4 miles, 2 hours, through woodland, pasture, cultivated fields and some small sections of road.
There is only one pub within the parish boundary: the Lord Nelson in Ansley Village. So that is where our walk will end.
We start from the Horse & Jockey, on the B4116 from Furnace End to Atherstone.
The pub is well-known for its range of cask-conditioned real ales, including the locally brewed Goat’s Milk from Church End Brewery. The main restaurant is in an 18th century barn conversion with original beams and exposed brickwork. The Horse & Jockey also has a caravan and camping site.
Across the road from the pub you will see the start of the path. It takes us straight through Bentley Park Wood, which is mixed woodland with pine, oak and hazel. In spring it is carpeted with bluebells. It can get muddy in wet weather, so you might need waterproof footwear.
We emerge from the path into the village of Ridge Lane, opposite the second pub on our walk: the White Hart. It has a beer garden to the rear and side. The pub also runs the Village Pantry on Wednesdays to Sundays from 8:30am to 3pm, serving a range of food and drinks.
The next section of our walk is on the main road for a short distance. Leaving the White Hart, turn left and go along the road until you reach the village of Birchley Heath. Now we are back in the parish. At the end of the wood on the left, turn into The Rookery. Go past the houses, through the gateway at the end of the lane and follow the field edge to the right-hand corner. Go through the kissing-gate on your right and the two following ones, keeping the field edge on your left. Some distance after the farm buildings, next to an oak tree, the path leaves the field via a small bridge.
Taken in August, the wheat is being harvested in the distance
This brings you out on to a farm track. Turn right along the track. Leave the track just before it turns into the road and carry on straight ahead along the field edge. At the corner of the field there is a bridge into the next field. Turn left and follow the field edge until you reach a large oak tree in the bottom corner. From here the path leads across the next field, towards Manor Farm and St Laurence Church, which you can see in the distance.
Wheat ready for harvesting, Manor Farm early August
The path takes us to the hawthorn hedge, near the opposite corner of the field. The kissing gate is between a willow tree and an oak tree. It takes us into a small paddock, over another bridge slightly to our left and then to the farm track via another kissing gate.
A corridor of rustling maize, Manor Farm
Crossing the track, the path takes us through the next field to the far right-hand corner. A kissing gate brings us to a short track up to the main road from Church End to Ansley Common.
But we are taking the quieter route. In spring you may hear, and sometimes see, a skylark as it sings and rises up and up from the field. Cross the road and follow the path over the next field. It brings you alongside the road into Ansley Village. It then follows the hedge for a while and then turns back into the field. You will see a house in front of you. Head for the end of the hedge, slightly to your left. From the corner of the hedge turn slightly left again, towards the end of the spinney that projects into the field.
The paths follow the lines of field edges that are long gone, so they seem idiosyncratic at times. From the edge of the spinney turn right and follow the direction of the white house you can see in the distance, on the other side of the valley. This will bring you to a farm track, which is also the junction of four paths. We turn a little to our right, keeping the houses at the top end of the village in our sights. This brings us to another footbridge. Head straight over the next field and we reach the edge of the village.
Walk along St Lawrence, turn right at the end and then left into Malthouse Close. At the end of Malthouse Close turn left again. Follow this path past the allotments until it brings you out into Croft Mead. Turn right up to the main road, and there is the Lord Nelson on your left. The Lord Nelson offers good food as well as locally brewed beers from the Sperrin Brewery.
By now you will probably need a drink. Mine’s a pint of ‘Band of Brothers’.
With thanks to Nik McKiernan for suggesting this walk, and for additional content.
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