Roysto one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I completed this walk in June 2022, having joined it with Stocov one on a walk from Coventry to Leamington. From Stoneleigh to Stareton, there are no surprises and the walk was a joy. However, after Stareton I think it's fair to say this walk provided more challenges than expected. The walk is still doable, but you will need to be ready for a few challenges.

The route as it is actually mapped here, is now impossible to do. This is mainly due to the route of HS2 cutting across the walk near Cubbington Wood. There is a diversion in place to the Rugby Road alongside the HS2 works, but how long for is an unknown. One has to assume with infrastructure like HS2, that the mapped route will no longer be possible and will need to be edited.

HS2 also has a plant compound between Stareton Lane & Leicester Lane which forces the footpath onto agricultural land. There is no signed diversion around this section, leaving the walker no choice but to feel awkward and be forced to divert alongside the heras fencing, which feels wrong and is tough going on agricultural land.

As if the above wasn't bad enough, there are several sections which are incredibly tough going and will slow your progress due to the path being overgrown with nettles and brambles. It should be noted this might not be a problem in Winter when vegetation hasn't grown so much.

The pathway from the Coventry Road towards North Cubbington Wood was so overgrown, I was trampling down nettles and brambles to slowly progress along the path.

Also, the diagonal path shown in this route in the adjacent field towards the flats at Lillington was not present when I did this walk. You can go around the agricultural field to rejoin the path. The pathways alongside the estate at Lillington are also in a very poor condition, particularly when travelling through hedgerows into the subsequent fields - at times you will be crouching down to push your way through them. The pathways clearly not being used that often and at risk of falling out of use.

The walk from Black Lane could take a much better route through Newbold Comyn. Instead, the suggested route takes you alongside the BMX track which is an unusual choice, and then the path alongside St Pauls school in Leamington also required considerable effort to get down as this is also ridiculously overgrown.

And finally, the choice to walk alongside Jephson Gardens as opposed to walking through them is a massive mistake. These gardens are perhaps the biggest jewel in Leamington's crown, and this route stubbornly ignores them, which is a huge error in my opinion.

Perhaps the struggle to get through the overgrown sections wasn't as bad for other walkers as when I did the route. The diversions around the HS2 works are also doable, but the route certainly needs to be amended to at least reflect these diversions. In my opinion, the final approach through Leamington could also be enhanced with a better route.

I shall try and get a different route mapped on here which I believe would be better, particularly around the final part through Leamington. Although the accuracy of this route is now not correct with HS2, by following the diversions and common sense, it is doable - however, a new route really should be created.

Very pleasant walk. Straightforward to navigate. Would be a challenge for wheels due to obstacles and some heavy vegetation on some stretches.

This is a lovely route, going through Leamington's parks before heading out towards the more rural second half. Most of the walk between Cubbington and Stoneleigh is wonderfully remote and quiet, but unfortunately this did mean there were a few small sections where the path was really overgrown (walked in August) with lots of nettles and brambles. Worth it though!.

One of the best slowway routes I walked paths clear marked and easy to walk. one or two sections was a little muddy did just walk this after it rained so that was expected.

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