Ilmington is situated within the northern-most part of the Cotswolds AONB, seven miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon. Nestling at the foot of Ilmington Downs, it’s an ideal base for walkers, with paths radiating from the village in all directions – including Warwickshire’s own Centenary Way. Footpaths also thread their way through the charming village between houses and gardens, past small orchards, ancient fish ponds and the fine Norman church. This attractive walk takes you over the gently rolling hills to the south to another beautiful Cotswold village, Chipping Campden, across the border in Gloucestershire, passing the renowned Hidcote gardens on return before climbing up to Warwickshire’s highest point to enjoy the far reaching views.
(A) Before setting off, its worth viewing the Norman Church of St Mary the Virgin. This is notable both for its hand-stitched Apple Map and the eleven mice carved into the furniture and woodwork.
[1] From the Upper Green (SP211434), set off up Grump Street past the Catholic Church on your left then the war memorial on your right. At the end of the houses, continue ahead on a path. Ignore the first footpath on your right, but take the next one before reaching a large metal gate ahead of you, then go almost immediately left. The path climbs through fields (boundary fence on your left).
There are fine views back over Ilmington and the countryside to the north.
At the top you reach a crossing track (Pig Lane). Go straight across and head on down into the grounds of Foxcote House, bearing right when you reach a tarmac drive. Follow this towards Foxcote House – a splendid 18th-century mansion – passing it to the right and keeping ahead at the next junction. Maintain your direction, passing Foxcote Farm, and continue on the bridleway/track (noting a kink in the track at SP195413: the bridleway keeps to the track and doesn’t go directly across the field as shown on the OS map). You join a tarmac lane which leads down to another attractive village: Ebrington.
[2] Turn right along the road and go left at the pub (note the mosaic nearby). Take the first footpath on the right along a drive, then through fields. Cross the railway line and continue to the road. Turn right for a short distance, then left along a footpath that soon bears away from the road. This leads you to Chipping Campden (ignoring left and right turns), with a good view across the meadows towards the church. When you reach the road, go right but keep ahead as the road bears round to the right, passing the Noel Arms Hotel to the High Street.
Chipping Campden marks the northern end of the Cotswold Way. Of particular note in this beautiful village is the Market Hall and church.
[3] Turn right along the High Street and take the first right up to the church.
(B) The gatehouses nearby, together with two banqueting houses and the gateway (passed before entering the village), are all that remain of the great 17th-century Campden House, destroyed by fire during the Civil War.
From the church, follow the signs for the Heart of England Way/Monarch’s Way past the school and across fields to Mickleton Hills Farm, bearing left along the drive to the road. Turn right, then left, and keep to the Monarch’s Way where the two Ways diverge. You leave the road to go around the perimeter of Hidcote Manor Garden. Continue past the thatched cottages of Hidcote Bartrim to the car park.
[4] Turn right up the byway which leads to the masts at the top of Ilmington Downs and Warwickshire’s highest point. Turn left down the road, then right to follow the well-signed Centenary Way back to Ilmington.