About 5.6 miles in length, this walk passes Haselor Church, climbs through woodland and follows the Red Hill escarpment that lies astride the A46 between Alcester and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Starting at the lay-by on the A46 at B49 6NN, What3Words Twee.fumes.panels. OS Grid 12227.56533. Several of the paths on this route appear little used. OS Explorer 205 is the appropriate map.
From the lay-by follow the verge to a gap in the hedge. Go through it into the field. Keep the field edge to your left and pass through two fields until reaching a track. Keep going past Manor Farm and then up the grassy track which opens onto a lane at Orchard Corner. Follow the lane to the end then turn left along the bridleway. Very soon follow the footpath up to the gate. Go through and head the the right towards a stile in the fence. Climb the stile and follow the tarmac path to the church
Take your time walking through the churchyard. The church itself dates back to the 12th Century and the views around are stunning. The take the path through a small wood to Walcote a small and picturesque hamlet. Follow the village street. It turns sharp right. At the point where the street turns sharp left walk straight on and turn quickly left, following The Arden Way through a gate. Keeping the hedge to your right, cross three fields. At the end of the third field, cross through the field gap and continue towards Withycombe Wood. keeping the hedge now to your left, exiting through a kissing gate.
The Arden Way goes left here, towards Aston Cantlow. Turn right and follow the bridleway as it rises up the slope through the wood. It can be very muddy here and diversions are limited. Be very careful. On emerging at the top into a field, turn right and follow the way. In the fourth field watch for the point where the path re-enters the wood. The path begins to descend gently down towards the A46. You will hear it long before you see it.
You emerge directly onto the verge almost opposite the Stag Hotel (closed at the time of writing). Your target is the lane opposite but please be extremely careful crossing the road.
Walk between the pub and the farm buildings. Immediately past the farm turn right up a track. In about 100m there is a track junction. Turn left through a metal gate. Continue along the track and the grassy track beyond. After a while there is a field gate with a kissing gate beside it. Go through the kissing gate and continue keeping the fence line to your right. When the fence swings away right, carry straight on.
Turn left to follow the field edge along the top of Red Hill Wood. Look for a stile into the wood. Follow the path just inside the wood. It turns right and crosses a stile onto a grassy track to the lane. At the time of writing these fields were beautiful meadows full of butterflies and flowers. However this made it difficult to see the field exits. We followed the green footpath lines on our OS App.
Cross the lane and through a footpath gate. This was another meadow. This section is way marked Grafton Way. Keep to the right hand side of the meadow. Head for the right hand corner of the second field. The path exits through a wooden kissing gate. Proceed through the next two fields. Keeping to the right hand edges with West Grove Wood immediately on your right.
Leaving the wood carry on along the ridge taking the opportunity to admire the views to the north. Eventually follow a grassy track to the road then turn right. The road will take you back to your starting point.
The Hermit's Cave 