Berkswell Railway Station, Rail Trails

This trail takes you through countryside and farmland to the historic village of Berkswell where you’ll spot several 16th and 17th century houses as well as the 16th century Bear Inn and Grade 1 listed, church of St. John the Baptist. Famous for its Norman crypt, it is considered amongst the finest in the country. Outside the church is Bercul’s Well legendarily used for full immersion baptisms as far back as the 8th century.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.12 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 35 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 29 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 141 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 108 m

Description de la randonnée

Start: Berkswell Railway Station (CV7 7EF) Grid Ref. SP 244 776

(S/E) Come out of the station and turn left under the rail bridge, up Truggist Lane. Turn Left onto Baulk Lane and follow for a quarter of a mile until you reach a marked route on the right hand side. Cross the ditch, through the kissing gate and ahead across a field keeping to a hedge on your left to the concrete footbridge.

(1) Cross the bridge, then go left for 30 paces to turn right in the same field and head up the incline towards the far pylon. On reaching a waymarker by the Oak tree head diagonally right across the field. Turn right onto the farm driveway then.

(2) After 60 paces, cross a stile on your left. Keeping the hedge left, continue under power cables to the corner of the field. Cross the stile and continue 70 paces with a wooden fence right, then go through a wooden kissing gate on the left. Go right along the driveway from Moat House Farm & Barn entrances and then turn left onto Truggist Lane. Continue along Truggist Lane for 110 paces.

(3) Then take the surfaced Fordrough drive right, next to Jasmine Cottage. Go through a large kissing gate into the field to stay ahead with trees and a fence left. Take the corner kissing gate and continue forward along somewhat a narrow fenced path with the hedge left, soon crossing a short section of a boarded walkway then exiting by a kissing gate to a farm driveway. Go left along the driveway to reach Hodgett’s Lane.

(4) Go left on the road to reach a T-junction at Carol Green. Turn right here to reach another T-junction. Turn left onto Spencer’s Lane and after 20 paces take the driveway right to cross a stile to the vehicle track.

(5) Go ahead on the track to take a kissing gate and ahead to exit a track by a further kissing gate to a field. Go to the right of a power pole to cross a field and find at the top corner a kissing gate. Take this kissing gate / plank bridge / kissing gate and go ahead with a fence right and left, ignore kissing gates to the left but continue ahead to find kissing gate / plank bridge / kissing gate. Then stay ahead, over the rough driveway, keeping the hedge and trees right to pass under power lines.

(6) 100 paces after passing under the power lines you will come to a crossroad of paths and a mid hedge gap on right with kissing gate and a way post with several way marks. Stop. Remain in the field then turn left (walking away from the kissing gate and way post) across the field to take a ditch bridge located 10 paces in from the right field corner.

(7) Continue ahead with the wire fence left across the field to exit by a kissing gate. Go with the hedge right to the top right of the swamp boards and take the kissing gate. Go with the hedge right and at the end of the trees take a ditch bridge and a kissing gate right and then go left continuing with the hedge left under power lines. At the field corner go ahead over a large field aiming 70 paces to the right of the white house to find a corner gap.

(8) Ignore the gap (here we leave The Millennium Way) and instead go left to carry on around the edge of the same field with the hedge right. When you soon reach a large metal gate and a fence stile, go diagonally half left across the field to reach the far line of trees. The paths here are usually very distinct.

(9) On reaching a line of trees take the kissing gate and go directly ahead over the next field to reach a hedge gap. Take a gap then a corner kissing gate into the next field staying straight ahead to pass a large lone tree on your left and a few other trees in the mid field. Stay ahead to the field corner, where the path descends slightly to reach a corner kissing gate. Take a kissing gate through a short passageway to Broad Lane. Turn left slightly downhill to reach crossroads.

(10) Continue ahead for 30 paces to take a narrow signed footpath left through the arch between two bungalows. Go along the passage, between fences, to take a wooden kissing gate into the field and stay ahead with the hedge right.

Take the gate / kissing gate into the second field and then a further kissing gate into the third field. Continue with the hedge right and just before the field corner take a further kissing gate right, then go left with the hedge left. At the corner follow the field edge around the right, then take kissing gate left to continue up field with trees and fence left under power lines towards farm buildings.

(11) At the top take a kissing gate and go ahead between concrete barns and onto a track. Continue to the end of the farm track to reach the surfaced Baulk Lane. Cross over Baulk Lane to take a metal kissing gate opposite then stay ahead to cross directly over the centre of the field under power lines to the hedge corner and continue ahead for 30 paces with a hedge right to pass through a metal kissing gate.

(1) Turn right to retrace your steps to the station.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 112 m - Berkswell Railway Station
  2. 1 : km 0.71 - alt. 111 m - Concrete footbridge
  3. 2 : km 1.2 - alt. 130 m - Farm driveway
  4. 3 : km 1.56 - alt. 128 m - Truggist Lane - Surfaced Fordrough drive
  5. 4 : km 2.11 - alt. 121 m - Hodgett’s Lane
  6. 5 : km 2.66 - alt. 120 m - Vehicle track
  7. 6 : km 3.01 - alt. 122 m - Power lines
  8. 7 : km 3.08 - alt. 122 m - Field corner
  9. 8 : km 4.03 - alt. 138 m - Corner gap - Leave Millenium Way sign
  10. 9 : km 4.28 - alt. 141 m - Line of trees - Kissing gate
  11. 10 : km 5.1 - alt. 117 m - Crossroads - Narrow signed footpath
  12. 11 : km 5.99 - alt. 118 m - Farm buildings - Concrete barns
  13. S/E : km 7.12 - alt. 112 m - Berkswell Railway Station

Practical information

Start: Berkswell Railway Station (CV7 7EF) Grid Ref. SP 244 776

Transport: Berkswell is on the West Coast Mainline running between Birmingham & Coventry. There are two trains an hour to both Birmingham New Street and London Euston via Coventry.
Note: Berkswell railway station serves the village of Berkswell but is located closer to Balsall Common. There are limited facilities available at this station.

Refreshments: The nearest shops are in Balsall Common, close to the station, including a One Stop and a Co-Op. But do make time in Berkswell itself for a cinnamon bun and coffee at the Store and Stove Café on the green, or a more leisurely meal at the Bear Inn.

The Bear Inn: A truly historic 16th century Inn, which once hosted Cromwell’s troops and Blitz-affected Coventrians! Now serving great quality pub food from weekend brunch, to weekday light lunch dishes, hearty Sunday roasts to three-course dining.

Store & Stove: If pubs aren’t your thing, we can highly recommend this village stores and eatery in the heart of Berkswell serving scrumptious breakfast, lunches and afternoon treats. Dog friendly too!

Brickmakers Arms: A charming 17th century village pub offering a selection of cask ales, draughts, craft beer and fine wines as well as classic pub food, teas, coffees & homemade cakes. Handily close to the station!

Oakes Farm Shop: A Farm Shop, Cafe, Butchery and Delicatessen offering a wide range of delicious locally sourced produce and homemade cakes made in house. They also stock Berkswell Cheese, so worth the extra walk!

The Barn at Berryfields: Stock up on the very best locally sourced meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and other everyday essentials. Enjoy some Street Food or have a more leisurely breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Barn Restaurant.

Berkswell Cheese, one of the finest examples of a British ewes’ milk cheese is handmade at Ram Hall Farm. Get some at Oakes Farm or order online: www.berkswellcheese.com

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

In the nearby area

Rams Hall Farm, home to the Fletcher family since 1881, purveyors of Berkswell Cheese. This ewe’s cheese, made using only the milk from their Friesland sheep features deep enduring flavours due to the long maturation process. Make sure to seek some out before you leave!

St. John the Baptist: A place of worship for over 1000 years and boasting one of largest Norman crypts in England. Look out for the rare Sanctus Bell, the nine Berkswell Mice and Bercul’s Well (after which the village is named).

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