Connect Stratford-upon-Avon with Slow Ways

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Stratford-upon-Avon

Warwickshire


Slow Ways linking Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester, Bidford-on-Avon, Henley-in-Arden, Honeybourne, Kineton, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwick

England / Warwickshire / Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon’s seven Slow Ways are 68% checked

Drawn: 7/7
reviewed: 7/7
verified: 4/7
and surveyed: 1/7

Help connect Stratford-upon-Avon

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Stratford-upon-Avon’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Stratford-upon-Avon from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Alcester—Stratford-upon-Avon
Alcstr one Survey me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 198m Descent 192m
Bidford-on-Avon—Stratford-upon-Avon
Bidstr one Survey me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 40m Descent 36m
Henley-in-Arden—Stratford-upon-Avon
Henstr one

Verify me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 81m Descent 118m
Henley-in-Arden—Stratford-upon-Avon
Henstr two

Double check Distance 15km/10mi Ascent 90m Descent 126m
Henley-in-Arden—Stratford-upon-Avon
Henstr three Enjoy me Distance 15km/9mi Ascent - Descent -
Honeybourne—Stratford-upon-Avon
Honstr one Verify me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 59m Descent 48m
Stratford-upon-Avon—Kineton
Strkin one

Review me Distance 22km/13mi Ascent 215m Descent 266m
Stratford-upon-Avon—Kineton
Strkin two Review me Distance 22km/14mi Ascent 104m Descent 151m
Stratford-upon-Avon—Shipston-on-Stour
Strshi one Survey me Distance 24km/15mi Ascent 225m Descent 253m
Stratford-upon-Avon—Warwick
Strwar one

Verify me Distance 17km/10mi Ascent 190m Descent 160m
Stratford-upon-Avon—Warwick
Strwar two

Review me Distance 18km/11mi Ascent 239m Descent 207m
Stratford-upon-Avon—Warwick
Strwar three Pioneer me Distance 19km/12mi Ascent 192m Descent 160m

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Collective progress

63% of Stratford-upon-Avon’s seven route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

12/12

drawn

11/12

reviewed

3/12

surveyed

4/12

verified

22 people have contributed to Stratford-upon-Avon’s Slow Ways

0 people have pledged to walk and review a route

3 people have surveyed a route in Stratford-upon-Avon

193km out of 211km have been walked and reviewed

553km of reviews have been shared in Stratford-upon-Avon

Latest Updates

Starting in Warwick, the first part you are Detour heading North instead of South, That in it's self is not a bad thing for a slowway, but once your pass the A46 there is a chunck of road/pavement walking and then the track between A4189 and the B4463 is very very overgrown and I'm not sure if it's a right of way....

Tnarg

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Starting at Warwick the first part Crossing the dual carriageway is a nightmare and the track between A4189 and the B4463 is very very overgrown and I'm not sure if it's a right of way. That said once you're South of the M40 it is a very good route. East of Snitterfield on the footpath between Snitterfield Lane and Heath End Road there is a narrow field with horses in that they seemed friendly, but as I don't like walking close to large animals that be I back tracked and took the path North of there....

Tnarg

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Stratford-upon-Avon—Warwick

Tnarg added Strwar three, a new walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Warwick

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Going round on the road (as noted, the marked footpath is blocked) I decided to avoid the problems noted with crossing the dreaded A46 from other reviewers; so I just stayed on the A4189 Henley road all the way into Warwick, which is less pleasant with traffic, but has a pavement all the way and, crucially, a safe bridge over the A46....

Andrew Davies

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I didn't walk the whole of this route since I was coming from Mickleton so I joined at Long Marston for the very pleasant "Greenway" heading north to Stratford. A very easy, safe and convenient route, suitable for all (wheels included). I would only add to the previous review that the two railway carriage cafes are open in summer and are both excellent - I just had to stop to try them both out!...

Andrew Davies

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There were some parts that were a little muddy, but mostly it could be avoided or didn't last long - except for the path going through the fields around Parkhill Farm (between Halford and Little Honington) which were hard-going I will admit!...

GreenSprouts

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Definitely a walk of two halves, with the section from Long Marston being the most straightforward as it takes you along the old dismantled railway line all the way into Stratford. There was a little section on the walk today after leaving Broad Marston and before the road at Long Marston which didn't have any footpath signage and where which I was grateful to have GPS on the OS Maps app....

Steve Litchfield

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There is a small bit of road walking, but when we did the walk the traffic wasn't too bad....

Steve Litchfield

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Reasonable public transport links both at Henley in Arden and Stratford upon Avon (bus and train)Good direct route with no access issues,mainly canal towpath features some interesting viaducts bridges etc(walked on 10th dec 2022)Small sections of towpath muddy generally a good walk taking one almost to the centre of Stratford upon Avon...

J w ollid

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The route then takes you around the Ettington Park Hotel, which as another reviewer correctly pointed out, there is no permissible route through the grounds (photo 8) so stick to the mapped right of way. After crossing the busy A3400, the route takes you along the road through Crimscote and past some very nice houses before crossing a field next to the river and taking you back to the main road at Alderminster. After leaving Alderminster, the route takes you through the small villages of Preston on Stour, Atherstone on Stour and finally Clifford Chambers before arriving into Stratford and walking past the final resting place of Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church and along the banks of the Avon past the RSC....

Steve Litchfield

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This pleasant and tranquil walk involved walking a small section of the route through fields, followed by the rest of it along a canal....

Sumaiya

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It cuts across fields and follows the canal for the most part before ending in Stratford upon Avon....

Saira

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The route is easy to follow and goes through fields and mostly along a canal....

Ingrina

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It was mostly a very rural route, picturesque through the fields at the start as well as the canal, and there were lovely bridges and aqueducts along the canal....

Mary Oz

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A really direct and easy route to follow....

David Sanderson

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My walk differed from the one given here in that I used the route given in Henstr one to get to the river Alne and the canal. I did however join the route given here at photo 2 next to the river Alne, and then stuck to the route of the canal into Stratford as is given here....

Steve Litchfield

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The route then leaves the wood via a low stile (photo 4). Once you get to Exhall, the route goes along the road (photo 5) for a while before it takes a left turn along an unsealed road. As mentioned in Timbo44's 2nd point in his review, the route then takes a right turn across a field to the base of Grove Hill. After Binton, the route takes you alongside a stud farm and then through some grazed fields with livestock (photo 13), before eventually taking you through hedge tunnels (photo 14) towards Bordon Hill. After crossing Shottery Field, the route then takes you through a series of alleyways (photo 15) which eventually brings you out by Stratford railway station....

Steve Litchfield

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Leaving the meeting point on Henley's High Street, we walk east down Beaudesert Lane then follow the road right into Alma Close to an area of parkland by the river, which we cross on a bridge and follow the surfaced path onto Prince Henry Road, which leads us to Warwick Road where we go left, following the pavement on the north side. At Pettiford Lane we turn right and cross a bridge, then take the unmarked footpath left along the tree-lined edge of a field to reach the Stratford Canal, where we join the towpath (which is mostly unsurfaced and has some muddy sections) and follow it all the way into Stratford....

Hugh Hudson

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The exit from Henley is good alongside the river away from the busy road....

Ken

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Henley-in-Arden—Stratford-upon-Avon

Ken added Henstr three, a new walk from Henley-in-Arden to Stratford-upon-Avon

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"Continue on the Henstr one route from Wilmcote for about one mile before rejoining the canal towpath on reaching the second footbridge, and follow the towpath all the way into Stratford Upon Avon" It does not stay on the towpath, it uses the unsafe crossing of the A46....

Ken

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We caught the X19 bus took me from by McDonalds in the centre of Stratford upon Avon to Alcester before walking the route back to Stratford. Alcester and Stratford upon Avon have a wide range of refreshment opportunities before and after the walk to supplement any walkers may choose to take with them....

Olton and District u3a

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Olton and District u3a took this photo on Alcstr one

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Stratford-upon-Avon—Kineton

Steve Litchfield added Strkin two, a new walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Kineton

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Apart from some lovely views and scenery, the route takes in an Ancient Monument, some lovely villages, a 16th century mansion, an obelisk and an architectural folly. Perhaps less glamorously, the route also takes you directly past no less than three water treatment sites. The only thing preventing me giving it five stars is the amount of unavoidable road walking involved, as well as crossing the busy Fosse Way and A439. The route then takes you past Brookhampton Farm before a lovely descent into Combrook village. Leaving the village the route takes you back uphill along the road up to the ancient (but fast) Roman Road, the Fosse Way. After Walton Hall, you then go via road through Walton village before crossing the River Dene next to a ford. After leaving the river, the route takes you to the busy A439, which is another busy road that you will need to take care to cross....

Steve Litchfield

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Then it's a good walk out of Stratford along the road to the Welcombe Hills. The journey through the golf course is straightforward, and then after passing through 'The Farm' you reach a bit of road walking as you walk towards Snitterfield which you have to be careful with. Before the junction, on the left, is a footpath which takes you towards Snitterfield avoiding the road walking at the junction. It's not a disaster though as there is an alternative path northeast which takes you to Bell Brook where you can rejoin the given path on this route at Heath End Lane. You have to walk along another section of road as you cross the M40, and as this road turns to the left, the route takes a right turn up a dirt track which has been deliberately blocked off by the owner (see my photo 14)....

Steve Litchfield

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This wasn’t strictly per either of the Slow Ways routes Henstr 1 or 2, but the towpath was so enjoyable and easy to walk that we really couldn’t see the point of diverting off it....

swebbews

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The first half of the route was relatively easy to navigate, though when leaving Shipston you do need to use Springhill Close to connect to the path leading to the footbridge over the River Stour....

swebbews

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When approaching the very end of the path along the edge of Oversley Wood, the path does enter the wood but is easy to miss. If you find yourself at the edge of an open field, just take a sharp left along the field edge for 100 yards and this takes you back to the main route. Between Exhall and Little Britain, the route takes a sharp left along a stony farm track and then a 90 degree right across a field. There's a Permissive Access path on the left that takes you back to the main route before entering the woods....

Timbo44

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Hi, I can't comment on walking the route but we've heard that the route is poorly plotted which might make it difficult to follow in places. A fab volunteer is working on tidying up this version and it will be uploaded soon. Thanks for your patience,...

Slow Ways Cristie

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Stratford-upon-Avon

AnyFile surveyed Stratford-upon-Avon

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An easy route from Bidford to Stratford, mostly following the Avon river. An almost flat route, with no stiles....

Sal Cooper

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Olton and District u3a surveyed Henstr one

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The route drops down from the towpath to road level after the Edstone aqueduct and the first 50 metres of a path from the side of Apple Barn was hidden, very overgrown, with dangerous holes due to rainwater run off necessitating a return detour along the canal to pick up the route where it crosses the waterway....

Olton and District u3a

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Henley-in-Arden—Stratford-upon-Avon

Olton and District u3a added Henstr two, a new walk from Henley-in-Arden to Stratford-upon-Avon

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Parts of the route are very overgrown in the summer and poorly maintained....

Luke Betteridge

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The wrong path across the racecourse had been selected as the small bridge into the field has long gone....

Kellouwil

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I'm not sure why this road diverts down the Bishopton Road rather than carrying straight underneath it on the canal towpath, but at the moment the foot path this diversion uses is its self diverted as a new housing estate is being built. I'd suggest just sticking to the canal towpath anyway - at least that way you pass under the A46 safely rather than having to take your life in your hands trying to run across it....

Jon Knight

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Well used footpaths. Easy navigation...

Sgd

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Stratford-upon-Avon—Warwick

Kellouwil added Strwar two, a new walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Warwick

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Stratford-upon-Avon

danravenellison surveyed Stratford-upon-Avon

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Lots of field tracks but some longer sections on paths and country roads especially through Charlcote and Hampton Lucy....

MikeM

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Stratford-upon-Avon

TehBosch surveyed Stratford-upon-Avon

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Bidford-on-Avon—Stratford-upon-Avon

John Milroy added Bidstr one, a new walk from Bidford-on-Avon to Stratford-upon-Avon

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Alcester—Stratford-upon-Avon

Slow Ways added Alcstr one, a new walk from Alcester to Stratford-upon-Avon

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Henley-in-Arden—Stratford-upon-Avon

Slow Ways added Henstr one, a new walk from Henley-in-Arden to Stratford-upon-Avon

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Honeybourne—Stratford-upon-Avon

Slow Ways added Honstr one, a new walk from Honeybourne to Stratford-upon-Avon

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Stratford-upon-Avon—Kineton

Slow Ways added Strkin one, a new walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Kineton

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Stratford-upon-Avon—Shipston-on-Stour

Slow Ways added Strshi one, a new walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Shipston-on-Stour

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Stratford-upon-Avon—Warwick

Slow Ways added Strwar one, a new walk from Stratford-upon-Avon to Warwick

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1

Stratford-upon-Avon, Thu 28 March

Partly cloudy

Stratford-upon-Avon’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SP2044954981

Lat / Lon

52.19271° / -1.70226°

Easting / Northing

420,449E / 254,981N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Stratford-upon-Avon and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Stratford-upon-Avon's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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