The Honnington walk
A delightful walk around the village of Honnington
From your parked car, walk back in towards the delightful village of
Honington. About 200 yards before you reach the road junction turn
right and proceed through a kissing gate by a farm gate and follow the
waymarker direction up the field. Keep to the right hand side of the
field and soon you will go through a metal hand-gate as you continue up
the gently slope to a second wooden gate. Continue along the clear wide
farm grass track for about a mile and a half pausing from time to time
to enjoy the fine view to the right towards Brailes Hill and behind you
towards Shipston on Stour and Honington – you will see the Church at
nearby Tredington Village. You will pass by an old barn and after a
pleasing stretch of good walking you will reach Upper St Dennis
Cottages.
At the cottages turn left, and ascend the wide farm track set to the
right of a wire fence pausing at the brow of Idlecote Hill (near Pen
Covert) to enjoy the lovely view. Now proceed ahead now descending by
the field hedge to reach a farm track and the Centenary Way. Turn right
and join the Centenary way track going generally northwest. In about
200 yards the track bends right and here you leave the Centenary way by
turning left following the waymarkers for a footpath that passes to the
let of trees and a reservoir then arcs right and descends towards the
village of Idlecote. At the road turn right and then go left up the
lane into the village - spare time to explore the tiny village.
Idlecote House stands proud overlooking the nearby countryside. Built
in the early 19th century, this Grange has a fascinating history for
Queen Elizabeth I is said to have stayed in an earlier House on the
site. The Woman’s Land Army was billeted at the House during World War
II. Near to the House is a fine octagonal 18th century Dovecote and the
Church of St James the Great. There are a number of attractive village
houses and in particular Badger’s Cottage is a picturesque stone
thatched cottage
At the road junction in the village turn left towards Idlecote House
then take the footpath going to the left and descend over pleasing
pastureland to return to the road below the village. Turn right and
descend the road passing by the Lodge gates to Idlecote House and then
in about a further half a mile, turn right onto a waymarked footpath
across farmland. The path crosses a large cultivated field and then
passes through a series of hedge gaps/kissing gates descending gently.
The path arcs left and soon you will be descending pastureland (do
pause from time to time to enjoy the pleasing view ahead that embraces
Honington Hall) towards a kissing gate on the edge of Little Honington.
At the road turn left, and stroll down into Honington Village looking
out for a stile in the fence to the right. Go over this and walk a
hedged footpath through trees. This leads to another stile and soon you
will emerge to the left of a cottage before arriving on the road at the
road junction. Cross over the road and proceed up Barcheston Road
opposite to return to your car. If you have time to spare do stroll
into the delightful village to experience its fine green and to see its
attractive period buildings.
Honington is an unspoilt Warwickshire village set by the River Stour.
You will have passed by the Old Tollbar Cottage and gone over the
superb 5-arched 17th century bridge as you entered the village – these
were part of the Honington Hall Estate. In the village, the
half-timbered Magpie Cottage and the Shoemaker’s Cottage (situated on
the Green opposite to the Gates and lodge entrance to Honington Hall)
are impressive. The Hall was built in 1682 by Sir Henry Parker. Near to
this All Saints church was re-built to resemble London Churches of the
1680’s but retains a 13th century tower.
By: Roger Noyce
Map of the walk:
