Wilmcote to Wootton Wawen Railway Station, Rail Trails

Start : Wilmcote (A) Railway Station (CV37 9UP) Grid ref. SP 167 582

(S) From Wilmcote railway station turn left down the road, past Mary Arden’s farm on your right to a T-Junction with the Mary Arden pub opposite.

(1) Turn left then immediately right up a road with new bungalows, past the entrance to the pub car park.

(2) Immediately after the road swings right, take a path between two fences on the left immediately after number 25. Emerge into a field and go straight ahead along a wide path with a playground to the left. The path narrows but continues straight on until it reaches a tarmac lane.

(3) Turn left for 20 yards then go right over a stile. Follow the enclosed path downhill, then go left at the bottom, with a wooden fence on the right, to a stile. Cross it and go left again, and soon swing right downhill to emerge in a field. Go straight across it to a tarmac drive and turn right to reach a road.

(4) Go right for about 20 yards to where a footpath and bridleway both start at a gate on the left. Follow the footpath half left with a hedge on the right. When the hedge swings right after a gap, carry straight on in the same direction, following a ditch on the left to a road.

(5) Turn right along the road. Ignore the path going straight on at a sharp left bend and continue along the road. Just after a white house look for a stile on the right by a telegraph pole. Cross this and aim for a stile in the far left corner, at the left end of the buildings opposite. Turn right along the road and continue along the main street.

(6) Turn left down Chapel Lane. When it becomes unsurfaced, go ahead to a gate and footpath sign. Follow the left edge of the small field to a second gate and cross the old railway track to the gate on the other side. Take the rightmost of the two waymarked paths.

It goes towards the end of a hedge then follows its left side to a redundant stile by a large gap into another field. Continue in much the same direction to the river bank on the far side of the field and turn right along it to a stile and gate which lead to a road.

(7) Turn left over the bridge to a T-junction on a bend. Turn right for a short distance and find a kissing gate with a Monarch’s way waymark on it. Go through the gate and follow the path uphill along the left edge of the field to cross a stile by a gate.

The path now gets a bit steeper as it continues ahead aiming for a gate in the hedge at the top of the bank, which is slightly right of straight on. From this gate, (which is a lovely spot for a rest!), the path heads downhill across a field with old ridge and furrow plough marks on it, to an easily spotted gate at the bottom, which is framed by two large oak trees.

(8) Cross the driveway and find a waymark post behind the leftmost tree. Go to the left side of the brick barn ahead and find a stile beyond it. Follow the right edge of the next field to a road.

(9) Turn right and go under a railway bridge that crosses both the road and river. Immediately afterwards, turn left along a concrete drive to a kissing gate on the right.

(10) Go half left across the next field to the right end of a large concrete and wire fence which encloses a sewage works. Hold your nose and walk between the fence and the river bank to emerge in a large field. Keep right to another stile and continue following the river on your right to a footbridge.

(11) Do not cross, but go up to and through a metal gate at the top of a small bank ahead, which turns out to be the end of a flood bank, and walk along it, heading for the church tower in the distance, to reach a kissing gate by a cottage. Continue straight ahead up a drive to reach the A3400.

(12) Turn left and continue until you see Wootton Wawen station on your left. (E)

Start : Wilmcote Railway Station (CV37 9UP) Grid ref. SP 167 582

Transport : Wilmcote is on the mainline between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-Upon-Avon with trains running hourly to Henley-in-Arden and all stations to Earlswood and Shirley. Trains also run two hourly to Leamington Spa via Hatton and Warwick. Wilmcote station is unstaffed so tickets must be purchased on the train. Refreshments and other facilities are available in the village itself.

Refreshments : You can stock up on provisions along the trail; from the Wilmcote Village Stores to the Island Meadow Caravan Park Shop at Aston Cantlow. In Wootton Wawen where you’ll also find Yew Tree Farm, a contemporary shopping village with a coffee shop and chocolaterie.
For more leisurely refreshments there’s the Mary Arden Inn in Wilmcote, or the 15th-century Kings Head in Aston Cantlow. Or why not enjoy the stunning views at The View, near the Edstone Aqueduct?
Mary Arden Inn : If you need fortification before venturing out then you’ll find this inn right opposite Mary Arden’s Farm. It is a peaceful retreat offering rooms and dining, with a charming terrace and beer garden.

The Kings Head : A traditional country gastro pub and venue for Shakespeare’s parents wedding breakfast. Historically famous for Duck Suppers, and we’d recommend sticking with tradition if you stop by!

The View : A converted cattle and grain store that lives up to its name with far reaching views over the canalboat marina to Warwickshire and Worcestershire beyond. Oh, and the locally sourced food is top notch too!

Yew Tree Farm: 14 beautiful barns in an attractive courtyard setting, housing a stylish and contemporary Shopping Village with 16 commercial units offering a range of unique quality products from around the world.

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

(A) Wilmcote is best known as the childhood home of Mary Arden, Shakespeare’s mother, whose farm and the historic Palmer’s Farm are close to the station. The village is also renowned for its limestone and is the reason the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal passes through the village.
Wilmcote was renowned for its good limestone and a significant quarrying industry grew up in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal was routed through Wilmcote because of its quarries and Wilmcote stone was used for paving the floors of the Houses of Parliament in the 19th century.

Aston Cantlow lies in the old manor of Aston which was once held by Earl Ælfgar, husband of Lady Godiva.

Mary Arden’s Farm : The childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother, this working Tudor farm keeps pace with the seasons, see rare breed animals, watch falconry displays, and explore nature trails.

St John the Baptist Church : An Early English style church where, it is believed, Shakespeare’s parents were married in 1557. Although extensively restored in 1850 there are plenty of medieval features still to be seen.