[1] From the lay-by, cross the A46 (with care) and walk up Croft Lane, the side road signposted to Temple Grafton. After 400 metres, at the top of a slope, turn on to a footpath on the left, beside a farm gate. This path is part of the Graftons Way, a circuit through Temple Grafton and Ardens Grafton. Follow the grassy track with a hedgerow on your right.
The Lickey Hills should be visible on the sky line to the north. You also have a good view of the wooded escarpments that encircle Haselor.
As you approach West Grove Wood, the footpath crosses to the right hand side of the hedgerow but continues in much the same direction along the edge of an arable field with the wood on your left. Pass through a gap in the hedge separating two fields and continue along the edge of the second field.
At the corner of the second field, the path follows the field boundary round to the right. You are now walking away from the wood but still have a hedge on your left. Ignore the kissing gate, and continue to just before the next field corner. Go through a gap in the hedge on your left. Turn right and immediately go back through another gap.
[2] Turn left, following the hedge on your left for 10 metres, and then turn right to walk south along a field edge with the hedgerow on your right.
You have reached the highest point on your walk, 113 metres, at [2]. From here views open out southwards towards the Cotswolds.
As the field boundary bends to the right cross over so that you now have the hedge on your left. At a field corner the path continues through a gap in the hedge. Follow the field boundary round a sharp left turn and continue straight on, disregarding a footpath on the right.
The path expands to become a tarmac lane. Continue down the lane until it joins Church Bank, the road into Temple Grafton from the east.
Temple Grafton has never had a temple or been in the hands of the Knights Templar. It was for a time a possession of the Knights Hospitaller and administered by them along with Temple Balsall. It appears that the name has arisen because of this connection.
Turn right and walk along Church Bank. There is a pavement along this section of road.
(A) It is not known for certain where William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married, but one of the possibilities is Grafton Church. An evidently somewhat confused record held by the Bishops of Worcester refers to the marriage of "Wm Shaxpere et Annam Whateley de Temple Grafton". The present church dates from 1875 so the marriage, if it took place here, would have been in an earlier building on the site.
[3] At the crossroads in Temple Grafton keep straight on along the road signposted Ardens Grafton. After 50 metres take a waymarked footpath along a gravel track to the right. The footpath runs alongside two fields with a hedgerow on your left and then continues in the same direction across the middle of a third field.
[4] Go though a kissing gate into the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Grove Hill reserve. There is public access to the reserve so interested walkers can explore further, but it is simplest to follow the public footpath as it turns left to run along the top of the escarpment.
(B) The limestone grassland along the top of the slope is a special feature of Grove Hill, making it one of the best examples of this type of habitat in Warwickshire. Management on the reserve is focused on preventing the grassland reverting to scrub. During spring and early summer the area comes alive with wildflowers and insects.
After 100 metres turn right down some rough steps and descend to the bottom of the slope. Continue across the open grassland below the hill. Do not cross the stile at the reserve boundary but turn left and follow a grassy track leading to a road.
Turn right and follow the road until it reaches the first buildings in Exhall. As the road bends to the left continue straight ahead onto the driveway leading to Rosehall Farm, which is signposted as a bridleway. This is the second of two bridleways in quick succession on the right hand side of the road, both of them part of the Arden Way, which is a long distance route devised by the Heart of England Way Association.
Continue on the driveway up to the farm and then follow the bridleway to the left of the farm buildings. This brings you to the edge of Oversley Wood. Carry straight on along a woodland ride.
(C) Oversley Wood is a Forestry Commission property and is an area of Access Land open to walkers. It is is a fine example of ancient woodland, which may have been in existence ever since the time when the Forest of Arden covered this part of Warwickshire. It is a haven for wildflowers and butterflies which can be spotted along the woodland rides. Different approaches to management over the centuries have produced a mosaic of woodland types, from native broad-leaved trees to stands of Corsican pine or western red cedar. The current policy is to gradually remove the conifers.
Cross straight over a surfaced track. Follow the path ahead as it climbs a slope to reach the top of a ridge.
[5] Here the woodland ride opens out and a seat is provided for those who wish to take time to admire the view to the north, over Alcester to the Lickey Hills. For the next leg turn right and follow a path east along the ridge until you come to another path junction.
(D) A wild service tree grows at the south-west corner of this path junction. This native species is now rather uncommon. It may be recognised by its leaves which resemble maple leaves but have two pointed lobes at the base of each leaf which are distinctly separate from the other parts of the leaf.
Turn left onto a woodland ride descending the northern side of the ridge. At the bottom of the slope you meet the surfaced track you crossed earlier (it provides a circuit of the wood). Turn right and follow this track. When you come to a fork in the track take the left hand path which brings you to a small car park at the edge of the wood.
[6] At the far end of the car park go through an underpass under the A46 and follow a tarmac lane to reach what was once the main road from Stratford to Alcester.
On the opposite side of the road and a few metres to your left you should see a gate which is the start of a waymarked footpath (part of the Arden Way). Follow the hedge to the right. At the far end of the first field the path switches to the right hand side of the hedgerow but continues in an easterly direction. At the end of the next field, the path swings back to the left of the hedgerow, then back to the right just before a wood. The path now follows a track, still continuing east in the same direction.
[7] The footpath reaches a tarmac road at a sharp bend on the outskirts of Haselor village. Turn right and walk along the road to reach the crossroads next to the start point.