Black-and-white buildings in Welford

This walk takes you on a journey back in time – to the delightful black-and-white villages of Welford-on-Avon and Weston-on-Avon, with their links to William Shakespeare.

Picturesque Welford-on-Avon, a frequent winner of best kept village competitions, was established in Saxon times by the monks of Deerhurst Abbey (near Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire). There must be more black-and-white thatched cottages here than almost any other village in England. Three particularly stunning examples are Ten Penny Cottage, the Owl Pen and Daffodil Cottage. Welford also boasts three old pubs – The Shakespeare, The Bell Inn and The Four Alls, all of which welcome walkers. In the porch of The Four Alls is a painting that depicts four characters:

'The king who rules over all

The parson who prays for all

The soldier who fights for all

The farmer who pays for all.'

Maypole tradition

Since the 14th century there has been a 65ft (20m) high maypole on the village green. It must have been taken down some time after the Civil War, when such frivolities were made illegal, but seems to have been restored soon after. Following a lightning strike, the original wooden pole was replaced by an aluminium ship's mast. Welford is proud of its traditions, and the village children still dance around the maypole in July each year.

The Shakespeare connections

William Shakespeare has connections with neighbouring Weston-on-Avon. John Trapp was vicar in this tiny village between 1660 and 1669. He was also a master at Stratford Grammar School for a time, and it is believed that he and his wife knew the Shakespeare family.

Welford's church has a register which records the flooding of the River Avon in 1588 – this was due to the same storm that wrecked the Spanish Armada. Joseph Green, the vicar here in 1735, discovered and made copies of Shakespeare's will, one of which is now held in the British Museum.

In the sanctuary of the church two fighting men are depicted in full armour. Sir John Greville, of nearby Milcote Manor, is shown with his head resting on a horned sheep and flowers at his feet, while his son, who fought in the Battle of the Spurs in 1513, wears an heraldic coat and holds his hands in prayer.

Leave The Bell Inn car park, come out onto the main road in Welford and go left down the footpath at the side of the parking area. At the end of the path, near Daffodil Cottage, go right along a footpath past the back of some houses and through a kissing gate until you come to the end of Church Lane, by Applegarth House. Continue through the gate and follow a green path at the back of more houses to reach the main road once again, then go left along the pavement for about 100yds (91m).

Go left again into the entrance gate of Synder Meadow Sports Ground. Walk along the track, then through a kissing gate into the sports ground, and soon out via a gate in the fence on the right to continue along the footpath down to the River Avon. At the river, go left and follow the bank for 500yds (457m).

Go through the kissing gate and over a footbridge at the end of the field and left up Boat Lane, lined with beautiful old thatched black-and-white cottages. Look out for Ten Penny Cottage. Near the top of the lane is St Peter's Church; go right here along Headland Road. Opposite Mill Lane, turn left along a footpath at the back of houses. After a kissing gate you will pass by the extension to the graveyard of St Peter's Church and continue to a junction of paths. Keep ahead here, and at the next junction go left and through a kissing gate. Walk up to the High Street to emerge opposite the Maypole general store, near the famous maypole.

Turn right along the pavement for 100 paces, then cross over and go down another waymarked footpath, past more beautiful thatched cottages and through a kissing gate. Walk through Pool Close to Chapel Street (the chapel is on the left). Go right along Chapel Street, then right again through a kissing gate along a footpath just after Millers Close. Go through another kissing gate and walk along the field-edge towards Weston-on-Avon.

At the crossroads keep ahead to descend a bridlepath set just above the River Avon. Follow it as it arcs left to come out on Duck Lane by another superb thatched house called Pear Tree Close. At the next residential drive, go right up the hedged path and walk up to High Street, where you will emerge at the junction with Church Street. The Bell Inn is on the right.