ISE VALLEY VAGABONDS

 

Stratford upon Avon Permanent Trail BWF App No PT20

The Shakespeare Walk

START & FINISH: Riverside Car Park, Bridgeway,

Stratford upon Avon, Warks CV37 6YY

OS map 151 Grid Ref SP205552 Distance 10km

Fee £1.00

Route last updated on 14 September 2008

This route description is valid until 31 December 2010

This walk has been established by members of the Ise Valley Vagabonds Walking Club (BWF Club No 70) and is a qualifying event in the IVV award scheme. It can be walked at any time.

 

Exit the car park and go ahead to the road. Turn right. Turn right again into Warwick road, and almost immediately bear left, then left again into St Gregory’s Road. At the T-junction at the end of the road, turn left into Maidenhead Road. After Summer Court, turn left onto the canal towpath with the canal on the right. Follow it under bridge No 68, cross to the other side and continue under bridge No 69, emerging on Waterside.

 

QUESTION 1. THE BRITISH WATERWAYS SIGN ON THE BRIDGE SAYS ‘WELCOME TO….’ WHERE?

 

Keep straight ahead still on the canal towpath towards the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Then turn right towards the Swan Fountain. After passing the fountain, cross the road and go ahead into Sheep Street. After the Town Hall, turn left into Chapel Street. Go straight ahead into Church Street and at the end, turn left into Old Town. Continue and enter Trinity Churchyard. At the far side of the church, take the left hand exit into Mill Lane (opposite Avonhead). Go ahead, past Lucy’s Mill, onto the footpath. It passes under the road, bears right and continues parallel to the road. At the fork, turn right to the car park, then cross it to a narrow cycleway on the right. Follow the cycleway to the left and cross Wetherby Way at the pedestrian crossing, then down the steps and straight ahead to Hertford Road. Then turn right. Follow this road staying parallel to the main road and at the left hand bend, cross the road to go under the bridge.

 

QUESTION 2. UNDER THE BRIDGE, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, THERE IS A PLAQUE. WHEN WAS THIS BRIDGE REBUILT?

 

Cross the road using the pedestrian crossing and at the roundabout, cross over the road to take the cycleway number 5. After 150 metres, turn left through the staggered barriers onto a footpath towards Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Follow it ahead as it crosses 3 roads and reaches some playing fields. About 100 metres into the playing field, the path forks. Take the left fork. Turn right at the road.

 

QUESTION 3. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE THATCHED COTTGE ON THE RIGHT, no 70?

 

Turn left into Quineys Road. At the T-junction at the end of the road, turn right into Hathaway Lane (no name visible) and cross to the left hand side of the road. Turn left. Pass The Bell on the right and turn left again into Cottage Lane. Follow it as it bends to the right, passing Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and after 200 metres, The Tryst House on the left. About 200 metres after Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, turn right onto a footpath

 

QUESTION 4. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE COTTAGE ON THE LEFT AT THE END OF THE FOOTPATH?

 

At the end of the footpath, turn right. At the mini-roundabout turn left into Bell Lane. Do not follow around to the right, but bear left at the bend, into Tavern Lane. At the next bend, go ahead on the footpath between the houses towards Stratford and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. It soon opens out onto a large playing field. Turn left and follow the footpath to the road. Turn left and immediately right, onto cycleway 5. After 200 metres, take the left fork and leave the cycleway, continue to the road along the backs of the houses, ignoring another turning to the right. At the road, turn right. Go straight ahead at the first set of traffic lights, then cross to the left hand side of the road. Turn left at the next set of traffic lights into Windsor Street. Take the first turning right into Henley Street.

 

QUESTION 5. WHAT IS THE STATUE?

 

Go ahead into Bridge Street, cross over the river bridge, and pass the Pen and Parchment Pub on the left. Follow the road as it bends to the left, past the Tourist Information Centre (also on the left, with much more detailed information about the local sights) and go ahead the remaining 200 metres back to the car park.

 

We hope you have enjoyed the walk!

 

The Ise Valley Vagabonds have established other Permanent Trails at

Bedford (2), Chester, Daventry, Kempston, Kettering, Kings Lynn, London (Hampstead), Marston Moretaine (2), Oxford, Rugby, Stamford, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick and Wellingborough.

 

 

They are all qualifying events towards the IVV award scheme.  

Further information about these walks, the IVV, the club and all its activities can be found

by visiting our Web Site www.vagabonds.org.uk

 

 

THE ORGANISERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS, THEFT, AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.  EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE ORGANISERS TO MAKE THIS A SAFE, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE EVENT.