Millennium Way: Packwood House and Chessetts Wood Walking Guide

Millennium Way: Packwood House and Chessetts Wood

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Millennium Way: Packwood House and Chessetts Wood

Author: Millennium Way, Published: 01 Feb 2017

Walk Rating:

Warwickshire, Lapworth

Walk Type: Footpaths and byways

Millennium Way: Packwood House and Chessetts Wood

Length: 4 miles, Difficulty:

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A 4 mile circular walk from Packwood House, near Lapworth in Warwickshire. Starting from this stunning National Trust property, the route enjoys the delights of the Warwickshire countryside. For over half the walk you enjoy a delightful section of the Millennium Way, clearly waymarked with the distinctive black and white circular waymarkers.

The route is relatively flat with just a few gentle gradients. You will need to negotiate a few kissing gates, a few steps plus 10 stiles (all of which should be suitable for most dogs to manage). You are likely to come across livestock in many of the fields. Allow 2 hours.

The Millennium Way is a beautiful 100 mile walk in the heart of England, from Pershore in Worcestershire to Middleton Cheney in Northamptonshire. The route was created by the 41 Club as a community project, with something to offer every walker or rambler across Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. This is one of 44 circular walks, each of which incorporates a section of the Millennium Way and is published in partnership with 41 Club.

The walk starts and finishes at Packwood House, near Lapworth in Warwickshire. The property has its own visitor car park (which is normally open 10.30am to 5.30pm all year). Alternatively, there is a lay-by on the lane just north of the car park. Approximate post code B94 6AT.

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Walk Sections

Start to St Giles Church
	Start point: 52.3483 lat, -1.7462 long End point: 52.353 lat, -1.752 long
Packwood House began as a modest timber-framed farmhouse constructed for John Fetherston between 1556 and 1560. Its interiors were extensively restored between the First and Second World Wars by Graham Baron Ash to create a fascinating 20th-century evocation of domestic Tudor architecture. Packwood House contains a fine collection of 16th-century textiles and furniture, and the gardens have renowned herbaceous borders. The famous Yew Garden containing over 100 trees was laid out in the mid-17th century by John Fetherston, the lawyer. In 1941, Ash donated the house and gardens to the National Trust. Turn right out of the National Trust car park, and follow the lane, passing Grove Lane which enters from the left. After a further 100 paces, take the kissing gate left into a field. Follow the black Millennium Way waymarker to go over the centre of the field to reach a kissing gate under power lines. From this kissing gate, go ahead with a hedge on your left for approximately 40 paces then follow the waymarker to go diagonally right to reach the power pole in the corner by the trees. Take the kissing gate leading into the churchyard of St. Giles Church.

St Giles Church to Valley Lane
	Start point: 52.353 lat, -1.752 long End point: 52.359 lat, -1.723 long
The present church of St Giles dates from the latter part of the 13th century (1270-80) and stands secluded and peaceful in fields, with Church Farm and Packwood Hall as its nearest neighbours. It was at St Giles Church on a June morning in 1706 that a Lichfield bookseller, Michael Johnson, came to marry Sara Ford. Their son, born in 1709, grew up to become Dr Samuel Johnson of literary fame. The registers actually date back to 1668 and are kept in the church safe. Face the front door of the church and go left along the pathway to exit the churchyard via a gate into the car park. Here we leave the Millennium Way until later in the walk. Go immediately right to take the car park corner gap in the wooden fence, then take the kissing gate. Go ahead on the path between scrub to find the field corner gap. Take this gap and go ahead with a hedge on your right, ignore the mid-field kissing gate on the right, instead continue to the field end and take the kissing gate to reach the road. Cross the road (taking care on the blind bend) and go through the kissing gate opposite into a field, continuing ahead with a hedge on your right. Exit the field by two stiles and footbridges. Go ahead with a hedge on your right then go through a metal swing gate into the next field. Keep ahead with a wire fence on your left. Take the corner stile and footbridge then head diagonally left to pass under low voltage power lines to exit via a stile in the top left corner of the field. Once over the stile, go right to the corner of the hedge then go left (with the hedge on your left) towards a house directly ahead. Go through two metal gates then keep ahead for 20 yards down a gravelled area, keeping the house on your right. Bear right on the driveway, keeping the pond on your right, and head up towards the road. On reaching the road, turn left and after approximately 100 yards, take Chapel Lane on your right (signposted Chadwick End). Continue down Chapel Lane for approximately 600 yards, passing over the railway line and ignoring the first waymarked path on the right, then turn right into Valley Lane (where you will again pick up the Millennium Way waymarker).

Valley Lane to End
	Start point: 52.359 lat, -1.723 long End point: 52.3486 lat, -1.7463 long
Continue down Valley Lane, ignoring a road on the right and staying ahead between tall hedges. Follow the road around and, immediately before the private entrance to Valley Farm, go left through a kissing gate into a field. Turn right (with the hedge on your right) to take the corner field kissing gate. Keep ahead to take the next wooden kissing gate and stone bridge, passing over a stile into a field. Maintain the same line ahead (with hedges on your left) to follow the distinctive Millennium Way waymarkers over several stiles and a gate. Take a large metal kissing gate then go through a short passage to arrive at the road. Go right along the road, passing Station Lane, and head gently uphill to cross a bridge over the railway line. Immediately afterwards, take the driveway on the right (The Grove). Continue along the drive for 100 yards and, just before the house gate, take the passageway right. Pass through the kissing gate and then go with the hedge on your left to take a further kissing gate onto a driveway. Turn right then after 10 paces turn left through a kissing gate into a field. Continue with a hedge on your left to exit the field through a gate onto the road. Go right along the road, passing a driveway on your right to Uplands Farm, then after some 30 paces take a kissing gate left into the National Trust Packwood Avenue. Go along the avenue of trees, then go through a metal gate and down a few steps to return to Packwood House. Turn right down the lane which brings you back to the National Trust Car Park where the walk began.

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network Millennium Way: Packwood House and Chessetts Wood Walking Guide Original GPX source file

2 Comments for: "Millennium Way: Packwood House and Chessetts Wood"

Lovely easy ramble in the Warwickshire countryside - we parked at Packwood House. Note they won’t let you use the cafe there if you’re not a member ☹️
By janetdj on 09 Oct 2018
Lovely walk from Packwood through surrounding fields. A couple of country lanes with some traffic. Suitable for young and old. Kids will love gathering conkers from the trees in Packwood at the end of the walk. Thoroughly enjoyable way to see a bit of the Warwickshire countryside.
By Hannah2017 on 12 Sep 2017

The information in this guide has been provided in good faith and is intended only as a guide, not a statement of fact. You are advised to check the accuracy of the information provided and should not use this guide for navigational directions nor should you rely on the accuracy of the weather forecast. You are advised to take appropriate clothing, footwear, equipment and navigational materials with you according to the current and possible weather and nature of the terrain. Always follow the country code and follow any additional warnings or instructions that may be available. Some walks may be very strenuous and you are advised to seek medical advice if you have any doubts as to your capability to complete the walk.

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