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

4 mile Circular Walk from Packwood
by Peter Travis

A pleasant 4 mile circular walk from Packwood enjoying the delights of the Warwickshire countryside. For over half the walk you enjoy a delightful section of the MILLENNIUM WAY. The MILLENNIUM WAY is clearly waymarked with the distinctive black and white circular waymarkers.

 

This delightful circular walk starts from Packwood House, a well known National Trust property. The walk will give you a flavour of The Millennium Way taking you across mostly flat countryside with just a few stiles.  The car park at Packwood House opens from 10.30am to 5.30pm all year.

 Turn right out of the National Trust car park, down road to pass Grove Lane, then after some 100 paces take the kissing gate L into field  following  the black Millennium Way waymarker to go over centre of field to kissing gate under power lines.  Go ahead with hedge L to cross hidden brook and go half R to power pole in corner by trees to take kissing gate leading into churchyard of St. Giles Church. Go ahead to find front door of church.

(The earliest record of Packwood, southeast of Solihull, is in a deed dated 1190 witnessed by Walter, chaplain of Packwood, and is evidence that there was priest and no doubt a church. The present church of St Giles dates from the latter part of the 13th century (1270-80) and stands secluded and peaceful in fields, with Church Farm and Packwood Hall as its nearest neighbours. It was at St Giles' church on a June morning in 1706 that a Lichfield bookseller, Michael Johnson, came to marry Sara Ford. Their son, born in 1709, grew up to become Dr Samuel Johnson of literary fame. The registers actually date back to 1668 and are kept in the church safe.)

 Face front door of church then go L on pathway to exit churchyard to car park, ( Here we leave the Millennium Way until later in the walk. ) Go R to take car park corner gap in wooden fence, then take kissing gate. Go ahead on path between shrub to find find field corner gap. Take gap and go ahead with hedge R, ignore mid field kissing gate gate R, but continue to field end to take kissing gate to road..

Cross road then through kissing gate opposite into field continuing ahead with hedge R to exit field by two stiles / footbridges. Go ahead with hedge R then through metal swing gate to next field then ahead with wire fence on L. Take corner stile and footbridge then head diagonally L to exit by stile in top L corner of field. Once over the stile go R to corner of hedge then go L with hedge L towards house directly ahead. Go through metal gate then ahead down path keeping house on R, then go R on driveway, keeping pond R, and up towards the road. On reaching the road turn L and after approx 100 yards take Chapel Lane on your R signposted Chadwick End. Continue down Chapel Lane passing over the railway line ignoring the first waymarked path on R then turn R into Valley Lane where you will again pick up the Millennium Way waymarker.  

 Continue down Valley Lane, ignore road R staying ahead between tall hedges. Follow road around and just before the entrance to Valley Farm go through kissing gate L into field. Turn R with hedge R to find corner field kissing gate. Then take the next wooden kissing gate and stone bridge, over stile to field. Maintain same line ahead with hedges L to follow the distinctive Millennium Way waymarkers over several stiles and through two gates to finally arrive at road.

 Go R on road passing Station Lane over railway line then taking driveway R ( The Grove ) Continue along drive for 100 yds and just before house gate take passageway R to kissing gate then go with hedge L to take further kissing gate to driveway. Go R then after 10 paces go L through kissing gate into field and continue with hedge left  to exit field through gate to road. Go R on road passing driveway on R to Uplands Farm, then shortly afterwards taking kissing gate L into National Trust Packwood Avenue.  Go along avenue of trees to return to Packwood House. Turn R down lane which brings you back to the National Trust Car Park.

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.