Long Compton, Cherington & Weston Park - Miles without Stiles

Return to the A3400 and turn left to pass the church, which is mainly 13th century. The lychgate was formerly a cottage dating from about 1600.

Cross the road and just before a road junction on the right signed Whichford, look for a gap on the right. 1 Go along the waymarked track ignoring the turn off to the right to go along the obvious field track making for the gate at the far side. You now follow a firm gently uphill track to enter a wood.

The track then climbs more steeply to a T-junction at the top of the wood 2. Turn left to join the main hard track, and continue left uphill to emerge onto a minor road. Turn right, and after 100 metres turn left onto Margetts Hill Barn drive. 3

Continue past all the buildings along the grassy path keeping the hedge on your left. It is worth stopping here to admire the view across the Stour valley. At the end of the field go through the small gate to follow the line indicated by the waymark arrow towards a gate at the bottom of the field. This was the site of Cherington Farm, 4 but only a few stones on the ground remain.

For the shorter walk

Before reaching a gate turn left at 4 to follow a track keeping parallel to the hedge on your right. Walk to the far side of the field to reach double gates leading into a rolling pasture. Walk downhill on a clearly visible line to keep the woodland on your left. Go through a gate onto a well-defined track to pass a stone barn on the right and eventually rejoin the longer walk by turning left when you reach a T-junction. 7

To continue longer route

Continue downhill to emerge into Cherington village, 5 with its attractive stone dwellings. Turn left, on a small grass area you will find a well-kept bus shelter with a seat, and to its left an interesting old water spout.

Cross the road and continue in the same direction for 800 metres until you see the drive road of Weston Park 6 (opposite a track to Weston Mill). This attractive road takes you uphill, for more than a mile (1.6km) through parkland.

Weston Park once had a handsome 7 house on your right at the beginning of the drive road, occupied in the mid 16th century by the Sheldons – said to be the richest commoners in the country! They are especially remembered for starting a Flemish tapestry industry at nearby Barcheston.
The house of Weston Park you see today (formerly the Stewards House) has a commanding position at the top of the hill, looking north-west.

When you leave the park take Harrow Hill, 8 straight ahead back down into Long Compton.

Print navigation content