BAGINTON WALKERS
2022 Walks
December 2022 Walk
In December ten brave souls met on a cold and frosty morning for a 4 mile ramble in the Corley area. Recollections: Lots of gates, a few slippery stiles (teamwork came to the fore), many horses with coats on in the fields, no boots to clean afterwards because all the mud was frozen - although this made it difficult underfoot in some places. We are sure the fresh air and exercise were good for us and it didn't seem so cold when we were moving. We reconvened in the warm for a shared Christmas buffet lunch.
November 2022 Walk
Our walk was supposed to start in Hampton in Arden, but as the White Lion Inn was closed during the week, we moved to the half way point at the Bull’s Head at Barston, which turned out to be a good move.
So, starting from here, we walked along a semi paved lane towards the West Midlands Golf Club and Barston Lakes which proved to be very windy and almost devoid of the usual fishermen on its banks.
Continuing up Marsh Lane alongside the railway we headed towards Hampton in Arden where we stopped for our coffee break at the church which was originally founded in 1086 but extensively restored in 1878.
Continuing our walk, this time across fields which turned out to be not too muddy given the weather over the previous few days, we reached the hamlet of Walsal End where the path continued down a drive and past the front gardens of a few “cottages”. Crossing some more fields, we eventually reached Barston and the Bull’s Head where we enjoyed our Lunch and drinks and discussed plans for Christmas in a cosy private room.
October 2022 Walk
On a sunny autumn morning, nine walkers and two small dogs met at the Two Boats Inn in Long Itchington. After a short section on the canal towpath, we continued on the Millennium Way, crossing several fields and then through a small wooded area and some housing to reach the main road. We crossed the A423 to proceed up Stockton Road on a wide tarmac path, passing a large new housing development.
The walk then followed a bridleway which led us back to rejoin the canal towpath, where we passed through a flight of locks and by Stockton Marina. We continued to follow the canal, until we reached bridge no. 20 where we left the canal and crossed the bridge to follow the road back towards Stockton. The footpath took us past some industrial units to join a path around the disused quarry area. An ichthyosaur skeleton was discovered at Stockton Quarry in 1898 and is now on display at the Natural History Museum in London. To commemorate this remarkable discovery, the village of Stockton has a road sign with its very own ichthyosaur.
Our route took us through Stockton, where we were interested to read about the Stockton Boulder, which it is believed was transported to the area during the Ice Age. We followed the road uphill out the village, through a spinney to cross the A426 to enter a woodland path which led us to the fishing pools near the Blue Lias Inn, which is named after the blue lias clay used in cement manufacture and famous for preserving fossils, especially ammonites. We crossed the canal bridge to rejoin the towpath, which we followed back to our starting point. Unfortunately, the Two Boats were unable to serve lunch, due to staffing issues; however, the landlord very kindly
arranged an alternative booking for us at the Duck on the Pond just down the road, where we enjoyed a lovely meal.
September 2022 Walk
Our September walk setting off from The Queen’s Head, Bretford took us up the gentle incline of the shady bridleway leading to the outskirts of Brinklow where we joined a wooded path leading to open farmland. We soon entered a vast field of very tall maize through which a wide pathway had conveniently been left for access. This led to a rather overgrown area running alongside the fenced and gaping hole of an enormous quarry busy with trucks ferrying the spoils of their labours. Crossing the deep tracks they left in the clay was somewhat challenging but we all made it safely to more comfortable terrain.
Here we followed an attractive shady path shielded from all the activity by a hedgerow of brambles and sloes covered in dark but rather small fruit. We caught glimpses of an abandoned rusty raised conveyer rail, evidence of past quarrying activity now being reclaimed by Nature. At the end of the track we arrived at Birchley Wood where we stopped for our coffee and comfort break.
Our route took us alongside the wood on the metalled lane leading to Birchley Farm and then by the field edge and a couple of small pools where we had previously spotted wild boar enjoying a drink. We continued by the edge of vast fields where the maize had been harvested, leaving little for foraging wildlife, and eventually we joined a long shady path. After a while this opened up to another “maize prairie”. Here we were overtaken by huge trucks which had been collecting the harvest. After a short stretch along a baked track and beside another maize field we joined the narrow path downhill to Bretford and a tasty lunch at The Queen’s Head.
August 2022 Walk
A very welcome larger group than usual set off at 10.00am on a rather hot morning for a thankfully level 5 mile walk, mostly across the Hatton and Grove Park estates - no mud and no awkward stiles! Our first stop was to admire a beautiful field of sunflowers. Over an already harvested field and across cattle grids on a farm road, we reached a vast field of ripe corn yet to be gathered in, a quite spectacular sight with the tower of St. Mary's, Warwick in the far distance. A shady spot was located for a rest and our elevenses. Over somewhat scruffy farmland and along a short road section, the route across a tidier field gave access to a tunnel under the railway, the Grand Union Canal locks and the towpath back to the Hatton Arms. In the midday heat, we were glad of refreshment and enjoyed our pre-ordered meals.
July 2022 Walk
Our July walk started in the village of Wasperton from the Church with a wooden spire. The party of 6 brave souls headed out on one of the warmest days of the year but fortunately the sun was behind the clouds and at one stage it even rained! Following bridleways towards Ashorne we passed an imposing listed Georgian farmhouse situated at the end of a long drive with probably the best views of South Warwickshire and, in the distance, the Cotswolds. Returning over fields and passing a company growing trees we returned to Wasperton followed by a well deserved drink and meal at the Granville Arms in Barford.
June 2022 Walk
In June we decided to cancel the walk for various reasons, including the recognition that very long grass over a stretch of the planned walk would present a major challenge to the 2 small dogs who are members of our group.
May 2022 Walk
For various reasons our numbers were somewhat depleted for this month’s walk; however a select group set off on a bright spring morning. The walk, led by Steve Jephcott, began in the suburban streets of south west Coventry. We followed a wooded footpath through the Kenilworth Road Spinney and got occasional glimpses of the large properties secluded behind the trees. The footpath led us into Wainbody Wood where we took a circular path through the bluebells and we also heard woodpeckers tapping in the trees. A steady climb through more woodland took us up to Gibbet Hill Road and on into the University of Warwick campus. We took a slight detour through Tocil Wood and were treated to a spectacular bluebell display.
Our midway break was taken on a bench overlooking the lake, where we were visited by four adult geese and a total of thirteen goslings. The walk continued through the Millennium Wood, planted in December 1999 to celebrate links between the University and the local community. After another peaceful green open space we reached the A45, where we crossed into the Canley Ford local nature reserve to continue through this green oasis in the city, passing Hearsall Golf course and across Kenilworth Road to make our way back to our starting point. We were joined for a pleasant lunch at the Burnt Post by two members of the group who had been unable to walk with us. This was a very local delightful walk so make a note to try it next year when the bluebells are blooming.
April 2022 Walk
Ten walkers set off in April starting from Wroxall Abbey on quite a damp day, but luckily for us the drizzle soon dried up. We walked over fields, up one “gently sloping” hill and through several kissing gates. There was only one stile right at the end of the walk but this was a bit challenging as part of it had rotted away!
The coffee break was taken in St. Nicholas church yard at Baddesley Clinton where a couple of benches proved very welcome. A peep through the unlocked door revealed a fascinating interior which we could not explore (muddy boots!). We continued through a rather muddy Hay Wood but were rewarded by a haze of green from the budding trees. A very enjoyable lunch was had at the Black Boy pub a few miles along the road.
March 2022 Walk
On a bright and breezy March morning, eight walkers and two small dogs met in Leek Wootton. The walk, led by Steve Jephcott, began on well-maintained footpaths leading to All Saints Church. After walking through the churchyard, which had many spring flowers, we crossed into an open area surrounding the Warwickshire Golf and Country club. The walk continued around the edge of the golf course and through an arboretum. We left the golf course area to join footpaths crossing farmland and after negotiating a rather muddy section we were back on the edge of the golf course, where we heard a cry of fore and a wayward golf shot landed just feet away from our group! We waited to indicate to the most apologetic golfer where his ball had come to rest and then carried on our way. The footpath took us past the WW2 anti-aircraft battery at Goodrest Farm and a brief roadside walk on Rouncil Lane. Then we came through some woodland and circuited the edge of the golf course passing the former Woodcote Manor House, now the Warwickshire Police HQ. We continued back into Leek Wootton, where after changing our rather muddy boots, we enjoyed a very good lunch at The Anchor pub.
February 2022 Walk
Our February walk, led by David Grimsey and enjoyed by 10 walkers plus 2 dogs, followed paths through Binley Woods to arrive at the entrance to the Coombe Abbey estate. We then explored one of the many woodland paths around the estate to admire the abundance of snowdrops, pools and bird life.
We resisted the temptation to attempt the lofty challenge of the “Go Ape” experience scrambling among the treetops (which to our admiration one of our number had completed last year!). Our coffee stop conveniently coincided with our arriving at benches alongside pools abundant with water fowl. Once refreshed we embarked on our return journey through another path within Binley Woods and having changed out of our muddy boots we met up at The Roseycombe pub for a tasty lunch.
January 2022 Walk
The New Year commenced with the January walk, led by Chris Goodwin from Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre in Leamington Spa and encompassed stretches of the Centenary Way, the Leam Valley nature reserve, the Grand Union Canal and Jephson Gardens. Our ramblings were rewarded by a delicious lunch at the Newbold Comyn Arms.
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