Around Warwick, Millenium Way

Start: Car park entrance at the West end of Victoria Park. Grid ref. SP 309 654

(S/E) From the car park entrance at the West end of Victoria Park cross Park Drive using the pedestrian crossing then go right to pass under the left-hand arch of the viaduct and proceed up the path of Princes Drive (A452). Pass under the railway bridge to reach the large roundabout.

(1) Stay on the pavement going to the left of the roundabout entering Old Warwick Road then cross the road via the pedestrian crossing. Turn right back towards the roundabout and after 40 yards take the entrance left to the towpath of Grand Union Canal, going right to keep the canal on the left-hand side (you have now joined the Millennium Way).

Go under the bridge 43 then past The Moorings pub. Continue for approx 1.5 miles and after passing under bridge 49, turn right up the slipway to reach the main road (here we leave the Millennium Way).

(2) Turn right on the main road (Coventry Road) to cross the bridge over the canal to head into Warwick. Continue along the main road under the railway bridge then pass the Railway Pub on your left. Continue past the entrance to Warwick Railway Station on your right.

Pass the entrance to Priory Park and continue to the main road junction. Cross over the road via the pedestrian crossing and go right past St John's House (The Fusillers Museum with free entry).

(3) At the junction of three roads take the middle road up Smith Street - a road with some independent shops and a wide range of places to eat. The Roebuck Inn on your right is Warwick's oldest Public House, dating back to 1470 - it is dog friendly.

At the top of the road is the old East Gate into Warwick with St. Peters Chapel on the top and the Gateway Cafe left. Turn left down Castle Hill to the roundabout (note the entrance to Warwick Castle on your right and picturesque Mill Street - you may wish to divert to go into Mill Street and view the cobbled street with impressive timber-framed buildings).

Cross the roundabout to continue down A425 passing St. Nicholas Church left to pass the main entrance to St. Nicholas park.

(4) Just a few yards before reaching the bridge take the flight of steps left down into the park (a short detour onto the bridge will give you the iconic view of Warwick Castle down the river). At the bottom of the steps go past "Warwick Boats" to find the riverside path.

Continue along the path with the river right (a lovely picnic spot). You will reach a large footbridge spanning the river (do not cross bridge) and here you should cross straight over the cycle track and then veer slightly right onto the grass track with the river right and rear of houses left.

Soon you arrive a little closer to the river to walk along a pleasant tree-lined riverside track. Continue on some way to go under the railway bridge to reach the canal viaduct. Go under the arch of the viaduct then go immediately left for quite a few paces to find metal steps which will take you high up to the canal towpath (you are now back on the Millennium Way which you walked earlier, but in the other direction).

(5) Go left on the towpath with the canal right to go under bridge 45.

(6) After 160 paces, as the canal narrows over the railway, take the footpath left (signposted Link to Princes Drive) and continue along a narrow track between fences with the railway in cutting right.

Eventually you will rejoin the river on your left. You will see a weir, a white concrete road bridge, and a railway viaduct higher up. Pass the weir then leave the riverside walk to emerge on to the main road. Take the pedestrian crossing and go into the car park adjoining Victoria Park, where you started.(S/E)

Start: Car Park by viaduct Leamington Spa (CV31 3PH)Grid Ref: SP 309 654

Parking: Car Park at the west end of Victoria Park

Maps: OS Explorer 221 or Landranger 151

Stiles: none!

Refreshments:

• Roebuck Pub, Smith Street, Warwick (01926 494900)
• Café in Tesco via steps from canal path by bridge 46
• Costa Coffee by Morrisons

Short sections of the route are along roads but mostly you will be walking along the riverbank, near to parks or by the canal.

More information at Walking 41 Club here.

Points of Interest - What to know and what to see.... by Andy Botherway

• The Morrison supermarket development is on the site of the former Ford Motor Company foundry. This was an industrial site for 126 years before being demolished in 2010. Shops and offices have replaced the old plant.

• The Grand Union canal first crosses the GWR line to Birmingham Snow Hill built by Brunel and then the River Avon. There are some interesting bridges / viaducts.

• St John's House Museum is a historic 17th Century house, owned by the Earl of Warwick as a family residence until 1960, when it was given to the County Council and became a museum of social history and the story of the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers.

• When reaching St. Nicholas church, Mill Street is to the right over the roundabout, to the left of the castle entrance. This street was one of the few areas to survive the Great Fire of 1694, which destroyed most of medieval Warwick.Mill Street Warwick It is lined with particularly attractive timber-framed houses.

The town was rebuilt very quickly in the early 18th Century, with brick and stone houses (much safer than timber-frame). Mill Street was the original entry to Warwick, over a medieval Avon bridge, the remains of which can be seen from Mill Garden (entry by donation to charity in summer) at the end of the street. This fine garden also provides a spectacular view of the castle and weir.

• The A425 road bridge over the Avon also gives a splendid view of the castle and boat club.

• The rear of the Tesco superstore was the site of Avon power station, an electricity generating station built by a tramway company to supply power to the tramway (which ran along Emscote Road between Warwick and Leamington in the 1930’s) and to local residents. It was demolished in 1975.

• The walk ends at Victoria Park which, until the 1830s, was just part of farmland on the edge of the growing spa town. In the mid 19th Century Leamington Cricket club made their first home there. In 1899 the park was extensively landscaped and redesigned to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The bowling greens are amongst the best in England hosting the English Women's Bowling Championships annually as well as Women's World Bowling Championships in 1996 and 2004.