A pleasing walk into the delightful countryside near the town of Shipston on Stour

Exit the car park onto the B4035 Road and turn left to walk its pavement for about 175 yards. Cross over the road with care and pass through the metal kissing gate opposite to join the well defined Shakespeare’s Way.

The Shakespeare's Way is a 146 mile long-distance footpath between Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare's Globe, London – the route was opened on the 19th April 2006.

Follow the clear Way markers for just over half a mile with the River Stour down to your right. When you arrive near to Barcheston – you will see the church of St. Martins up to your left. Once over the stile at the village entrance bear slight left passing the brick barn conversion and then turn right through another metal gate. Continue along the Way for a further 600 yards until you reach a river bridge with a signed footpath to its left. Cross over the signed footbridge and walk the clear wide track going north west. This track bends left and soon you will reach an old lane. Turn right up this lane and you will soon reach the A3400 road at the end of the town Shipston on Stour.

Shipston on Stour is a former market town situated on the edge of the Cotswolds and for a long time was an important sheep market town. After the demand for local wool began to diminish the town continued to flourish due to the opening in 1836 of a branch line from the horse-powered tramway built to link Stratford with Moreton-in-Marsh. The line became a modern railway in 1889. The town was an important coaching town and many of the old inns survive. The town’s name derives from being known in ancient times as 'Sheep-wash-Town

Cross over the busy A3400 with care and go over the stile to the left opposite. Follow the clear footpath signs bearing left crossing over five fields to reach the A3400 road once again almost opposite to Tidmington Church.

Tidmington church dates from c.1200. It consists of an early 13th C nave, an early 16th C. chancel and a modern porch. Romanesque sculpture is found on the font

Cross over the A3400 with appropriate care and head right along its pavement. After about 400 yards of easy walking you pass the road to Tidmington (opposite) and then turn left onto a footpath crossing pastureland to reach the road in the hamlet of Burmington. Turn left strolling past the old Cotswold stone buildings. You pass the Church of St. Nicholas & St. Barnabus (to the right) and then a fascinating and most unusual building sat on top of saddle-stones. Once through the hamlet you will soon reach a cross roads and here turn right

After walking the lane for about 500 yards turn left along a clear track which arcs generally left initially in a SE direction. After about 700 yards of pleasing walking the track arcs left and you will soon be walking in a NE direction until you arrive on a wide hedged grass track. Cross over this and go through the metal kissing gate to the left opposite. A clear path allows you to maintain your direction walking to the left of the field hedge. After passing through a couple of fields the path bends left to a clear NW direction and you ascend the field for about 150 yards. At the junction of footpaths turn left continuing your gentle ascent and exit the field via a corner stile onto a lane. Head left along the lane for about 60 yards then turn right onto a footpath which follows a north westerly direction over some 7 fields until you reach a road. Turn left and stroll along the road into the village of Willington. On arrival at the end of the village turn left. The road bends right, and at the next corner, bear left to arrive back on the Shakespeare’s Way by the footbridge you crossed on the way out. From here retrace your steps back to the car park – this time with the River Stour down to your left.   

 

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