Short walk .............

6½ mile Circular Walk from Offchurch
by Peter Travis

An easy 6½mile circular walk from Offchurch with the opportunity to enjoy the delights of the Warwickshire countryside. The MILLENNIUM WAY section is clearly waymarked with the distinctive black and white circular waymarkers.

 

Within short driving distance from Leamington Spa this easy circular walk starts from The Stag Pub in the lovely village of Offchurch, Warwickshire. For part of the walk,  you will enjoy the delights of  The Millennium Way before turning south to follow a section of the River Leam on your return to Offchurch. The walk is just over 6 miles.

  We start our walk from the Stag pub in Offchurch. With your back to the pub go left on road out of the car park for 30 paces to turn left up School Hill (signposted Leamington). Continue past Offchurch Village Hall to the T-junction where we turn left. (On the right at the T-junction you will find the parish church of St. Gregory which may be of interest to visit). Offchurch may have been home to Offa, who was the King of Mercia from 757 to 796. A church was built in the village, hence the name Offchurch (Offa's Church) but the original has long since gone and the current church has been rebuilt on the supposed site of Offa's church. It is thought that King Offa's son was killed nearby and the original church was built to commemorate his son's death.

Having turned left at the T- junction go along road past Village Farm on your right to another T- junction. Go directly across road to take waymarked footpath ahead to then cross a bridge over a disused railway line. Emerging from the bridge walk directly forward aiming for the hedge corner approx 250 metres ahead. On reaching hedge corner go left around field  keeping hedge left, then just before double metal gate take waymarked path on left through hedge gap. Continue ahead keeping hedge right past large metal gate right to exit field through corner hedge gap. Keep ahead with wire fence to your right passing dwellings (Fosseway Barns) where you can join a narrow surfaced access lane to reach the main road (Fosse Way).

 Turn left on main road for some 30 paces to find hidden stile in hedge gap on opposite side of road. Take stile and continue directly ahead keeping hedge left to reach corner stile into next field. Go ahead to take the next stile then past outbuildings to house right, emerging onto surfaced lane where you turn left to reach road. Turn right on road continuing gently downhill along the wide grass verge for just over half a mile to find a wide unnamed track left, but known as Ridgeway Lane (this is an unclassified county road.)

  Turn left along the lovely tree lined track for about 3/4 mile until you reach a road.  Cross road and go through gate. You are now on The Millennium Way and will see the distinctive black waymarker on the post. Continue ahead up field to exit by large metal gate to go on track and lane to main road. Cross road and continue along tree lined lane passing Snowford House left, then ahead on vehicle track eventually to cross high bridge over disused railway line and coming to tarmac drive leading to road. Go right on road to reach cross roads, then turn left on main road and after some 100 metres look for stile in hedge on left (next to telegraph pole).

 Cross stile and go half right to far corner then right along hedgerow for 50metres to cross bridge stile. Go ahead to find hedge gap. Through gap to continue with hedge right to cross next stile into large field. Go ahead to take far hedge gap to road. Go left on road some 10 metres and take road right.  After 10 metres take waymarked path left into large field. ( Here we are leaving The Millennium Way.)  Keep along edge of field with hedge and fence right, continuing past large metal gate towards corner of field to find hidden corner stile. Take stile and go left along hedge towards kissing gate ahead on your left. Take kissing gate and continue directly ahead across next field keeping hedge left to reach wide gap in top left corner. ( At this point you will notice the River Leam on your far right.)  Go through  gap and over small stream to continue gently up the next field to take far left corner kissing gate. Continue directly ahead with hedge and river right and after a short distance you will reach a waymarker where the paths diverge.

 Take the left fork heading half left across the field towards corner gap and visible waymarker. Once through gap go ahead slightly right to take second gap then go left along edge of large field keeping hedge left. As you approach the farm buildings ahead another footpath joins from the right. Continue ahead along edge of field keeping the farm buildings on your left. Go through gap with metal gate and continue ahead towards trees keeping wire fence on your left. Go through corner metal gate into small wooded area. Emerging from woodland go directly ahead towards single large oak tree staying in the left field with hedge right. Exit field via corner stile and go into farmyard by stile or metal gate. Go through next gate to cross track and take the next stile ahead. Continue directly ahead across field keeping telegraph poles to your left and exit by kissing gate to road which brings you back to your starting point for some well earned refreshment.

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.