Hatton to Lapworth Railway Station, Rail Trails

This trail takes you from the station at Hatton who’s most notable landmark is the Hatton Locks – a lovely location to watch colourful narrowboats as they move through the flight of 21 locks, onto the Lapworth and Kingswood via the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. An easy five-mile amble following the towpath of the Grand Union Canal through some of Warwickshire’s finest countryside.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.80 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 33 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 31 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 126 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 101 m

Description de la randonnée

Start: Hatton Railway Station. Grid ref. SP 223 663

(S) From Hatton Railway Station car park, walk up the road to the junction. Cross the road ahead and slightly right to go through the small wooden gate on the left of a telegraph pole. Go ahead down steps.

(1) At the bottom turn left on the towpath with the canal on your right. Walk ahead 1⁄2 mile on the towpath (take care - some sections are very narrow, and mind your head on low bridges) to where it ends at the entrance to a tunnel.

(2) Walk up a paved path to the left, then between wooden posts onto a partly gravelled track. Walk ahead, ignoring field entrances on the left and right, to a road.

(3) Cross the road and ahead down the path to the right of the house number 96 (Orchard Cottage), with Canal and River Trust signpost on the hedge. Walk down steps and through tunnel to rejoin towpath, again with the canal on the right. Take care again – more narrow path sections and low bridges.

(4) Walk ahead 3 miles on the towpath.

(5) At the canal the junction, do not cross bridge ahead, but turn left on towpath (signposted Stratford Canal). Under railway bridge, then turn right across a small black and white bridge. Walk ahead (signposted Kings Norton), passing a lock on the right.

(6) Cross another bridge and turn right. Pass another lock on the right. Walk under bridge 35 then double back to the left and turn left to cross the pedestrian bridge next to a road bridge. Walk ahead on the left-hand pavement and under the railway bridge.

(7) Turn left onto Station Lane. Cross the side road Lapworth Oaks and walk ahead 1⁄4 mile on the left-hand pavement to turn left into Lapworth station. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 104 m - Hatton Railway Station
  2. 1 : km 0.1 - alt. 105 m - Bottom steps - Towpath
  3. 2 : km 1.13 - alt. 115 m - Tunnel - Paved path
  4. 3 : km 1.44 - alt. 126 m - Road
  5. 4 : km 1.63 - alt. 116 m - Tunnel - Towpath
  6. 5 : km 6.57 - alt. 106 m - Canal junction - Towpath
  7. 6 : km 6.9 - alt. 108 m - Bridge
  8. 7 : km 7.23 - alt. 105 m - Railway bridge - Station Lane
  9. E : km 7.8 - alt. 111 m - Lapworth station

Practical information

Start: Hatton Railway Station. Grid ref. SP 223 663

Transport: Hatton is the junction station at which the lines from Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham diverge. There are direct services to Stratford-upon-Avon and intermediate stations, Warwick, Leamington Spa and stations to London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill.
There are limited facilities available at this station.

Refreshments: For provisions on route, you’ll find the Shrewley Village Store in the heart of Shrewley village, the Canal Shop and Moorings near the Kingswood Junction and The Lapworth Village Shop, close to Lapworth station.
This part of the Warwickshire countryside is a gourmet’s paradise. Near Kingswood, the Navigation Inn, Punchbowl and Boot Inn all offer delicious food served with the best ales and wines, whilst the Tom O’ the Wood and the Durham Ox are just a stone’s throw from the trail.

The Durham Ox: A bar and restaurant in Shrewley that also has a large outside seating area. Huge pride is taken in sourcing and using local produce which is all prepared and cooked fresh on-site.

Tom O’The Wood: A country pub right alongside the Grand Union canal... with a passion for serving homemade food, locally sourced from local suppliers & farms. You will even find their own hand reared pigs on the specials menu (not to be missed)!

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

In the nearby area

Lapworth village is a further 2 1⁄2 miles west, but do take a look at the stained glass windows, sculptures and carvings at the Grade I listed Church of St. Mary the Virgin, or strike out further to the stately home of Baddesley Clinton.

The trail takes you past Rowington Green, where (privately owned) Shakespeare Hall is located. A branch of William Shakespeare’s family is said to have lived here at the time he was alive. Rowington is mentioned in his will and it was rumoured that he wrote As You Like It here.

The Grand Union Canal: The principal navigable waterway between London and the Midlands, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks. The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal joins it at Kingswood Junction - a great place to enjoy a picnic!

Hay Wood: A peaceful ancient woodland site, stacked full of footpaths and bridleways. Happily there is a also a great diversity of wildlife to look out for, including Muntjac Deer, and a carpet of Bluebells in spring.

Baddesley Clinton: A secluded, intimate estate built in 1500 in the heart of the Forest of Arden. Stroll through the walled garden, seek out the hiding spot for priests and admire the oh-so-gorgeous views across the moat.
Baddesley Clinton was the home of the same family, the Ferrers, for 500 years. Despite never being very wealthy, it passed from father to son for 12 generations.

Hatton Locks: Hatton’s famous ‘stairway to heaven’ flight of 21 locks is a lovely spot to watch the colourful narrowboats as they traverse the Grand Union Canal. Top place for a picnic too!

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