The Six Bells - Route 1

(S/E) With your back to the pub turn right and follow the road (The Green South) keeping the cricket ground on your left. Continue in the same direction as the road becomes a track at the outskirts of the village. After about 1km the track turns slightly to the left, at this point leave the track, and walk across a small footbridge over a drainage dyke.Ignore the ‘Millennium Walk’ sign follow the path in the same direction and after another 1km, on your right you will pass a fairly well hidden large pond (part of water cress beds) and shortly afterwards you reach a road.

(1) Cross over the road and walk along the lane opposite into the village of Roke and after 500m leave the road and take the footpath on the left marked by a finger post. Follow the footpath until you reach another road.

(2) Turn left and walk along the road until you reach a road junction, bear right here and continue walking along the road for just under 200m then leave the road taking the footpath on the right indicated by a finger post and next to a thatched cottage (and a derelict phone box). Follow the footpath across a field and exit via a kissing gate on to a lane opposite a St Helens Church.

(3) Turn left and walk along the lane until you reach a crossroads with the Chequers pub on the left. Cross over the road into Green Lane opposite and continue along the lane then at the end of the row of houses follow the track round to the left and continue on through a metal gate.

(4) Walk straight across the field and go through a wooden gate and turn sharp right, then follow the bridle path around the edge of the field. After the path turns left in the corner of the field follow the bridle path in same general direction for about 1.6km and you will reach the outskirts of Warborough.

(5) Follow what is now a small lane (Green Lane North) past the cricket ground. Turn left into Green Lane North, walk towards the side of the cricket pavilion then turn right and follow the road between some cottages and turn left to emerge by a green with the Six Bells pub opposite.(S/E)

In winter or periods of heavy rain, waterproof walking shoes are recommended.

St Helens Church is a beautiful old church that dates back to 1087. One of the oldest features in the church is the Norman font situated in the nave. The name of Berrick Salome is thought to originate from “Berewic” meaning corn farm and a corruption of Sulham the name of a local manor.

Warborough has all the characteristics of a typical pretty Oxfordshire village, church, pub, cricket green and as such has appeared in many episodes of Midsomer Murders. The Six Bells has featured under its own name and others such as the Quill Inn and the Black Swan.