On this route you will encounter ploughed fields and rutted tracks, so stout footwear is advised. Parts of the route are along green lanes, unclassified county roads which are not shown on Ordnance Survey maps.
[1] From the Village Hall walk north along Banbury Road. It is worth stopping to look at the Ladbroke History Map displayed beside the village notice board.
On the right hand side you will come to some paddocks. At the far end of the paddocks, just before a thatched cottage, go over a stile on the right and follow a footpath between a hedge and fence to Windmill Lane.
[2] Turn right onto Windmill Lane and walk towards the by-pass. This section of the lane is no longer used by motor traffic. Cross a low fence onto the by-pass. Cross the by-pass with care. Windmill Lane continues directly opposite, although it is now to be renamed Ladbroke Hill Lane.
Follow this quiet lane out into open country. Wide verges suggest that this route was once used as a drove way. On your right is the valley of the Lot Brook, on your left is Ladbroke Hill, with its gentle slopes reminiscent of the downlands of southern England.
(A) HS2 is planned to cross the lane in a 10 metre deep cutting and then cut through Windmill Hill in a 30 metre cutting.
After just over 1 km the tarmac road turns sharp right onto a private drive through a farm gate. The right of way does not turn right but carries straight on along a green lane. Although not waymarked this is an unclassified county road, the E2412. Continue with a hedge on your right to emerge at the corner of a large field.
[3] The true line of the right of way appears to run out into the ploughed field, roughly towards a small pond, and then turn to run parallel to the hedge. However it is more convenient to ignore the legal niceties and follow the farm track alongside the hedge to your right.
Looking left you should be able to spot in the distance the sails of the windmill on Napton Hill. Also in view are the modern wind turbines on Ladbroke Hill.
At the far corner of the field turn left as directed by a large yellow arrow. At the next corner turn right. At this point you are back on the true line of the road. Follow the track alongside the hedge until it veers to the right. Make your way across rough ground to reach another hedge line ahead and then turn left, following the hedge to the Welsh Road. At this point you have another view of Napton windmill.
The Welsh Road probably gets its name from being part of a well used drovers' route between Wales and London.
[4] There is no need to go through the gate onto the Welsh Road as your route turns right, keeping a hedgerow on your left. However it may be of interest that on the far side of the gate Warwickshire County Council have erected a waymarker for an unclassified county road pointing back the way you have come.
Continue alongside the hedge until you reach a waymarker pointing diagonally out into the field. You should be aiming for a gap midway between the two most prominent trees in the opposite hedge line. As usual, should the direct path prove impassible it may be necessary to walk round the edge of the field.
A plank bridge over the ditch takes you into a grassy field. Diagonally right across this field, two stiles on the far side take you over the private drive to Upper Radbourne Farm. You should be aiming slightly left of the mid-point of the line of trees ahead.
Cross a narrow field and go over a stile and bridge to enter Long Spinney. Make your way though the trees towards a gate and stile on the far side. Go over the stile and walk along the right hand side of the hedge ahead. Continue straight ahead as the hedge turns to the left, aiming just to the right of the buildings of Radbourne Manor Farm.
[5] Go over a stile and through a gate onto a farm track. Cross over the track and continue over a stile and across the next field to a gate. At this point you are crossing into the parish of Priors Hardwick. Walk along the left hand side of the hedge ahead until you reach a bridle gate through this hedge. Turn right, go through the gate and across the next field to another bridle gate.
You are now entering a large area of open pasture. Continue in your previous direction until you have crossed a small stream, then aim for the far left hand corner of the field.
The ridge and furrow apparent here must be evidence of past cultivation in a medieval open field. You can even see where the field boundary must have been as the furrows change direction.
Go through a gate at the far corner of the field. Ahead of you is another bridle gate. The bridleway you are following goes through the gate and diagonally out into the next field. Continue until you come abreast of another gate in the hedge to your right. Turn though 90 degrees onto a crossing bridleway and go through this gate. (If the field is ploughed or blocked, walk round the right edge of the field to the second gate.) This manoeuvre has brought you back into the field you were in earlier.
Continue in your new direction across two grassy fields, looking for bridle gates in the hedgerows. The next field is usually ploughed. Aim for the point ahead where a line of telegraph poles reaches the right hand boundary of the field. Continue over a private drive and follow a track curving round the edge of the field to reach a brick and concrete bridge.
(B) It is proposed that HS2 should cross this valley on a 4 metre high viaduct.
[6] Cross the bridge, over the Radbourne. At this point you join another unclassified county road, the E2413. Looking back you can see a bridleway waymarker pointing the way you have come. This serves as a reminder that motorised vehicles should not proceed any further.
Take a track to the right which soon turns left at a field corner. The track runs alongside a hedge to reach a private drive. Here you should find an unclassified road waymarker. Follow the left hand side of the hedge ahead. When it begins to veer to the left, go through a bridle gate with a footpath waymark. Continue following the hedge along the right hand side side of the next field with the hedge on your right.
(C) HS2 should cross the field in a 4 metre deep cutting.
At the field corner turn left. Keep the hedge on your right until the next corner when the right of way switches to the right hand side of the hedge.
(D) At this point the HS2 cutting should be 9 metres deep.
Carry on in the same direction to reach a section where you are walking between the hedge and a fence. At a point where it is impossible to continue straight on go though a gap in the hedge on your left and turn right to follow the far side of this hedge. You soon see the buildings of Woodlands House Farm ahead. Take the track to the right of these buildings which leads to the tarmac section of Radbourne Lane.
To your right you can make out Ladbroke Hill and your outward route.
[7] Radbourne Lane will take you back to your starting point.
As you approach the by-pass notice some Nissen huts on the right. These are relics of a prisoner of war camp from the second world war.
Cross the by-pass with care. Go through a gate leading to the now little used stub of Radbourne Lane on the village side.