23/08/18 - Heart of England Way - Stage 17 - Lapworth

Distance - 6.5 Miles
Geocaches - 7
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13, Stage 14, Stage 15, Stage 16


An easy circular walk on the Heart of England Way, taking in Tudor History, Warwickshire Countryside and for the first time, the canal systems of South Birmingham.

Early walking is easy countryside through the National Trust's Baddesley Manor.   This is an Elizabethan Manor House, complete with priest holes and something to entertain the kids.   It an evening during the school holidays and their excited shouts can be heard as the route passes the outskirts.

Into the Grounds of Baddesley Clinton

Baddesley Clinton Church

A brief Geocaching trail provides distraction as I walk through the fields to the more isolated Rowington Church.  1 out of the 7 available defeats me.

Not a Church but a "Lest We Forget" Micro

There are two major canal systems in the area - the Grand Union (Birmingham to London) is crossed over at Rowington and after a walk over the M40, a couple of miles on the Birmingham Straford Canal completes the walk.

Easy walking with rather unusual barrel shaped Lock Keepers Cottagers.

Barrell Shaped Roofed lock keeper cottages

A canal spur - called the Arm - joins the two canals and I am perfectly positioned for post walk celebrations.

The Navigation, Lapworth

This is a functional canal side pub that plays on the heritage.  Spend 10 minutes looking at the art work and you could pass a test on the Warwickshire Canal Ring. 

No Good Beer Guide ticks or cask marque check ins to be obtained but the beer choice was good.   Almost tempted to have a Brew XI for reasons of nostalgia but Timothy Taylor Landlord will never be ignored.  Perfect condition.