An overview of walking the Heart of England in Glouscestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire England as part of the walking on the web guide to walking in Europe

Heart of England Way 161km / 100 miles part of the Walking on the Web guide to walking in England

Part of this walk forms part of European Walking Route

Start Milford, Staffs SJ975212 Finish Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire SP170209

Maps Ordnance Survey Explorer 205, 220, 221, 232, 244 and Outdoor Leisure OL45

From Milford, just south of Stafford, this 100 mile walk crosses the heathery heathland of Cannock Chase then falls gently through mixed farmland to Lichfield, with its great cathedral. Heading south again, it crosses the sandy dome of Packington Moor and the Weeford Hills to meander over the broad valley of the River Tame to Kingsbury Water Park, a watery paradise created from old gravel pits. Busy towns, roads, railways and canals are all quite near, but you hardly see them through the hedges and trees.

The Way feels deeply rural as you cross miles of hilly green farmland with pretty villages through Meriden and Henley in Arden to Alcester. Now the walk enters the flat, willowy landscape of the Avon Valley. You cross the river by the packhorse bridge at Bidford on Avon and go on through market garden country into the Cotswolds at Chipping Campden. The last 16 miles are through rounded hills with fast, clear streams and honey coloured villages to Bourton on the Water.

Overview kindly supplied by John Roberts @ walkwaysquercus.co.uk

Legend
	Serviced accommodation
	Unserviced accommodation
	Bus route
	Shop for provisions
	Cafe / Restaurant
	Public House
	First Aid / Pharmacy
	Train
	Airport
Grading
	gradual ascents or descents along well defined paths or tracks. Suitable for novice walkers
	considerable ascents and descents over moderate fell type terrain
	strenuous sometimes exposed routes requiring map reading and navigational skills

Depart Milford Arrive Lichfield Total time 5 hrs Distance 24 km / 15 miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Intersecting Routes Staffordshire Way Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 244 Cannock Chase and Chasewater

Depart Lichfield Arrive Kingsbury Total time 4.5 hrs Distance 22.5 km / 14 miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Intersecting Routes Centenary Way Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 232 Nuneaton & Tamworth

Depart Kingsbury Arrive Berkswell Total time 5 hrs Distance 24 km / 15 miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Intersecting Routes Centenary Way Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 232 Nuneaton & Tamworth and 221 Coventry & Warwick

Depart Berkswell   Arrive Henley in Arden Total time 4.5 hrs Distance 22. 5km / 14 miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 221 Coventry & Warwick and 220 Birmingham Walsall, Solihull & Redditch

Depart Henley in Arden Arrive Bidford on Avon Total time 4.25 hrs Distance 21 km / 13 miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Intersecting Routes Arden Way, Avon Valley Way Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 220 Birmingham Walsall, Solihull & Redditch and 205 Stratford-upon-Avon & Evesham

Depart Bidford on Avon Arrive Chipping Campden Total time 4.5 hrs Distance 22.5 km / 14 miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Intersecting Routes Avon Valley Way, Monarch's Way Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 205 Stratford-upon-Avon & Evesham and OL45 The Cotswolds

Depart Chipping Campden Arrive Bourton on the Water Total time hrs Distance km / miles Altitude change Descent m Ascent m Difficulty Intersecting Routes Cotswold Way Diamond Way Gloucestershire Way Macmillan Way Monarch's Way Oxfordshire Way Warden's Way Windrush Way Map Ordnance Survey Explorer OL45 The Cotswolds

Connections with the Staffordshire Way, Heart of Arden Walk, Avon Valley Walk, Glouscestershire Way, Windrush Way, Cotswold Way and Oxfordshire Way

Further information

Reading matter Heart of England Way by John Roberts [ISBN:094770840 5]

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