From the picnic area lay-by, take the track into Hay Wood. At a crossing of paths, go right along the bridleway. Nearing the edge of the woods, the clear path arcs left and you emerge from the trees via a gate. Cross the field to a gate and pass between the buildings to a double gate. Through these go left then right by Wood Corner Farm, and along the drive to reach the A4141.
Cross the road and go left along the pavement of the A4141 for about 220yds (201m), then go right along a bridleway between the buildings of Abbey Farm. Continue along the track until you reach School Lane and walk right along it towards the A4141. About 100yds (91m) before you reach the end of the lane, go right through a gate and cross the corner of a field to reach the A4141 via a kissing gate near the village hall.
Cross the A4141, enter Wroxall Abbey park over a stile and through a field gate, then follow the track through the grounds. In about 500yds (457m), the route gives you glimpses of the Victorian mansion (now a hotel) and the old abbey building, which you can see to your left. Where the track peters out continue ahead through two kissing gates and then bear half left towards a kissing gate set in a small area of enclosed woodland. Exit from the woodland via a kissing gate. Follow this path ahead as it descends in a southwesterly direction to a waymark post. Continue ahead to go through another kissing gate and a field gate. Head west-southwest across a large area of pasture, passing to the right of Gilbert’s Coppice. Through a kissing gate, bear right along the field edge to a field gate onto Quarry Lane.
Turn right along the lane, then bear left at the junction and walk along the quiet Rowington Green Lane for almost 0.5 miles (800m).
Pass by the former windmill on the left, now a private house, and just before reaching Lyons Farm, go right through a field gate onto a track which is part of the Heart of England Way. The route takes you to the right of the farm complex, via a gate, and then along a track which bears right. After passing Rowington Coppice you come to a gate. Through this, continue ahead on field paths alongside hedges, crossing the corner of a field via two gates and a footbridge. Reaching the church driveway, turn left to visit Baddesley Clinton Manor. Then retrace your steps, pass the church, until you reach Hay Wood Lane. Turn right back to the parking area.
This lovely walk through the heart of Warwickshire’s delightful countryside provides the opportunity to visit Baddesley Clinton Manor. This mansion is one of the finest medieval moated manor houses in the country. Baddesley Clinton Manor is the former home of the Ferrers family and its wide moat... may date back to Norman times. The bridge that spans the moat is comparatively recent, being only 200 or so years old. Many of the Ferrers family were laid to rest in the nearby church. Sir Edward Ferrers, the first of some 12 generations, died in 1535. The Ferrers family, staunchly loyal to the Roman Catholic faith, were persecuted throughout the 16th century by the Protestant authorities. When Henry Ferrers, who was born in 1549, let the house out in the 1590s, it became a regular refuge for Jesuit priests. On one occasion as many as six were hidden in specially built priest holes, which can still be seen around the house today. The family fell on hard times again during the Civil War, when they were made to pay for their support for Charles I. Despite a few embellishments over the years, the house has seen little real change since Henry’s death in 1633. It stayed in the Ferrers family until 1940, and is now owned and managed by the National Trust. Nearby Wroxall Abbey was founded by Benedictine nuns in 1135. Owned and occupied by the Bourgoyne family for many years, it was purchased by the architect Sir Christopher Wren as a retreat just three years after he completed his work on St Paul’s Cathedral, in London in 1710. His house was replaced by the current Victorian one in the 1860s. Today, only St Leonard’s Church and part of the cloisters remain, surrounded by glorious gardens. You start the walk by crossing the gorgeous Hay Wood. After following tracks and quiet lanes, the route brings you back through the splendid park of Wroxall Abbey. From the abbey parkland you continue past a converted windmill on the edge of the village of Rowington Green and join the Heart of England Way long distance footpath. Fine Warwickshire countryside and footpaths, lined with flowers in the spring, then lead to the church close to Baddesley Clinton Manor.
The sparkle of sunlight on a gentle river as it meanders through beautiful countryside; the reflections of sailing boats on a lake; relaxing with a pint in the garden of an old English pub in a picturesque village; brightly coloured narrow boats making their way through a flight of lock gates; the imposing silhouette of an historic castle. These are the scenes that make Warwickshire a delight.
From the picnic area lay-by, take the track into Hay Wood. At a crossing of paths, go right along the bridleway. Nearing the edge of the woods, the clear path arcs left and you emerge from the trees via a gate. Cross the field to a gate and pass between the buildings to a double gate. Through these go left then right by Wood Corner Farm, and along the drive to reach the A4141.
1 of 5
Cross the road and go left along the pavement of the A4141 for about 220yds (201m), then go right along a bridleway between the buildings of Abbey Farm. Continue along the track until you reach School Lane and walk right along it towards the A4141. About 100yds (91m) before you reach the end of the lane, go right through a gate and cross the corner of a field to reach the A4141 via a kissing gate near the village hall.
2 of 5
Cross the A4141, enter Wroxall Abbey park over a stile and through a field gate, then follow the track through the grounds. In about 500yds (457m), the route gives you glimpses of the Victorian mansion (now a hotel) and the old abbey building, which you can see to your left. Where the track peters out continue ahead through two kissing gates and then bear half left towards a kissing gate set in a small area of enclosed woodland. Exit from the woodland via a kissing gate. Follow this path ahead as it descends in a southwesterly direction to a waymark post. Continue ahead to go through another kissing gate and a field gate. Head west-southwest across a large area of pasture, passing to the right of Gilbert’s Coppice. Through a kissing gate, bear right along the field edge to a field gate onto Quarry Lane.
3 of 5
Turn right along the lane, then bear left at the junction and walk along the quiet Rowington Green Lane for almost 0.5 miles (800m).
4 of 5
Pass by the former windmill on the left, now a private house, and just before reaching Lyons Farm, go right through a field gate onto a track which is part of the Heart of England Way. The route takes you to the right of the farm complex, via a gate, and then along a track which bears right. After passing Rowington Coppice you come to a gate. Through this, continue ahead on field paths alongside hedges, crossing the corner of a field via two gates and a footbridge. Reaching the church driveway, turn left to visit Baddesley Clinton Manor. Then retrace your steps, pass the church, until you reach Hay Wood Lane. Turn right back to the parking area.
This lovely walk through the heart of Warwickshire’s delightful countryside provides the opportunity to visit Baddesley Clinton Manor. This mansion is one of the finest medieval moated manor houses in the country. Baddesley Clinton Manor is the former home of the Ferrers family and its wide moat... may date back to Norman times. The bridge that spans the moat is comparatively recent, being only 200 or so years old. Many of the Ferrers family were laid to rest in the nearby church. Sir Edward Ferrers, the first of some 12 generations, died in 1535. The Ferrers family, staunchly loyal to the Roman Catholic faith, were persecuted throughout the 16th century by the Protestant authorities. When Henry Ferrers, who was born in 1549, let the house out in the 1590s, it became a regular refuge for Jesuit priests. On one occasion as many as six were hidden in specially built priest holes, which can still be seen around the house today. The family fell on hard times again during the Civil War, when they were made to pay for their support for Charles I. Despite a few embellishments over the years, the house has seen little real change since Henry’s death in 1633. It stayed in the Ferrers family until 1940, and is now owned and managed by the National Trust. Nearby Wroxall Abbey was founded by Benedictine nuns in 1135. Owned and occupied by the Bourgoyne family for many years, it was purchased by the architect Sir Christopher Wren as a retreat just three years after he completed his work on St Paul’s Cathedral, in London in 1710. His house was replaced by the current Victorian one in the 1860s. Today, only St Leonard’s Church and part of the cloisters remain, surrounded by glorious gardens. You start the walk by crossing the gorgeous Hay Wood. After following tracks and quiet lanes, the route brings you back through the splendid park of Wroxall Abbey. From the abbey parkland you continue past a converted windmill on the edge of the village of Rowington Green and join the Heart of England Way long distance footpath. Fine Warwickshire countryside and footpaths, lined with flowers in the spring, then lead to the church close to Baddesley Clinton Manor.
The sparkle of sunlight on a gentle river as it meanders through beautiful countryside; the reflections of sailing boats on a lake; relaxing with a pint in the garden of an old English pub in a picturesque village; brightly coloured narrow boats making their way through a flight of lock gates; the imposing silhouette of an historic castle. These are the scenes that make Warwickshire a delight.
