Bearley to Claverdon Railway Stations, Rail Trails

Start: Bearley Railway Station (CV37 0EU) Grid ref. SP 171 607

(S) From the platform, fork left down the path to a road. Cross the road (care – busy) and turn right on the left-hand pavement, under the railway bridge.

(1) At the junction, turn left, still on the left-hand pavement. Pass the village hall and playing fields on the left. Turn left into Oaktree Close. At the staggered crossroads, cross the road to the post box ahead, turn right then turn left on the left-hand pavement of Grange Road. Continue on the left-hand pavement as the road bends right.

(2) At the end, where the road turns sharp right onto School Lane, turn left onto the track (Public Bridleway sign). After the gates on the left, walk ahead on a narrow path between bushes. When the path emerges into a field, go ahead along the right-hand side.

In the far corner, walk through the gap and ahead along the left-hand side of the next field (or use the cross-field path if not covered by crops).

(3) At the corner, do not use the first railway crossing, but turn right for 150 yards, cross a stile on the left, walk ahead between fences, cross the railway line (care), on the opposite side cross a stile into the field and turn half right to cross the field, aiming for the corner where the hedge meets tree line. Cross the stile, turn half right to a cross road and climb over the fence where a stile should be.

(4) Walk ahead, initially along the left-hand side of the field, then at the fence corner with a large fallen tree, go ahead to cross the field aiming for two large trees. Pass a redundant stile on the right, walk ahead with a line of trees on the left, then after the last tree, go ahead to cross a stile and footbridge.

(5) Bear right on the path, cross the field, initially aiming to the right of a large tree, then after passing this tree, towards a redundant metal kissing gate on the far side of the field. Round a kissing gate.

(6) Turn left on a path along the right-hand side of the field. Go through a gap into the next field and ahead uphill.
At the end of the hedge on the right, turn right through a gap (Public Bridleway waymark). Into the next field (Monarch’s Way waymark), along the right-hand side, sloping down to go through a gap.

(7) Do not go ahead into next field, but turn right on the enclosed path. Reach a large metal gate and metal kissing gate on the right, but do not go through. Continue ahead as the path widens to become a track. Keep ahead, passing gates into fields on both sides, as the track descends to a road at Langley with a noticeboard and bench opposite. Take care here – road with no pavement.

Turn left, initially on the left-hand side of the road to see around the right-hand bend, then after the bend, cross to the right-hand side to face the oncoming traffic. Pass the post box and phone box on the left, then at the junction with the side road. Immediately after a green metal gate on your right, the road bends sharp left.

(8) Turn right through a metal kissing gate immediately before a large metal gate with barbed wire. Walk ahead along the left-hand side of the field to go through a metal kissing gate in the far left-hand corner. Cross the farm track to go through a small metal gate between a large metal gate and a spiked metal fence.

As the track bends left to stables, bear right onto a grass path with horse paddocks on the left (care – electric fence) and a hedge on the right. At the end, go through a small metal gate.

(9) Cross a footbridge, through another small metal gate into a plantation of saplings. Follow a clear path to go through a small metal gate into a larger field. Walk ahead to cross a field on the clear path. At the end of this field, go through a gap and ahead on a narrow path between bushes to go through a metal kissing gate into the field. Walk ahead along the right-hand side of the field towards houses.

At the far right-hand corner with rusty large metal gates, turn left, still on the right-hand side of the field. Go uphill to the next corner, turn right on the path then fork right onto a narrow path with a wall on the right to go through a small metal gate (Public Footpath signpost on right) to a road.

(10) Turn right on the right-hand pavement. Pass a church on the opposite side. Turn right down Park Farm drive. Go through a small wooden gate to the left of a large metal gate. Turn half left to cross a field downhill, to step/climb over a fence (no stile, but top bar removed) into the next field.

Go ahead along the left-hand side of the field, with the ditch (probably dry in summer) on the left. Go through the gap at the end into the next field. Walk ahead.

(11) Then turn left onto an initially brick-surfaced track with wood on the right. Cross the stile to a road and turn right on the right-hand pavement. Walk ahead to the 50mph sign at the top of a rise, then downhill past houses. Immediately before railway bridge, turn right down path to Claverdon station.(E)

Start: Bearley Railway Station (CV37 0EU) Grid ref. SP 171 607

Transport: Bearley is on the Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa line. Trains run two hourly to Stratford and Leamington via Warwick and Hatton. There is also a limited request service to Birmingham Snow Hill via Solihull or Wilmcote. At the time of writing there are no Sunday services from Bearley.
Bearley is an unstaffed rural halt and tickets must be purchased on the train.

Refreshments: You’ll find post-hike essentials at the volunteer run Claverdon Community Shop, or a well-earned pint or meal at Claverdon’s Red Lion.
The Red Lion Claverdon: A perfect pit-stop, this rejuvenated old pub is perched on the edge of Claverdon with a large patio and secluded garden serving an eclectic mix of pub gastro classics with modern twists.

Discover the Heart of England by rail at Heart Community Rail Trail here.

A short diversion takes you to Snitterfield Bushes Nature Reserve, or head west to see the Edstone Aqueduct - England’s longest cast iron aqueduct. You’ll pass through Langley, noted for its listed buildings, before reaching Claverdon, with its historic buildings including the old forge, St Michael’s Church and plenty of picturesque 16th and 17th century half-timbered houses.

The list of important families associated with the manor of Claverdon includes the Spencers of Althorp from whom Diana Princess of Wales was descended.

What’s in a name...Bearley comes from the Old English burh + leah meaning ‘woodland clearing near a fortified place’, Claverdon means clover hill and Langley means ‘long wood/clearing’ - which pretty much describes the type of countryside you’ll be walking through on this trail!

St Mary’s Church: A properly historic site! There has been a Church on this site for over 800 years. The nave dates back to the 12th century, the chancel to the 13th, the font the 15th century and even one of the bells is medieval!

Edstone Aqueduct: 15 mins walk west of Bearley lies the Stratford-upon- Avon canal and this rather impressive cast iron aqueduct, which takes the canal over the railway.
At 475 feet long its also the longest of its kind in England!

St Michael’s Church: This much loved and well-used community church is an oasis of peace for villagers and visitors alike. Don’t miss the 15th century tower or the notable alabaster tomb of Thomas Spencer of Althorpe (died 1630) in the Chancel.

Snitterfield Bushes: A tranquil nature reserve (and SSSI) of woodland glades and ponds, managed by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. See bluebells, primroses and early- purple orchids in spring whilst autumn brings an impressive selection of fungi.

Warwickshire Flight Experience: Fancy something different? How about a truly immersive experience where you can be a WWII fighter pilot, or handle the controls of a Boeing 737? If so its less than 2 miles from Bearley Station!