03/09/23 - Centenary Way Stage 21 - Warminster

A Walk Linking the Civil War Villages of Arlescote, Ratley and Warmington

Handsome walk, this. Not often I say that about the Centenary Way but at long last, it is starting to deliver interest, good walking and a surprisingly good post walk pint.

I'm starting in Warminster - a timeless village, with a spacious village green overlooked by a 1603 manor house. The Church at the top of the hill contains several graves from causalities of one of the first battles in the English Civil War. 1642 and the Battle of Edge Hill. The vicar recorded the burial of one of the Parliamentary Captains before supporting the war effort rather more directly;

Warmington’s vicar, Richard Wootton, supplied swords, pikes and muskets to Parliament from the war’s outset and eventually abandoned his parish to captain a parliamentary troop at Warwick. Roaming the countryside with his men, Wootton was eventually relieved of his commission after raping a lady’s maid. He was finally expelled as vicar in 1656.

What a wrong 'un.

Warminster Village - Timeless

Final resting place of Captain Alexander Gourdon

This tranquility is soon lost to the roar of the M40. I feared the worse for the fields leading to Avon Dasset. A previous log on a missing geocache showing head height rape crops with no discernible paths. Thanks to crop rotation in the C21st, I have a freshly harvested wheat field to cross.

Lanes take me through Arlescote. Another manor house, where Kings Charles children supposedly stopped during the days before battle. The walking turns beautiful, with undulating but mercifully short climbs and drops over Edge Hill.

Warwickshire Views 

And Good Paths

Ratley will be rediscovered on the next leg. The village itself is stunning, hiding away in a dip in the hills. A lovely looking pub, the Rose and Crown, will surely be visited - although it looks like there may be some competition. I've previously enjoyed the Castle Inn at Edge Hill and that cannot be missed either.

St Peter Ad Vincula - 4 different window styles suggesting the Black Death interrupted construction

An easy stretch on the Macmillan way delivers me back to Warmington, route carefully plotted to ensure my final steps lead to the Plough Inn.

The Plough Inn, Warminster

Door ajar, and I enter into a low ceiling bar. All the talk is on the Indian Summer and it makes sense to take advantage of their rear beer garden. In these hard times for hospitality, every pub needs a selling point. 

A mini golf course guarded by a gorilla may be unique in all my pub exploring.

Might have been two runs behind, making it a 6 holer

Beer-wise, it also delivered. With the needle in the mid twenties and a handful of other drinkers, I would normally go Euro-lout. Having never heard of the Church Farm Brewery, I made an exception. Their Harry's Heifer, a superb session bitter.

From just outside Warwick - with a ceremonial glass.

Bucolic walking. History. Good Beer. Mini Golf.

It's been a fine old day. 

Walk Information

Distance - 6.5 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Pub - The Plough Inn, Warminster

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, Stage 17, Stage 18, Stage 19, Stage 20