Snitterfield Walks

During the coronavirus lockdown, we have been revisiting our favourite walks in and around Snitterfield and discovering some we didn’t know. We thought it may be useful to write these up, so they are accessible to anybody either living in the village or those further afield, who may wish to get to know this lovely area better. When we have space, we will also publish them in the village’s Snipe magazine.

You can click on the links below to download the walks and they will print out on A4 paper. We suggest you print them in colour for clarity and, on longerwalks, consider taking an Ordnance Survey map or navigation app with you. While we have attempted to make maps as clear as possible, they are not to scale.

If you spot any errors, would like to make suggestions to make instructions clearer or have ideas for local walks to add, please email us on info@sallyhopkinson.co.uk

Have fun and we hope you enjoy them.

Sally and Andy Hopkinson (and Pie, the spaniel)

Walk1 The Bell Brook Walk
An easy, level walk that takes you past a wildlife pond and alongside Bell Brook for much of the route. Skirting The Domestic Fowl Trust, you will be mainly on rural tracks and field paths although part of the return route will be along village roads if you do not wish to retrace your steps. 3 miles (4.8km).

Walk 2 The Gunpowder Walk
A longer but fairly undemanding walk, with few hills. Taking in a site closely associated with the Gunpowder Plot and walking through meadows and woodland rich in fauna and flora. After wet weather parts of the walk can be muddy. 6.5 miles (10.5km).

Walk 3 The QI Walk
A ‘quite interesting’ illustrated walk around Snitterfield, concentrating on village history. Most of the route is on the road, with a couple of rural diversions. 2 miles (3.2km).

Walk 4 The Little Leg s Treasure Hunt Walk
An easy half-hour walk for youngsters, partly on the road and partly along field paths, passing a playground. As you walk see if you can match the numbered photographs to things you will see along the route and write the numbers onto the map in the right position. ¾ mile (1.2km). Click here for the answers.

Walk 5 The Wolverton and Monarch’s Way Walk
A walk across lovely countryside to Wolverton and its 13th-century church. Skirting Langley, you return on part of the Monarch’s Way. This 625-mile long distance footpath approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. The walk is mainly level: Heath End Plantation can be muddy. 7 miles (11.2km).

Walk 6 The Monarch 's Way and Monument Walk
A walk across lovely countryside, skirting a golf course and the Welcombe Hills, where a short detour will take you to the Welcombe monument. A proportion of the walk is along The Monarch’s Way, passing The Farm, which has a shop and cafe. The walk is mainly level but some of the footpaths can be muddy in wet weather. The Green and King’s Lane do not have footpaths and the A46 has to be crossed twice on this route so great care should be taken. 5 miles (8km)

Walk 7 The Hatton Rock and Avon Walk
Descending from Snitterfield through fields to cross the Warwick Road, this rewarding walk takes you beside the river Avon, with glorious views, before heading back across the Welcombe Hills. There are a couple of stretches on quiet lanes and you will need to cross the A46 on the return leg, unless you
choose to return to the village along King’s Lane at point 10. To shorten the walk a car could be dropped off at point 7, allowing you to terminate the walk before the Welcombe Hills stretch. In summer it is a good idea to wear long trousers as some of the paths are narrow and nettles abound. There are also a lot of sheep in the fields leading to Warwick Road so please keep dogs on leads here. 7.5 miles (12km)

Walk 8 The Snitterfield Bushes Walk
A walk from the village across fields and then along the Bearley Road to reach Snitterfield Bushes. This nature reserve is full of wildlife, both flora and fauna, and wonderful in all seasons. This walk gives you a route there and back (sadly not circular) but we suggest you explore the reserve by choosing your own paths. Dogs are not allowed in the reserve. 2 miles (3.2km) return journey plus as far as you want to wander in the reserve.

Walk 9 The Vanished Village Walk
A longer walk, taking you to the lost medieval village of Fulbrook, once the site of the Duke of Bedford’s castle. You will pass clear remains of an ancient moat and water mill. The walk is mainly through fields, passing several lovely examples of typical red-brick Warwickshire farmhouses, with short stretches on minor roads. A couple of major roads need to be crossed. To shorten the walk park near point 3 on Heath End. 8.5 miles (13.5 km)

Walk 10 The Black Hill Walk
A mainly flat and easy walk, taking in some lovely countryside and a few stretches of quiet lanes.You will pass a large garden centre (Dobbies) at Black Hill, which offers a good selection of picnic food and a cafe.There are some busy roads to cross.
5 miles (8km)

Please follow government advice while the coronavirus restrictions are in place and take note of the Countryside Code.