Royrug one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Royrug here.

Really lovely route through local comyn, and through fields to Offchurch. Nice pub at Offchurch to have a drink or food at.
Safe route.

I completed this walk yesterday, starting from Rugby. It is the longest walk i've done so far, and at 18 miles my legs were certainly feeling it by the time I got to the end! The only thing preventing me from giving it five stars in my opinion, were a few minor changes to the given route, as well as a few fields where farmer's had worked the land and erased any signs of footpaths. Still, it was an enjoyable walk.

After starting at the Clock Tower in Rugby's town centre, the route heads south and immediately diverts down Little Church Street instead of using the pedestrianised Sheep Street or High Street. A strange diversion that I didn't quite understand.

After leaving the town centre, the route utilises pathways (photo 1) and back streets to avoid the busy Dunchurch Road through Overslade. The first missed trick of the route, comes at the end of the Dunchurch Road where the route here misses out a short section through Cock Robin Wood. Don't follow the route here, take the diversion through Cock Robin Wood - it doesn't take any longer, and it adds a bit more interest.

The route then takes back lanes to avoid most of the busy roads through historic Dunchurch, except for the unavoidable way across the busy crossroads. Leaving Dunchurch, the route goes under the M45 (photo 2) to take you to Draycote Water.

As you walk along the northern shore of the reservoir (photo 3), look out for several footpaths that take you away from the service road and provide a nicer walk closer to the shoreline. The route then takes you through the lovely Draycote village (photo 4) before heading west parallel to the old railway line between Rugby and Leamington. The route of the old railway line is currently being worked on to convert it into national cycle route 41, and may form an alternative route in future (Royrug two perhaps?).

The route then takes you under the impressive Birdingbury Bridge before heading northwards towards Frankton. This section has the longest prolonged elevation on of the walk (photo 6), but at the top of the hill, there is a very handy bench to rest and appreciate the fantastic view of the countryside.

Travelling through Frankton (photo 7), I caught a glimpse of stag on private land at Fishpool Farm, and then eventually reached Marton, the approximate half way point of the walk. The old OS map I had shows a public house at Marton, but this has now been converted into an Indian restaurant, which was closed on the weekday lunchtime I did the walk.

Leaving Marton, the intriguing Museum of Country Bygones was also closed, with a note saying it would reopen in 2023. The open countryside southwest of this point then provided challenges through three sets of adjacent agricultural fields. Here, the mapped right of way along with any waymarking simply disappeared. The route on the map clearly continues across agricultural fields, but I was forced to blaze a trail across the fields by using my OS maps app and GPS position. The fields had recently been planted so crops had just started to shoot (photo 9), and we hadn't had any significant rainfall for a few days, so the going wasn't that tough. However, with more established crops and a wetter field, I could imagine the route providing much more of a challenge. Any attempt to divert around the fields would add significant time and distance to the walk.

The route then takes you to the Fosse Way, where care has to be taken crossing this fast road. After reaching Hunningham, a small diversion will take you to the Red Lion pub where you can stop for food or refreshments. After leaving Hunningham on the way to Offchurch, there is one further agricultural field which has had the footpath planted over, so again, a walk over the tilth was required. The next hurdle was crossing the route of HS2 (photo 13). The footpath was temporarily closed when I did the walk to allow construction traffic, but there was a worker there who removed the barriers to allow me to continue on my way to Offchurch.

Leaving Offchurch, the route takes you through the grounds of Offchurch Bury and then alongside the disused Newbold Comyn golf course on the way into Leamington Spa. The final trick the route misses here is to miss out the walk through the beautiful Jephson Gardens. Do not follow the route here and walk around the outside of the gardens. In my opinion, this is an almost criminal omission.

The walk certainly has plenty of stiles, gates, steps and bridges to navigate. There are also a good few fields with livestock in. On the whole though, if you go prepared to navigate the sections where the footpaths have been erased by agriculture, the route should be an enjoyable one.

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