers to footpaths, bridlepaths and towpaths so their enjoyment will be peaceful and safe. The pace is deliberately leisurely, allowing time to enjoy the informative commentary and explore the surroundings. With walks across the county's highest hills, through secluded woods and by peaceful canals and rivers, you'll find there's more than you thought to Warwickshire.
	Country Walks in Warwickshire & Worcestershire by: Des Wright. This collection of walks explores some of the attractive countryside in these two West Midlands counties. The walks are all circular and can be reached easily by car and, with one exception, by public transport. Distance range between 2 and 9.5 miles, with one rather more strenuous walk of 14 miles. Locations include: Clent and Walton Hills; Temple Balsall and Balsall Common; Alvechurch; Beoley; Temeside; Piper's Hill; Preston Bagot and Lowensford; Claverdon; Dormston; Wootton Wawen; Southam; Stock Green, Huddington and Himbleton; Feckenham; Alcester; Weethley; Harvington and the Lench villages; Pershore and Bredon Hill. There are twenty one main walks altogether.
	More Country Walks in Warwickshire & Worcestershire by: Des Wright. Des Wright has now compiled another collection of walks in these two attractive counties. Distances of the main walks vary from 4.5 to 11.5 miles, but most include a shorter option with distances ranging between 1.5 and 8 miles. The descriptive texts are accompanied by sketch maps, and contain much relevant historical and natural history detail. Locations include: Meriden, Knowle and Barston, Belbroughton, Barnt Green, Hockley Heath, Alvechurch and Rowney Green, Bromsgrove, Beoley and Hob Hill, Gorcott Hill and Ullenhall, Budbrooke, Henley-in-Arden, Abberley and Great Witley, Ombersley, Wootten Wawen, Inkberrow, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cleeve Prior and the Litteltons.
	Pub Strolls in Warwickshire by: Richard Shurey. The 30 walks in this all-colour guide visit some of the most beautiful scenery in Warwickshire. Most of the strolls are 4 miles or under in length. The full list of walk locations is: Hartshill; Fillongley; Shilton; Newbold-on-Avon; Hockley Heath; Wood End; Kenilworth; Frankton; Henley-in-Arden; Claverdon; Long Itchington; Haseley; Bearley; Napton-on-the-Hill; Bishop's Itchington; Ashorne; Lighthorne; Fenny Compton; Welford-on-Avon; Clifford Chambers; Ettington; Ratley; Halford; Ilmington; Tredington; Brailes; Shipston-on-Stour; Stretton-on-Fosse; Cherington; Whichford.
	Walks in South Warwickshire by: John W Parnham and Barry R Wills. From Shakespeare country to the Cotswolds, this collection of circular walks will take you along ancient tracks and paths, past standing stones, earthworks, country estates and grand houses. In the Arden countryside as well as finding connections with William Shakespeare you will discover hidden valleys and distinct wooded hilltops that offer wonderful views. Further south the walks will take you through delightful villages and into remote areas in the Cotswold Hills that rival in many ways the better known parts of this beautiful region. Distances range from 5 miles to 12.5 miles with shorter alternatives for some of the longer walks. Sketch maps and drawings supplement the very detailed route directions.
	Shakespeare Country, Vale of Evesham and Cotswold Walks by: Brian Conduit. 28 routes to choose from, with OS Explorer mapping included. Locations include: Evesham and the River Avon; Broadway and Buckland; Upton and the River Severn; Wellesbourne, Hampton Lucy and Charlecote Park; Brailes Hill; Edge Hill; Mickleton and the Hidcotes; Bourton-on-the-Water and the Rissingtons; The Barringtons and Windrush; Otmoor; Alcester and Coughton Court; Aston Cantlow and Wilmcote; Barnsley Park and the Coln Valley; Bledington, Westcote and Icomb; Elmley Castle and the Combertons; Bretforton and Honeybourne; Welcombe Hills and Snitterfield; Ilmington and Ebrington; Warwick and the Grand Union Canal; Welford-on-Avon, Barton and Dorsington; Hay Wood, Rowington and Baddesley Clinton; Stratford-upon-Avon and the Stour Valley; Burton Dassett Hills and surrounding villages.