Circular walk from Barston

This walk on the southern edge of the West Midlands explores some pleasant countryside and also follows a section of the Millennium Way long distance path.

Technical sheet

293221
A Barston walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 05/07/21
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.69 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 38 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 43 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 120 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 95 m
  • ⚐
    District: Barston 
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 52.400222° / W 1.6966°

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St Swithin's Church, Barston

Description

(S/E) This circular walk is a little over four miles in length and traverses mostly flat farmland with 10 stiles to negotiate. During the walk, you will follow a short section of The Millennium Way. The start is the Bull's Head pub in Marston. Please remember to ask permission to park and drop in for a drink at the end of the walk.

Turn left down road out of the Bull's Head car park to find public footpath on right just past St. Swithin's Church. Go through the church gate into churchyard and keeping left of church. Go ahead to take wooden kissing gate in corner and continue between fences to then go half left to find wooden kissing gate in far corner ( ignore gate on your right. ) Continue between hedges to take metal kissing gate to field. Bear half right to cross field passing solitary clump of trees in centre of field to take metal gate / kissing gate ahead. Go along edge of field with hedge and trees left. Continue through gated gap ahead bearing right to cross footbridge over stream. Ahead through wooded area to take stile into field then ahead keeping trees right to take stile in corner. Go left joining Solihull Trans Link way with bank and trees right to find stile by gateway. Take stile, cross gateway and further stile to continue on tree lined path. Take gap and go right on driveway of isolated house with interesting eyebrow roof feature to road.

(1) Go left on road for some 250 yards to find stile adjacent to metal gate right. Take stile and after some half a dozen paces cross stream left, and cross field to field border. Go right with hedge left around field edge. At field corner go left and continue with hedge left up field. At top of field go right (ignore stile to road). Go ahead with hedge left to exit first field by gap. Approximately three quarters of the way along next field find waymark post left with numerous way mark signs. You now join The Millennium Way. Go right down field to find bottom left stile. Take stile and go ahead across field taking mid field bridge to exit field by stile. Go ahead over two fields with hedge right to take stile to road. Go left along main road passing houses right. Just before Ye Olde Saracen's Head pub turn right into Magpie Lane and after a few paces take metal kissing gate right and follow path to go with left hand hedge then through kissing gate to lane. Go left on lane and after approx 85 paces take stile on right. Go around field edge with hedge right to come to large open field then go straight across centre of field to take footbridge ahead. Continue ahead over field to find stile then ahead with short length of hedge left to hedge stile. Take stile and go ahead with hedge left under power lines to corner gap.

(2) Here we have reached a crossroads of paths and will leave The Millennium Way by taking the stile immediately on your right to continue along edge of next field with hedge and trees right to pass under power lines and exit to road via corner stile. Go left on road for a short distance and then take the footpath right over stile into large field. Continue ahead across field and on reaching the waymark post by the River Blythe bear right keeping the river left. Head towards next waymarker post in corner and cross footbridge to next field to go quarter right and exit via mid fence stile. Keep ahead up next field with hedge left and exit by corner wooden kissing gate back towards the churchyard. Go to road then turn left back to The Bull's Head(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 120 m
  2. 1 : km 1.53 - alt. 100 m - Go left
  3. 2 : km 4.85 - alt. 108 m - Take the stile on your right
  4. S/E : km 6.69 - alt. 120 m

Useful Information

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Clarity of route description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5
Walk interest
3.5 / 5
Rouncil
Rouncil

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 02/07/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Followed GPX track rather tham directions but straightforward to follow. A gentle not unattractive walk. We did it on a dry day but in wet conditions at this time of year the grasses etc leaning into the paths would get your trousers pretty wet.The Bull's Head has change hands fairly recently and has been upgraded - including the prices!

DeeJ
DeeJ

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 07/03/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

This walk takes you through few corn fields, which, in winter are very muddy and full of deep tractor tracks. This makes the walk a little more difficult and I imagine harder for the less abled.

It is not the most interesing walk in terms of flora/fauna, but In imagine in the summer it will improve.

Instructions are very good.

2 to 2.5 hours. family of 4, youngest being 10 years.

Kara.D-H
Kara.D-H

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 13/01/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We loved this walk and will be back with the children next time- it’s very well marked and easy to walk and beautiful scenery. Thank you so much for sharing this gem of a walk.

Cumbanchero
Cumbanchero

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 27/12/17
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Enjoyable. Perfect for a gentle stroll. The 2 hours' walk ended with a lovely/deserved drink at the pub.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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