Long Lawford, Oxford Canal and Newbold on Avon

Richard Hardy

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The walk starts by St John's Church in Long Lawford. Long Lawford is to all intents and purposes a suburb of Rugby, but it is an old settlement and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The walk then heads down a bridleway to reach the settlement of Little Lawford (population 12). Leaving Little Lawford the walk has a short amount of road-walking along quiet country roads, crossing the busy West Coast Main Line to reach the Oxford Canal at the village of Cathiron. The walk then follows the towpath of the Oxford Canal, passing through Newbold Tunnel to reach the Newbold Quarry Country Park, a haven of quiet and wildlife in Rugby itself. Leaving the park there is a short distance of pavement-walking through Rugby to reach St Bottolph's Church in Newbold Hill (above the tunnel). Here the walk returns to a rural setting, crossing a disused branch of the Oxford Canal, recrossing the railway to return to Long Lawford, finishing off by crossing two fields with very visible ridge and furrow markings, evidence of medieval farming, returning via the graveyard of St John's to the start.

England - Central England - West Midlands - Canal Walk

Features

Ancient Monument, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Industrial Archaeology, Mostly Flat, Nature Trail, Pub, Wildlife, Woodland

7/12/2014 - Richard Hardy

I walked the affected area this week and a steel fence has been erected across the site. I have amended the walking route at waypoint 8 accordingly. The walk still allows you to admire the old quary park

6/17/2014 - Jon Dean

8 Enter the country park and turn left, keeping the iron protective fence to your right. At a path junction climb the stairs to reach the viewing platform.E.T.C This is not possible now as a fence has been erected across the path. So turn right not left & enjoy the view across the lake. Then re-trace your steps back to the tow path.

4/22/2014 - Graham Brookes

Would have been 5 stars but for 2 step stiles and a footbridge N of St John's Church that require dogs of any size to be carried over. Otherwise only kissing gates to be negotiated. Some fields crossed have horses or sheep in them.

4/22/2014 - Graham Brookes

Attractive rural scenery despite the walk's proximity to Rugby. Flat easy walking over fields and canal tow path that has pleasant views and a tunnel but is muddy in places. St John's Churchyard/nature reserve worth a visit for the flowers and birdsong particularly in springtime.

1/17/2011 - Richard Hardy

8/3/2010 - Ian Hutchinson

1/8/2010 - Ian Hutchinson Did this walk with my wife and daughter. We thought it was a great walk and enjoyed it. Directions were fine. Using my GPS I got the distance to be about 5 miles. Some nice views and things to see. Thanks

10/27/2009 - J Rose

I did this walk this Sunday and it would appear that the distance on this is wrong. It took me 140 minutes to complete this walk which is a distance of 5 to 5.5 miles long and not 3.11 miles long (5km) as stated. Kind regards James Rose