Arden Way and River Arrow dog walk
This gentle walk starting from Coughton Court car park goes across the meadow, runs along the River Arrow and through the Heart of England Forest.
Map
Start:
Car Park, Coughton Court, grid ref: SP083606
1
From the Welcome Centre, walk back to the overflow car park across the bridge. Turn right and walk half way through the car park until you see a wide gate on the left. Go through the gate and bear left across the field towards a wide metal gate with a National Trust sign post beside it. Go through the kissing gate and onto the Arden Way.
Coughton Court
Coughton Court has been home to the Throckmorton family for 600 years, this finest of Tudor houses stands testament to a family's courage in maintaining their beliefs. From a position of high favour to one of fear and oppression post-Reformation, the Throckmortons were leaders in a dangerous age, helping to bring about Catholic emancipation in the 19th century.
2
With the hedge on your left, walk along the edge of the field to the corner, turn right and after a few metres go through a metal gate on your left. Continue diagonally across the field to another kissing gate. An Arden Way sign will be posted.
3
Enter Haydon Way Wood, part of the Heart of England Forest, take the right hand fork past the bench which will be on your right hand side. Continue until you reach the gate and then cross the bridge. At the end of the bridge turn right, go through the gate and follow the river downstream. A large farmhouse will be on your left.
Heart of England Forest
The Heart of England Forest Project was recently assisted to make its first purchase of existing woodland – 186-acres of mainly conifer trees called Coughton Park Wood. These conifers are being felled in stages and the plantation will be transformed into native broadleaf woodland. The aim of the partnership between the Project and the late Felix Dennis is to plant and preserve a large native broadleaf forest in the heart of England. Look at the progress as you pass by.
4
Continue through the gate and up the steps to the next gate. Follow the river to the next gate, go through and continue to follow the river. At the fork, go right nearest to the river and follow it round. On the right there will be a small wooden plank bridge to cross in to the next field. At the fork, go right and cross over the next wooden bridge and continue straight ahead.
5
Go through the next gate, turn left and continue towards the wood. Once in Timm's Grove (our bluebell wood) turn right and continue on a circular route until you arrive back at the entrance gate.
Carved Clock
This clock, which was carved specially for Coughton Court, was installed in 2013. In Spring the floor of the wood is carpeted in bluebells.
6
Go through the gate, turn left and head diagonally across the field towards the bridge. Once you reach the bridge you can either go across the bridge into Coughton or for those who would like a longer walk or who have a dog turn left at the bridge, keep the river on your right until you reach a gate.
7
Go straight across the field and through the kissing gate onto the stone road. Head straight across the stone road and through the next kissing gate. Head straight across the field through the gate and then keep to the right hand side of the field. Look carefully for a path down to a kissing gate in the corner of the field. The grass is sometimes long here and the gate difficult to find. An alternative is to turn right along the stone road. This can flood at any time of the year so be cautious.
8
Go through the gate and turn right onto the road. Once you reach the ford cross the bridge and continue along the road and turn right back into Coughton Court. Pass both churches, the house and head back over the bridge into the car park. *Covid update - Instead of turning back into Coughton Court, continue up the lane, turn right and walk along the A435. On the right hand side, you will find a kissing gate which takes you across front park and back into Coughton.
End:
Car Park, Coughton Court, grid ref: SP083606
