The Todenham walk
An undulating walk through delightful Cotswold countryside and through three very attractive Cotswold Villages.
From the Farriers Arms in Todenham head right along the pavement of the
peaceful road towards Moreton-in-Marsh passing by the beautiful church
of St Thomas à Becket. Walk along the main street in the village that
is lined with daffodils waving in the spring breeze and continue along
the peaceful road for about 1.5 miles. You will pass the turn to Great
Wolford (on the left) and a couple of farms (on the right) and then
descend towards the trees of Dunsden Coppice. At the bottom of the
field (with the coppice at its top), turn right through a metal farm
gate onto a waymarked footpath and this will take you through a second
farm gate set to the right of the trees. After crossing over a couple
of further fields you will arrive and go over a footbridge to reach
raised ground set between two small attractive fishermen's pools.
Continue generally ahead bearing slightly left and ascend the hill and
all too soon you will reach a farm gate set to the left of the lovely
church of St Leonard in the beautiful tiny village of Lower Lemington.
Spare time to visit the church that belonged to Tewkesbury Abbey until
the reformation, and then stroll around the village.
Return to the farm gate and now descend the hill back down the hill
this time aiming slightly to the right. This footpath will lead you
back to the fishing lakes where you will arrive near to the café and
the car parking area used by the fishermen. Continue ahead and go over
the stile set in the hedge then ascend the footpath up the cultivated
field until you reach the woodland. Now walk the farm track set to the
right of the trees and this will take you up onto the Moreton-in-Marsh
road once again.
Turn right and proceed along the grass verge of the road for about 300
yards then cross over the road and walk up the waymarked driveway
towards Woodhills Farm. The driveway/track takes you to the left of the
farm complex and through a farm gate onto a footpath. Walk ahead along
the footpath going over a hedge stile and then arcing right towards the
trees of Lemington Coppice at the end of the next field. Enter the
coppice via a stile, stroll along the clear footpath through the
pleasant woodland then exit over a footbridge into pastureland. Now aim
for a stile set in the hedge to your far left. Go over this and walk
the clear footpath to the right of a small pond and soon you will be
walking a fenced village path between houses which will deliver you
onto the road in the village of Great Wolford. Turn left and walk to a
T-junction in the road then proceed ahead along a lovely wide farm
track. The track provides a fine piece of walking for you will be able
to stroll along the top of a small hill (110m) ridge for about a mile –
there is a pleasing view of the village of Todenham up to your left.
Just before you reach Red Barn, turn left and walk a footpath set to
the right of a field hedge and going generally towards Todenham Village
across pastureland. You will go over a footbridge and a couple of
stiles, and soon you will reach a farm bridge over the stream situated
below the village.
Turn right, cross over the bridge and ascend the lane into the village.
You will arrive on the main road in the village near to the Farriers
Arms by the church of St Thomas.
By: Roger Noyce
Mao of the walk:
