Circular walk, about 2 hours, over cultivated fields, grassland and woods
Start at Ansley Village Post Office.
Coming out of the post office, turn left. After the bench you will see a footpath sign to the left. Follow it into the field and then turn right into the top of the golf course. At this point it is probably safest to leave the path for a short distance (to avoid golfers and small white missiles). Turn left and follow the hedge, then walk around the pond and continue down until you reach the footbridge, where you rejoin the public footpath.
Cross the footbridge and follow the track until it dips in front of the clubhouse.
From here you will see the yellow signposts straight in front of you, following the old field margin between the fairways. Follow that line until you reach the other side of the golf course. A waymarker on an oak tree indicates where the path leaves the golf course, north of Hill Top.
Follow the track past the two bungalows, then cross the main road into the football field. Follow the top of the field and through the wood. At the far side of the wood you will find an improvised footbridge into the cultivated field beyond.
The path now takes you over three fields. Depending which time of year it is, they are either fallow (and at times muddy) or cultivated. The final gate brings you out on to Nuthurst Lane, near Astley. Cross the road, turn right and follow the path into Post Office Row.
At this point it is well worth taking a detour around Astley Church (if it is open). The interior is extraordinary. Astley Castle, next to the church, is associated with three queens of England. It has been beautifully restored by the Landmark Trust, and the grounds are open to the public.
Then you can rejoin the path on Post Office Row. It takes you to the northwest corner of the Castle grounds, and then heads over the fields to Lodge Farm. Past Lodge Farm, the path leaves the track and takes you into a field on the left. Follow the field edge next to the track to the exit due north. The path crosses a grassy area next to the wood, then takes you into a grass field. Follow the path to the north along the field edge for about 50 yards, then take the entrance to the field on the left.
Head out over the centre of this field, aiming for the small wood on the north side. The track is quite steep through the wood down to the stream. It then takes you over a footbridge and into another pasture. Head out over this field and you reach the main road from Ansley to Nuneaton, with Robinson’s End Farm to your right.
Cross the road and follow the field edge, keeping the hedge to your right. At the end of the field you cut across the corner of another field, then turn right into a third. Keeping the hedge on your right, the path brings you to the railway cutting where the line exits the tunnel. Keep the metal fence to your right and then go through the gate and around the edge of the cutting. Climb the hill in front of you and the path brings you out on Tunnel Road in Ansley Village.
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