The Route

Take Bridge Street north east and after 0.25 mile follow the gyratory by going left along Church Street and then left into Warwick Road (after the sharp right hand bend).  Continue straight on and the road becomes Charlecote Road.

Cross over the A429 by-pass at the roundabout and continue for 1 mile to the Charlecote Pheasant where you turn right at the T-junction.  After 0.25 mile turn left and head to Hampton Lucy.  In just 0.5 mile you will cross The Avon and enter Hampton Lucy village.  Follow the road as it goes round to the right and up the hill as it leaves the village (Snitterfield Street).  In 0.5 mile there is a small lane on your right.  Take this right turn (Fulbrook Lane) and follow it for 2.5 miles to Sherbourne.

You enter Sherbourne on Fulbrook Lane and take a right turn into Church Road and go up to All Saints Church.  You can also take the small loop around the village by taking Vicarage Lane from Fulbrook Lane on your left after Church Road.  Keeping right you return to Sherbourne on Watery Lane and then right back into Fulbrook Lane.

Return to Wellesbourne on the same route used out to Sherbourne.  Additionally you may wish to visit Barford or Warwick which you can reach from Sherbourne by following the cycle route signs; the cycle track parallel to the A429 takes you into Barford and in the opposite direction to a cycle bridge over the M40 and into Warwick.  From Sherbourne there is also a cycle track under the western end of the Longbridge traffic island connecting with the B4463 which links to the Warwick to Henley Road.

Topography

The roads are relatively flat at each end of the route but in between there is a steady climb out of Hampton Lucy followed by the long climb up Copdock Hill which is steeper on the return.

Advisory

Care is needed crossing the roundabout on the Wellesbourne bypass and take care of oncoming traffic after Hampton Lucy as the junction for Fulbrook Lane is on a sharp bend.

Points of Interest:

·         Deer in Charlecote Park
·         Charlecote Water Mill and the iron bridge over The Avon.
·         Views from Fulbrook Lane of Sherbourne church; Wasperton and Barford villages
·         Hampton wood.
·         Victorian Gothic All Saints Church, Sherbourne

Thankfully there is no longer a timber causeway or ford for you to cross The Avon at Hampton Lucy as there has been a cast iron bridge there since 1829.  The iron bridge itself originates from Horesley Iron Works in Shropshire.  Close to the bridge you will also see the mill race coming out of Charlecote Water Mill.  The mill itself dates back to 1800 although there has been a mill on this site since the time of the Domesday Book in 1086.  The mill was restored in 1983 and can be visited on a number of days each year.

The Avon is a continuous feature of this ride and as you head north to Sherbourne look out for the meandering river on your right and if you have a keen eye there are ox bow lakes which are particularly noticeable when the river levels are high.  Similarly on these raised sections of road look out for the distant views of Sherbourne church; Wasperton and Barford villages.  Deer are nearly always to be seen in Charlecote Park and look out for the flowering river meadows around The Avon in late spring.

Before Sherbourne on your right hand side is Hampton Wood, an ancient, native woodland under the care and protection of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.  Open to visitors at all times, there are good examples of coppicing and hedge laying to be seen along with the meadow frontage on The Avon.

Like Walton, Sherbourne and Hampton Lucy are estate villages and both have significant churches designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Victorian Gothic style.  All Saints Church, Sherbourne dates from 1864 and Saint Peter ad Vincula, Hampton Lucy originating from 1822 and significantly altered by Scott and re-opened at Christmas 1863.  In All Saints Church, Sherbourne there is a memorial plaque to Henry Maudsley, one of the one hundred thirty three air crew who took part in the Dam Busters raid, living in the village during his child hood he was sadly one of the fifty three who perished on the mission.

Refreshments

The Boars Head, Hampton Lucy
Charlecote Pheasant
The Joseph Arch, Barford
The Granville, Barford

Library of routes to download as .pdf maps or .gpx GPS files