A week of wandering along and near the River Avon, taking in the views, historic sites and country towns of this largely unspoilt corner of England.
Heading generally southwest from our first base at Kenilworth we'll start off with a little vale walking into Warwick with a walking tour of this historic town and opportunity to visit the castle. We'll continue through elegant Leamington Spa then we'll rejoin the river at Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, and follow it through the extraordinarily picturesque Warwickshire villages of Welford-on-Avon and Bidford-on-Avon. The ancient market town of Evesham nestled in a loop of the Avon with its rectangular roundhouse and Bell Tower, the only major remaining building of Evesham's once great abbey, will be our destination on another day walk in the vale.
From our second base at Tewkesbury at the end of the Avon Valley, with one of the best well preserved medieval black and white medieval townscapes in the country, we'll walk the trail up and downstream, strolling through the Georgian streets of Pershore and its abbey grounds before looping off from the riverside to explore the ancient Cotswold hill fort atop Bredon Hill and enjoy the panoramic views from the summit. Finally we'll pick up the trail again for the walk past Strensham Lock into Tewkesbury to the confluence of the Avon and Severn rivers and the end of the walk at Tewkesbury Abbey, a magnificent 12th-century structure with the highest Norman tower in England.
Meals: Half board with breakfasts and dinners taken at the hotel. Picnic lunches are included on each walking day. Accommodation: Clarenden House, Kenilworth
The three-star hotel in the small, historic town of Kenilworth in the green heart of Warwickshire combining the historic elements of the 16th century building's architecture with elegant, modern furnishings. (Number of rooms: 31)
The Bell Hotel, Tewkesbury
A historic timber framed Country Town Hotel, Restaurant & Public House dating back to 1696.Situated in the heart of Tewkesbury opposite the Grand Abbey.This two-star hotel offers 24 comfortable en-suite bedrooms of individual character. Travel: Transportation to and from the trailheads, if necessary, is included.
Nearest railway stations: Warwick, Leamington Spa or Coventry (for Kenilworth) and Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury). |
