KFPG Walk K Honiley & Kenilworth

Walk K Honiley and Kenilworth

Main Walk 5½ miles Shortcut 1½ miles

This is a stile-free and very pleasant walk of historical interest. There is one stretch of ¼ mile on a walkable verge of the A4177. The walk starts at The Boot at Honiley (Corns Hotel) on the A4177 at Honiley. For an alternative starting point see below.

From The Boot cross the road to the quiet lane opposite and after ¼ mile, by a road bend sign, go through a kissing gate on the left 1. Cross the field to a gate in the hedge opposite and continue for 50 yards with hedge on the right to a gap. Continue along the right-hand side of this curvaceous field to a bridge 2.
For the Short Cut do not cross the bridge but turn left, picking up the description from point 9.
Otherwise go over the bridge and continue left round the field with hedge on the left. Cross over a track 3 and continue with a line of young trees on the left. In the first edition of this book this was the boundary of a much larger Chase Wood. After two fields cross a plank bridge and continue to the field corner and a gate. Continue in the same direction with hedge on the right to a gate. At this point diverge from the hedge going slightly left across the Pleasance to a gate 4. Go through the gate and up an enclosed and shady path to the end and then down PurlieuLane, for 600 yards.

Turn left through a kissing gate near an electricity pole 5. Go diagonally left up the field to a gateway 6 and on diagonally left to a gate and in the same direction to the right-hand side of trees opposite. Go through the edge of the copse to a gate and then another on the right. Proceed diagonally left across the field taking the direction from some gabled houses. Go through another gate and on to Chase Lane 7. Turn left along the lane for almost a mile. At the end of Chase Wood 8 and with Warrior's Lodge Farm ahead, turn left down a broad track to a junction. At the bottom 3 turn right along the path to the field corner and left to a bridge. Cross over and turn right 9¹. Continue with the trees and stream on the right until the trees and then a hedge finish 10. Carry on across the field aiming for the right of a gabled house. Turn left along the verge of the road for a ¼ mile to The Boot.
Alternative starting point
An alternative starting point is the main (Brays) Kenilworth Castle car park. If starting here take the low footpath to the left of the causeway bridge. At the kissing gate walk round the south side of the castle to Purlieu Lane and turn left for 150 yards to a kissing gate on the right near an electricity pole. Pick up the description from point 5.

The Pleasance
This was once a magnificent recreation area built for King Henry V and reached by boat across the great mere from the castle. The timber frame pavilion stood in a diamond-shaped walled courtyard. The area was retained and enhanced by Henry VI and Edward IV but eventually demolished by Henry VIII who had the buildings re-erected within the castle. This stretch of Purlieu Lane walk affords magnificent views of the castle. A purlieu is land that was originally part of a royal forest but later separated off, in this case to become an ancient bridleway to Honiley.

Chase Wood
Queen Elizabeth I spent a day hunting here during her 1575 visit. The woods, then very much larger, were decorated with flowers and new walks and arbours for the occasion and the hunt went on until dusk when the Queen returned by torchlight.

1) NOTE This section can be very marshy and is probably best avoided in very wet weather.

We trust you enjoy the walk. For nineteen more click here. If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you.