Harbury and Ladbroke News
Walks Around Harbury & Ladbroke
Walk 10 The Great Western Railway Walk.
OS Explorer 221. GPX File
This walk follows Walk Five to The Valley in Radford Semele where this it continues along Valley Road turning left passed the entrance to Hill Farm on your left.
At the end of Williams Road before it turns right to reach Valley Farm, follow the substantial track that keeps the farm buildings immediately on your left. The track twists and turns, but always has a boundary hedge one side or the other. At one point turn left through a gap in the hedge where there is a way mark on a leaning gate post (with time it may collapse). The view opens up with the Campion Hills rising beyond the River Leam. The track turns right at the end of a field beside farm buildings.
This is Radford Barn; there are faded footpath signs on some fence posts which direct you around the right hand side of the farm buildings. Ignore the footpath sign to the left after Radford Barn and keep following the bridleway which now drops gently down to a bridge over a stream, and then rises again to cross the Great Western Railway by a girder bridge on your left. Once over the bridge, the track becomes a metalled road which leads past the cemetery and into Whitnash, coming out beside the Church. Turn left past the war memorial and traditional red telephone box along the main road towards Golf Lane, about 250 yards away (the 2nd turning on the left). If refreshment is needed, the Plough and Harrow Inn is on the main road just beyond the junction of Golf Lane.
Golf Lane takes you through housing, but it must be followed in order to reach the footpath back to Harbury. Looking up to the left you see the hill you climbed earlier. Once beyond the houses, the road ahead becomes a track with the Leamington and County Golf Club on the right. Follow the track, going past houses and the Golf Club's practice area on your left. The track then swings towards the railway embankment, where it becomes a footpath and cycleway. The path follows the foot of the railway embankment towards the Fosse Way which is approached through a short, narrow stretch of woodland. Look for Muntjac deer living on the embankment. At the Fosse Way, turn right and immediately left over the road – take great care crossing. You are now on Middle Road that leads gently uphill past Harbury Rugby and Cricket Club to the steep slope of Treens Hill - your last major obstacle on the way into Harbury. Once into the village, take the second road on the right, walk up Farm Street and upon reaching the T junction, turn left to return to the Village Hall.