Walking trail
Coughton Court family walk
After walking around the wood you can either retrace your steps, if you have little ones with you, or go on a bigger adventure through a field and a ford.
Map
Start:
Stableyard, Coughton Court, grid ref: SP083606
1
From the Stableyard cafe, walk past the play area and outbuildings (on the left) to the river bridge.
2
Cross over the River Arrow.
Play pooh sticks
You will need a good sized stick to throw into the river. Try marking your stick in some way so that you know which is yours. Throw them in from the River Arrow bridge and then go to the end of the riverside walk bridge to see whose stick wins. What is the best type of stick, big, small, thick or thin? You might have to try several times to be sure.
3
Head diagonally across the field to Timm's Grove, our bluebell wood.
Timm's Grove
Timm's Grove was named after a highwayman who, reputedly, used to hide out in the woods after an attack.
4
Now you can return to Coughton Court if you only need a really short walk. For a little longer follow the left hand perimeter of the field until you get to a kissing gate.
5
Go through the kissing gate and then keep to the right hand side of the field until the next kissing gate.
6
As you go through the kissing gate you can turn right onto the stone road (Old London Road). This can flood all year round, so be cautious. Alternatively, go through the gate on the other side of the stone road into the next field.
7
Cross the field next to the old oak tree (which should be on your right) and keep to the right hand side. Look carefully for a kissing gate in the corner of the field. This is sometimes overgrown and hidden.
8
Go through the gate and turn right onto the road. Once you reach the ford, cross the bridge, continue along the road and turn back into Coughton Court. Pass both churches and the house then head back over the bridge into the car park.
Coughton Ford
Have a look at the depth marker and see if you can see how deep the ford is today. It can get very deep so be careful. There is a footbridge for your safety. When it gets too deep the road has to be closed to vehicles as it can become unsafe.
End:
Stableyard, Coughton Court, grid ref: SP083606
