Along the Combrook valley

By car: Approaching on the Fosse Way from the north, follow signs for Lighthorne and turn left at the Three Gates junction. Then immediately fork right onto the road to KIneton. You descend into a valley and you should find a space to park in a lay-by on the right just over a bridge. If coming from Kineton following signs for Lighthorne should get you on the right road.

By public transport: There is a limited bus service to Compton Verney from Banbury or Stratford on service 269, but no service on Sundays. In addition the Heart of Warwickshire tourist bus operates in the summer on a circuit from Stratford through Compton Verney to Warwick and back to Stratford. The bus stop at Compton Verney is near waypoint 2.

[1] Walk south from the starting point up a slope to reach a point where there are footpath waymarkers on both sides of the road. Go through a gate on the right and along a mown path through newly created parkland. Beyond the stream on your right you have distant views of the mansion at Compton Verney. Pass through a gateway into a second area of parkland and continue straight ahead.

After another gate, you follow a waymarked path through a belt of trees with the Compton Verney car park on your right.

[2] You emerge on the B4086 at the Compton Verney entrance. Watch out for fast moving traffic. There are bus stops on both sides of the road. From the stop on the far side of the road head diagonally right over a ploughed field aiming for the right hand end of a line of trees going across the top of the field. As you get closer you should see a footpath marker at the point where the path enters the trees.

Continue along a woodland ride. This section usually provides something of interest. There are vivid colours in the autumn and there is always the possibility of encountering deer. Go straight on when you reach a track crossroads. This section of path is narrower and can be muddy. You emerge at a stile giving access to Combrook Leys, a meadow recently purchased by the local community with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Walk diagonally right down the slope towards a gateway.

[3] Turn left and follow the main street of Combrook village. Turn right at the church and continue to a point where the road makes a sharp right turn towards a bridge. Here you should take a waymarked footpath leading left. Go through a gate into a grassy field and head up the slope, veering slightly right towards a marker post by the far hedge. Turn right onto a farm track running between hedges. After you pass a stone barn the track continues along the edge of a field, with a hedge on your left.

Continue down a slope towards a gate. At this point you cross the line of the disused Stratford upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway, now very much overgrown. Encroaching scrub is also a problem in the next field, which is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest known for supporting rare species of butterfly. It should be possible to make out a path running close to the western boundary of the field. Look out for a narrow gap in the hedge on the right. Go through the hedge and over a stile to reach a footbridge over the River Dene.

[4] Once over the bridge, turn left at a footpath marker post. The more obvious path straight ahead is not a right of way. Continue to the end of a meadow where you go through a kissing gate and then along the left hand edge of the next field. Throughout this section the River Dene is just to your left. At the far corner of the field you follow the hedge round to the right and join a more substantial farm track which may be muddy. Disregard a bridleway joining from the left and continue on the track beside the hedge. After climbing a slope you reach a junction with a substantial bridleway. Turn right and follow the bridleway to a gateway at the next field boundary.

Continue straight ahead with a hedge on your left. You should see the buildings of Oxhouse Farm in the valley to your right. Follow the hedge as it turns right down a slope towards a gate. Go through the gate and turn left onto a farm track. Follow the track for 500 metres to a point where it is crossed by a footpath. Look out for the marker post on the left, but turn right through a gateway into a meadow leading down to the River Dene. You should see a ford straight ahead and at first sight there doesn't appear to be a footbridge. Fortunately there is no need to wade the river as there is a bridge about 40 metres to the left, out of sight behind bushes until you walk further down the meadow. Once across the river follow a path diagonally left across the next field, which is another part of the SSSI you crossed earlier. 

[5] Go through a gate in the far corner of the field and cross the disused railway again. On the far side follow the hedge to your right towards the buildings of Fossedene Manor and walk between the house and its tennis court to a gate. Continue alongside a hedge onto a farm track beside woodland. The track soon switches to the right hand side of the hedge. On entering another field the track swings right, but the footpath goes straight ahead following the left hand field edge. There is a faint path here which soon becomes more distinct. Go through a gate in the far corner of the field and continue along the left hand side of the next field with views of Combrook village ahead. After another field gate the path edges away from the field boundary to go to the right of a fenced enclosure. You emerge onto a tarmac lane which you follow to a junction.

[6] Take care as this is the main road into Combrook village. Cross diagonally to the left and walk along the right hand side of a road triangle. Continue along the lane that runs through the western part of Combrook village until it ends at the impressive gates to Combrook House. Go through a side gate to the left with a footpath waymark and walk up the main drive. At the far end of a row of cottages, turn left past some outbuildings. Turn right in front of a wooden fence and walk alongside the fence to reach a stile. Go over the stile and walk left to a gate. On your right you have views of the Lower Pool at Compton Verney.

A clear path through trees leads round the edge of the lake to emerge into parkland. Follow waymark posts across the open grassland, heading just to the right of houses visible ahead. Go through a gate and follow the fence on your left to a second gate, just beyond some electricity supply poles. Go through the gate onto a driveway and walk right along the driveway until it reaches the B4086. Cross with care.

[7] Walk left along the verge for 200 metres then turn right onto a bridleway running along the private roads of the Compton Verney estate. Go straight ahead at a cross roads and follow the road as it turns right past the buildings of Home Farm. You pass a stable block on your left and carry straight on, through a field gate, onto a farm track. Keep on the track through several more gateways as it turns left to follow the valley. Sections of this track may be muddy. Go through a final gate and turn right onto a minor road. Walk along the road for 400 metres to return to the start.

Compton Verney House now displays six permanent art collections as well as holding temporary exhibitions. It is run by a charitable trust and does not receive regular state funding. For details see www.comptonverney.org.uk. The house was built in 1714 and for 200 years it was home to the Verney family. The original architect is not known but the current appearance owes much to a remodelling by Robert Adam. The park surrounding the house was landscaped by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown who also designed the chapel. During the 20th century the house changed hands several times and, after being requisitioned for army training during World War II, it stood empty until purchased with the aid of money from Littlewoods millionaire Sir Peter Moores.

Until 1929 Combrook was the estate village attached to the Compton Verney House. The older houses are built in the local limestone, much paler than the stone found nearby in the Cotswolds. It is thought that several Victorian buildings in the village, such as the church, were designed by architect John Gibson who also carried out work at Compton Verney. The parish council website www.combrook-pc.gov.uk has much of interest, including other walks in the area.

The railway from Fenny Compton through Kineton and the Dene valley to Stratford opened in 1873. In 1908 it joined with other minor lines to form the Stratford upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway. The independent existence of the company came to an end in 1923 when it was absorbed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Although it provided the shortest route from Stratford to London the main justification for the line came from rather optimistic expectations of freight traffic, particularly ironstone trains to South Wales. In the 1930s the LMS railway experimented with a road-rail vehicle on the route that took guests at the Welcombe Hotel to and from the main line station at Blisworth in Northamptonshire. Passenger services were withdrawn as early as 1952 although the line remained open for freight until 1965. It had the advantage of avoiding the steep climb out of the Avon valley at Hatton Bank. Seven Meadows Road in Stratford now runs along the old railway alignment but a short section of the line is still open at the Fenny Compton end to serve the military depot at Kineton.

Refreshments: There is a cafe at Compton Verney House.