The first Walk of 2022 is on January 4th.
Please see below for all the details you might need.
Clifford Chambers, January 4th 2022
Clifford Chambers – Atherstone on Stour – Preston on Stour (based on walk no.6)
Start from Clifford Chambers Church at 10.45. Parking in street or back at the New Inn (point A) if you prefer. CC churchyard contains the War Grave of Sgt. Pinfold April 1944-Air Gunner.
Full Walk 3.5 miles, some uphill minor road walking and far-reaching views to the West. Shorter version 2.25 miles almost all on the flat.
We stay on the river’s left all the way upstream to Preston. The Business Park at Atherstone occupies the same site as the WW11 Airfield. In its wisdom the RAF dropped the ‘on Stour’ shortening the airfield’s name to Atherstone thereby causing confusion in ticketing as the LMS main line station at Atherstone, Warwickshire was not on the same line as Stratford upon Avon GWR. A walk across Birmingham and a change of trains was necessary for those travelling by train to the Operational Training Unit that was established in 1941.
We follow Shakespeare’s Way past Atherstone Church (here the shorter route diverges at point C to return to Clifford Chambers by a parallel path at points F-G) to Preston on Stour.
Alscot Park House lies down to our left and was acquired by James West in the mid18th century and his descendants own and manage the estate. In Preston on Stour we walk to the right round the Church and down to the minor road turning left to walk up Atherstone Hill with grand views. We follow the road downhill to point F and follow the path back to Clifford Chambers.
If you would like to have lunch at the New Inn they would like to know numbers in advance so if that is your intention please let me know by 6pm on Sunday 2nd January. 01608 685236
Or by email john.dudbridge@sky.com