This delightful circular Warwickshire walk starts from Packwood House, a well known National Trust property, and is designed to give you a flavour of the Millennium Way originally devised by members of the 41 Club taking you across mostly flat countryside with just a few stiles.
Calculated time: 1h55[?] 
Distance : 6.49km
Vertical gain : 34m
Vertical drop : 30m
Highest point : 131m
Lowest point : 105m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Lapworth
Starting point : N 52.3477° / W 1.745771° (D)Turn right out of the National Trust car park, down road to pass Grove Lane, then after some 100 paces take the kissing gate L into field following the black Millennium Way waymarker to go over centre of field to kissing gate under power lines. Go ahead with hedge L to cross hidden brook and go half R to power pole in corner by trees to take kissing gate leading into churchyard of St. Giles Church. Face front door of church then go L on pathway to exit churchyard to car park. Here we leave the Millennium Way until later in the walk.
(1)Once in the car park go half R to take corner gap at wooden fence, then take kissing gate following path half R then keeping ahead with hedge R along edge of field towards exit gate directly ahead. Take kissing gate to road then through kissing opposite into field continuing ahead with hedge R to exit field by two stiles / footbridges. Go ahead with hedge R then through metal swing gate to next field then ahead with wire fence on L. Take corner stile and footbridge then head directly L to exit by stile in top L corner of field. Once over the stile go diagonally R to corner of hedge then walk with hedge L towards house directly ahead. Go through both metal gates then ahead down path keeping house on R then continue around driveway and along track keeping pond R and up towards the road.
(2)On reaching the road, turn L and after approx 100 yards take Chapel Lane on your R signposted Chadwick End. Continue down Chapel Lane passing over the railway line ignoring the first waymarked path on R then turn R into Valley Lane where you will again pick up the Millennium Way waymarker. Continue down Valley Lane, ignore road R staying ahead between tall hedges.
(3)Follow road around and just before the entrance to Valley Farm go through kissing gate L into field. Turn R with hedge R to find corner field kissing gate. Then take the next wooden kissing gate and stone bridge, over stile to field. Maintain same line ahead with hedges L to follow the distinctive Millennium Way waymarkers over several stiles and through two gates to finally arrive at road.
(4)Go R on road passing Station Lane over railway line then taking driveway R (The Grove). Continue along drive for 100 yards and just before house gate take passageway R to kissing gate then go with hedge L to take further kissing gate to driveway. Go R then after 10 paces go L through kissing gate into field and continue with hedge left to exit field through gate to road. Go R on road passing driveway on R to Uplands Farm, then shortly afterwards taking kissing gate L into National Trust Packwood Avenue. Go along avenue of trees to return to Packwood House. Turn R down lane which brings you back to the National Trust Car Park.(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 127m - Start: Packwood House car park
1 : km 0.94 - alt. 120m - St. Giles Church
2 : km 2.49 - alt. 128m - Turn left along road
3 : km 3.64 - alt. 105m - Turn left into field
4 : km 4.59 - alt. 108m - Turn right along road
D/A : km 6.49 - alt. 127m - Finish: Packwood House car park
The car park at Packwood House opens from 10.30am to 5.30pm all year.
Contributors Website or Email - http://walking.41club.org
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
The earliest record of Packwood, southeast of Solihull, is in a deed dated 1190 witnessed by Walter, chaplain of Packwood, and is evidence that there was priest and no doubt a church. The present church of St Giles dates from the latter part of the 13th century (1270-80) and stands secluded and peaceful in fields, with Church Farm and Packwood Hall as its nearest neighbours. It was at St Giles' church on a June morning in 1706 that a Lichfield bookseller, Michael Johnson, came to marry Sara Ford. Their son, born in 1709, grew up to become Dr Samuel Johnson of literary fame. The registers actually date back to 1668 and are kept in the church safe.
Global average : 4.64/5
Number of opinions : 14
Description quality : 4.93/5
Routemap quality : 4.79/5
Walk interest : 4.21/5
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 30/03/21
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
Pleasant easy walk. A couple of practical comments:
1. Packwood House car park is free only to National Trust members but parking is available up the road nearby. The property was only open to visit if a prior booking had been made during the Covid pandemic, but the toilets are accessible!
2. The walk can easily be extended slightly between points 3 & 4 by continuing to the Grand Union Canal and walking along the tow path. There is access from the roads at the bridges.
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 27/12/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
Lovely walk however due to the weather, it was extremely muddy and slippy.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 27/12/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
Easy to follow map and ideal length.
Lovely walk but VERY boggy everywhere at the moment! Wear wellies!!
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/07/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Lovely walk with picturesque scenery, with a very detailed and accurate description which was very easy to follow.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 04/07/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 16/06/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
Great easy walk through gentle and attractive countryside. Level terrain and clear paths with excellent walk instructions. Perfect for a relaxing family outing.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 25/05/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Great walk with detailed instructions. Directions were very up to date ( unlike our own map) . Lovely scenery and very accessible, flat, easy walk that would be suitable for most people.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 09/03/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
A lovely country walk with a friend that ended in lunch at NT Packwood. The directions were first class - easy to follow and walker oriented. Thanks! It was muddy in places - the road can sometimes be a disappointment - not today!
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 27/12/19
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
Very accurate instructions. Good easy walk.
Global average : 3.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 30/10/18
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Average
Walk interest
: Good
The section referred to with the metal gates caused a little confusion, solved with aid of gps: oops.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/04/18
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Lovely walk in beautiful countryside
Thanks for the suggestion, I've made the changes to the walk! Best wishes, Sarita
Hi, certainly.
Instead of
Go through metal gate then ahead down path keeping house on R then continue around driveway and along track keeping pond R and up towards the road.
How about:
Go through both metal gates then ahead down path keeping house on R then continue around driveway and along track keeping pond R and up towards the road.
Best wishes
Mike
Thank you for your feedback. Could you suggest how we could rewrite the wording of the walk description, regarding the two gates? I'm sure it would be useful for future walkers
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 26/02/18
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
Our first experience with a walk from Hikideas.co.uk and we were very pleased with the quality of the instructions and really enjoyed the walk.
One very small point. In the last sentence of the (1) paragraph it mentions only one metal gate to go through and there are two gates which confused us for a few minutes. Some other walkers then pointed us in the right direction.
Thanks
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
