Newcov one

Verified Slow Way

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A route which scraped through. Hugh's review (the previous one) contains detail of our observations. I would add that the route was generally enjoyable but could clearly be improved, particularly from a Slow Ways perspective. The lack of stops and shops was marked. The bypassing of the village of Keresley and the use of dull residential streets in the north of Coventry were just two examples of where this was by design. It could have made the walk more interesting too. But overall, worthy of a snail.

Walked from New Arley to Coventry. Mostly good, but there are several issues that someone with better local knowledge might want to address with an alternative. As the first reviewer rightly noted, the path up from Bennetts Road North to Burrow Hill Lane is quite overgrown and constrained between fences. The short section up Rock Lane is not ideal, as there is no pavement and the trees and cuttings reduce visibility, and there is no clear marking of the path leaving Rock Lane, which most locals seem to access under a locked one-bar gate a little higher up - the path up from Burrow Hill Lane looks quicker and easier (as proved by a local dog walker who used it to overtake us). Between Bennetts Road South and Penny Park Lane there is a choice of unofficial field paths, but the route does not strictly follow rights of way so may be vulnerable to future development. The alleyway between Marner Crescent and Lydgate Road was blocked by damaged fences and debris and does not look as if anyone has used it recently - this can easily be circumvented on Tulliver Street. There are also no facilities in the middle third. So not an ideal route, and there is definitely scope for a better one.

From the meeting point in the middle of the curious roundabout in New Arley, we go east along Frederick Road (left of the pub) then take the path left into a small nature reserve. When we reach the wood we take the right fork then follow a field edge out to Spring Hill, which has a good pavement. We cross at the junction and go a short distance down Lamp Lane, then take the field path down to Tippers Hill Lane, where we go right then left along what is initially a farm track. Where it splits we take the left branch, then follow a field edge past a wood.

At another small wood we go left into a an overgrown area which can quickly be escaped into the field to the right. In the next field we encountered a lone bullock, whose herd was in the next field and needed a little coaxing to let us through the gate. Nuneaton Road is reached easily enough, and we turn right then use another field path to reach Sandy Lane, where we turn left and then right at Wood Lane, where the next field path is at the far side of the junction. This leads us down to Square Lane (stay right of the farm buildings), which we cross and head down to Highfield Lane. Take care on the road walk out to the motorway bridge, as there is no pavement, though the road is wide. We cross at the bridge and take the second road left (the first just serves Corley service station).

The path right is initially fine, through the first field, but beyond it is tightly constrained by a fence and there are plenty of nettles and bramble shoots to negotiate, so I was glad I was not wearing shorts or a thin t -shirt. With a little determination we reach Burrow Hill Lane, where we go right then left up Rock Lane, where we saw climbers on what looks like an old quarry. This road section is dark and a little hemmed in by the rock cutting, so needs a little care. We couldn't see a viable way into the field where the 1:25000 map suggested the path was, but a gate a little further on gave us access to the field on a well trodden path.

From here to the edge of Coventry the paths are well used. There is one more section of road walking on a wide road with verges. After crossing Bennetts Road South we approach houses, but it is easiest to stay on the well trodden field path and cross to the allyeway lower down near Brookford Avenue.

From here a long and rather demoralising pavement walk takes is south, then east along Links Road (the first side road - Bruce Road - is ridiculously wide, but fortunately not too busy), From here we go through quiet residential streets to Cheveral Avenue, which has a row of shops, then right at Bede Road and left onto Marner Crescent. As mentioned in my introduction, the alleyway was blocked so we continued to Tulliver Street to rejoin the route on Lydgate Road. A welcome green interlude in a park soon leads to the path over the Nuneaton railway, and we follow St Nicholas Street down past the canal basin to the decorative bridge over the Ringway, which can be accessed using steps or ramps as necessary. From here we go straight on down Bishop Street then left along Hales Street, which leads past the Frank Whittle statue to the meeting point at Pool Meadow bus station.

I completed this walk today traveling southwards from New Arley. It was a good walk, the highlight being the section before Coventry, but there were challenges. The amount of road walking, some sections of which have no footpaths at all, makes me want to give it 3 to 4 stars. The overgrown nature of some of the paths makes me want to give it 2 to 3 stars. Given that some of the year, the paths shouldn't be as overgrown as they were today, three stars seems about right.

The walk starts by leaving the village behind fairly quickly, hugging the edge of Daffern's Wood (photo 1) before reaching a short section of road to Gun Hill Farm. The path then leaves the road and descends towards the first slightly overgrown entrance (photo 2) to a footbridge over a brook (photo 3). The route then ascends towards another brief road section, before getting to a double track towards Tipper's Hill Farm. There is another overgrown exit on the left before you reach the end of this track, so make sure you take the left hand of the double tracks here.

The route passes under electricity lines (photo 5) as you head towards the village of Wood End, where there is another brief section of road walking through the village. Unfortunately, the pub in the village (The Weavers Arms) was closed and looking for a new owner when I passed. The next footpath is reached from the car park of the pub, and takes you across grassland before reaching Sandy Lane and yet another bit of road walking. At the end of the lane, the gate to the footpath is on the opposite side of the road junction.

The footpath then takes you cross country, and then crosses Square Lane before heading towards Radbrook Farm. There are signs of what is to come here, as the footpath starts to show signs of falling out of use. There is a gate on the way towards the farm (photo 7) which is overgrown and in a state of disrepair. The stile exit from this footpath onto Highfield Lane was extremely overgrown (photo 8) when I had the displeasure of having to use it.

The lane then takes you over the M6 and past Corley Services before leaving the road via a path on the right hand side opposite houses. This footpath uphill towards Burrow Hill became increasingly difficult to navigate. The last section of this path made me wish I had either brought a machete or chainmail, as it was so overgrown with nettles and brambles (photo 9), I was literally cut to threads as I battled to push my way through.

Eventually I did get through to Burrow Hill, where an outcrop of sandstone provided a brief welcome geological distraction from the previous overgrown ordeal. The distraction was soon forgotten though, as the route takes you along a busy road with no footpath (photo 10) around the fort at the top of Burrow Hill. As the road is curved, you need to take extra care navigating this section. When you finally reach the welcome footpath exit on the left, this spot marks the highest elevation point of the route and offers fine views to the east.

The rest of the route is thankfully not as eventful. There is one final section of road walking along Fivefield Road, but after reaching the outskirts of the City, most of the walk is taken up through the side streets of suburbia (photo 11) as you snake your way towards the city centre. There is a footpath bridge over the railway (photo 14), and over the ring road (photo 15), but other than that not much else to say.

The overgrown state of some parts of this route served to remind me of the fact I was pioneering this route. If possible, I would suggest these parts would be better in Winter. The sections with no footpaths along roads were particularly bad in Corley. Looking at the map, there is an alternative route to the east of Burrow Hill fort which avoids the road, but if someone is going to suggest a new route, I would suggest avoiding that part of Corley altogether and perhaps testing a new route across the M6 at Corley Ash. Of course, I don't know if that route would be better, but it might be worth a try. As long as you go prepared for the challenges, the route can be recommend - although I would be looking to blaze an alternative if I was to do it again.

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