5½ mile Circular Walk from Henley-in-Arden

Enjoy another walk on the MILLENNIUM WAY, only a short stretch but a chance to savour the delights of this long distance trail. The MILLENNIUM WAY section is clearly waymarked with the distinctive black Millennium Way circular waymarkers.

by Peter Travis - millennium_way@hotmail.com

 

This delightful 5½ mile circular walk starts from the 15^th century church of St John the Baptist,  situated on the corner of the High Street and Beaudesert Lane in Henley-in-Arden.  (It is usually possible to park for up to 4 hours at the top of Beaudesert Lane but please check the restrictions.)

The first part of the walk incorporates a small but attractive section of the Millennium Way, where you will be guided by the distinctive black Millennium Way waymarkers

From St John the Baptist Church  go up adjacent Beaudesert Lane, over the bridge and past the Norman church of St Nicholas on your left to find a kissing gate giving access to footpath leading up the hill to what is known as “ The Mount.”. You will not find any obvious ruins but this  is the site of the Motte & Bailey castle built by Thurstan de Montfort, Lord of The Manor in the 12^th century. As you ascend you have  a fine view over the town and surrounding countryside.  From the top of The Mount descend some fairly steep steps then continue uphill on the highest path eventually reaching a welcome wooden bench and passing beneath small overhead powerlines. Ignore stile on your right and continue ahead following the Millennium Way waymarker. Here we continue along the ridge with hedge right and glorious panoramic views to  your left. Continue ahead on a narrow path then take the waymarked stile on your R and go half L to stile at field edge.

 Cross stile turning L into small wooded area. At junction of paths go ahead remaining in wooded area - the path weaves through to exit by a stile L . Go slightly L, keeping hedge L, to come to ridge with fine views. Go ½ R carefully down hill to find stile between two corner metal gates. Take stile and go L across field centre to find stile adjacent to gate leading to path alongside gate entrance and then parallel to the lane to find stile. Take stile and go R on lane for about ¼ mile passing Buckley Green farm on your R.

 At the ‘T’ junction take the road R and after 15 paces take kissing gate R. Continue up field keeping wooden fence on R to corner field kissing gate. Take wooden kissing gate and go straight up steep hill to take corner stile then following Millennium Waymarker go through copse and exit by stile to field. Continue ahead straight across field to find corner kissing gate. Take gate then ahead with hedge right to follow around field edge to take metal kissing gate R. Go left to take next gate just ahead and turn right across field corner to tree line, then go L with trees R. Watch for farm building R and come to driveway.  Go R 10 paces on driveway and immediately left gently uphill along grassy path signed Millennium Way. After some 80 paces (by double power posts) veer slightly L to find field edge. Go up field edge keeping to L of metal barn to pass under power cables and at top R field corner by the copse go R to find hedge gap to Ireland’s Farm driveway. Turn R down farm driveway towards Ireland’s Farm. At this point you are leaving the Millennium Way.

 Continue down farm track to go under the power lines, eventually coming to Ireland’s Farm. Before farm gate turn L and descend down grassy track continuing ahead through a metal gate, cross field then over a stream and stile. Bear slightly R of telegraph wires up field, then cross a stile and turn R onto farm driveway to proceed over dismantled railway line ignoring footpath L. Continue along driveway in a southerly direction until you reach the road. Turn R at road, crossing the bridge and continue along lane for approximately 300 yards to reach Malt House Farm on the left.

Immediately after Malt House Farm take the signed footpath L through large wooden gate. Continue ahead through smaller wooden gate and proceed gently uphill with hedge L. Go over corner stile then half R across field continuing with hedge and trees R towards corner of field. Take stile, then over further stile R. Continue ahead on grassy path with hedge R & paddock on L. Go through metal kissing gate & turn immediately L, then take next kissing gate into field, continuing ahead with hedge L. Keep ahead through further gate and proceed towards Preston Bagot church, an ideal spot for a short break and some refreshment. The original church was built in the late 11^th or 12^th Centuries on Anglo-Saxon foundations and most of the original structure survives.

 Emerging from the churchyard take the wooden kissing gate nestling under a large oak tree and descend the narrow track down to the road to cross into field opposite via a metal gate. Continue through next metal kissing gate & across two fields ahead.  Go through kissing gate in corner of field then ignoring the kissing gate to your right  continue ahead with hedge on R for 100 yds where you will find a corner kissing gate to exit into a small wood of young trees. Continue ahead with hedge R and exit by corner wooden stile keeping ahead with hedge R and exiting field by wooden stile. Cross the next field turning R into small copse exiting by wooden stile. Continue ahead with hedge to R going through a metal gate followed by two further stiles and continuing with hedge R then over exit stile to emerge onto a lane.

 Turn R onto lane and after 15 paces turn L across stile continuing ahead with hedge R taking the stile R in corner of field then immediately L over further stile descending steps through a wood. Emerging from wood we enter school playing area taking metal gate down to road.  Go across road and along path, following wooden fence on L by side of school play area. At the corner go across wooden plank bridge then through kissing gate to go L along path keeping hedge left to eventually reach a metal gate on your left. Take gate into Beaudesert Lane to arrive back at Henley.

All the paths, bridleways and roads we have used in these instructions are public rights of way as designated on Ordnance Survey maps. Following the instructions and walking tips on this web site in no way constitutes any liability on 41 Club that such routes or tips are safe or suitable.