ISE VALLEY VAGABONDS

Warwick Permanent Trail BWF App No PT98

START & FINISH:  St Mary’s Area 3 Pay and Display Car Park, adjacent to Warwick Racecourse, Hampton Street, Warwick  CV34 6HN

OS map 151    Grid Ref SP277648    Distance 12km

Fee £1.00    Patch £2.00

Route last updated on 4 March 2009

This route description is valid until 31 December 2009

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. 

Leave the car park by walking towards the Racecourse entrance, (Warwick Racecourse is one of the leading National Hunt and flat courses and has a regular programme of 23 meetings throughout the year.  The central grandstand incorporates the first stand built in 1809, amongst the oldest surviving in the country.) then turn left to the main road.  Cross straight over into Crompton Street.  At the end turn left along West Street.  Cross Bowling Green Street and go straight through the tower archway of the Westgate and Chapel into High Street, which soon becomes Jury Street, until you reach the traffic lights.  Turn left along The Butts (care!  There is no pavement on the left-hand side).  Turn left through a wrought iron gate, signed St Mary’s Church, and follow the path into the churchyard.  Go ahead and follow the path round two sides of the churchyard perimeter.  On emerging from the churchyard, go half left into Old Square (having looked inside St Mary’s Church – well worth the effort.  It is famous for its Beauchamp Chapel, Norman Crypt, Mediaeval/Tudor tombs and tower) and bear right along the road in front of you, into the pedestrian zone.  Turn left opposite Shire Hall and walk to the right of the Museum into Market Street.  There are toilets opposite the museum.

 QUESTION 1.  TO THE RIGHT OF THE MUSEUM, THERE IS A STATUE OF A BOXER.  WHO IS THE BOXER?

 At the end turn right into Bowling Green Street, this soon becomes Theatre Street.  At the traffic lights, turn right and immediately left into Barrack Street, to pass the Library on the left.  At the end of Barrack Street, go straight over the end of Northgate Street, then using the traffic islands, cross the road with great care towards the Police Station.  Do not go past the Police Station, instead turn left along Cape Road.  Follow past the entrance to Priory Park and Warwickshire County Record Office and over the railway bridge.  Turn right into Millers Road by the Jolly Miller pub.  After about 175 meters turn left into Lock Lane industrial area.  At the end of the lane, keep ahead on the tarmac path with railings on the right to the canal.  The path then turns right, still with the railings on the right.  After crossing the footbridge, turn left on the gravel path down to the towpath.  Turn left on the towpath, passing under the footbridge and follow it for 900 meters, keeping the canal on the right, to the road.  Turn left.  Keep straight on over a roundabout to go out of the town.  After about 650 meters you will see the Saxon Mill restaurant on the right hand side.  With great care, cross the road and take the footpath to the right of the restaurant. 

 Pass the restaurant (on your left) by walking through the terrace.  Behind the restaurant, go through the kissing gate and cross 2 bridges.  After the second bridge go through the kissing gate into the field.  Continue ahead across the field on the broad path towards the church.  After approximately 200 meters the path forks.  Take the right fork towards the farm.  (This is called Manor Farm).  At the farm, continue ahead with the hedges on the left.  At the end of the hedge, the path forks again.  Take the right hand fork going slightly downhill.  At the tree line, turn left uphill along the edge of the field.  As you get near the houses, 30 meters before the double electricity pole, fork right down the steps and cross the small bridge over a small stream.  Immediately after the children’s playground, turn right on the path into the trees.  Pass to the right of a second, larger play area and keeping right, take the path to the right of the brick wall, behind the houses.  The path will go downhill and pass to the left of Rock Cottage and then go straight ahead to the main road.  Turn right and keep straight ahead as this road merges with a bigger main road.  This is Emscote Road.

 QUESTION 2.  SOON AFTER THE ROADS MERGE, THERE IS THE WARWICK TOWN SIGN.  IT SHOWS THAT WARWICK IS TWINNED WITH 2 TOWNS.  NAME ONE OF THEM. 

At the traffic lights outside Tesco, cross the road and go onto the canal towpath with the canal on the right.  After 250 meters on the towpath, turn left onto Link to Riverside Walk and go carefully down the metal steps.  At the bottom, turn right to riverbank, then bear right under the aqueduct.  Go ahead following the Riverside Walk with the river on the left.  You are now on part of the Centenary Way.  Mind your head when going under the railway bridge!  After 750 meters you emerge into a park.  Ignore the bridge off to the left and cross the cycleway, going straight ahead to pass the boathouse on the right.  Keep ahead on the path beside the river, still on the left, for 600 meters to the ice cream kiosk (green wooden building), then turn right to walk towards the main gates of the park.  Turn left and go through the gates to leave the park.  Turn right and after 100 meters, use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road, and then continue in the same direction.  Turn left into Mill Street and walk to the end, admiring the houses as you pass them.  This street is one of Warwick’s mediaeval gems.  The Mill Garden at the bottom of Mill Street is a beautiful secluded garden offering spectacular views of the castle and river.  It is open daily from April to October, 9am to 6pm.  There is a small admission charge.  

 Having admired the houses and the view of the Castle, turn around and retrace your steps back to the beginning of Mill Street.  Turn immediately left through the arch (this is the pedestrian access to Warwick Castle).  At the iron gates, turn right and go up the steps and follow the path past Warwick Castle entrance and out through the car park gates.  Turn left. After about 50 meters, turn right into Castle Street. 

QUESTION 4.  WHAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1826 AT No 8 CASTLE STREET?

 At the end of Castle Street, turn left onto High Street.  Go through the arch of the Westgate and turn right into Bowling Green Street.  Almost immediately, turn left into Friars Street, soon to pass the New Life Church on the right. 

QUESTION 5.  FURTHER ON THERE IS ANOTHER CHURCH ON THE RIGHT.  WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS CHURCH?   

 After the church, turn right into Bread & Meat Close towards the Racecourse entrance and then immediately right again back to St Mary’s Area 3 car park. 

Oxford, Rugby, Stamford, Stratford upon Avon and Wellingborough.