On the Centenary Way from Ilmington

Remote Ilmington is the highest village in Warwickshire, standing close to the borders of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and just within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Brimming with typical Cotswold honey-coloured stone cottages, it is a place where time seems to have stood still for centuries. The name is probably derived from a Saxon phrase describing elms on a border hill. A mid-10th century record reveals its earlier name was Ylmandunes.

Royal guest

In 1934 Ilmington achieved a brief five minutes of fame when part of the very first Christmas broadcast by King George V was relayed to the Empire from Ilmington Manor, the home of the Flower family. It featured a guest appearance by local shepherd, 65-year-old Walter Walton Handy, and also included carols from the Ilmington Singers and bell ringing from the village. The local papers were delighted with the story, describing it as ‘perhaps the most wonderful (feat) that has been accomplished since wireless has been brought to its present state of perfection’.

As in many small country villages today, local facilities are fast disappearing. Although Ilmington Village Hall plays host to an ‘outreach’ post office and there is still a small village primary school, it no longer has a general shop. However, it has managed to retain its two pubs – The Red Lion and The Howard Arms – and these are enthusiastically supported by local walkers. The Ilmington Morris Dancers, carrying on a tradition that has been practised in the village for 350 years, are well known and can be seen performing regularly in the area on summer evenings.

The church mice

This walk, hilly by Warwickshire standards, starts from the edge of the village. Climbing to a high point of almost 200m near Upper Lark Stoke Farm, it offers some of the best views in the county. Having crossed farmland and strolled along a quiet country lane, walkers will spot the Norman church, with its fine tower, among the trees as the route drops back towards the village. The church itself is well worth a visit. It has oak pews installed in the 1930s, which feature the unique carved mouse 'signature' of master craftsman Robert Thompson, known as the Mouseman of Kilburn. The 17th-century gabled manor house can also be seen.

Cross the playing fields to go through a kissing gate to the right of a children’s play area. Bear right and go through another kissing gate. Bear right again, aiming for a kissing gate in the hedge on the far side of the field. Continue in the same direction, crossing several fields. After two more kissing gates, bear left through another one, hidden from view at first. Walk gently uphill beside a hedge and then through a kissing gate, continuing in the same direction beside a fence on the right. There are fine Cotswold hill views, with an attractive farmhouse at Lower Lark Stoke ahead. Descend to go through a gate near a small pool, and bear left to walk beside the fence. Go through a gate to emerge on a driveway, along which you turn right.

Turn left along a tarmac lane and follow this uphill for about 0.5 miles (800m), stopping occasionally to recover your breath and to enjoy wonderful retrospective views. After the farm drive and just before the brow of the hill, go left across a field. Entering an area of young woodland just above Upper Lark Stoke Farm, keep right at a path fork. Go left just before a gate within more mature woodland and descend into a dell. Through a gate, continue downhill in the same direction to cross a small stream.

Bear left, uphill, to cross a footbridge and go through a gate. Keep straight ahead to climb towards the hilltop, passing to the right of a solitary tree. Over the brow, descend to a field gate. Walk beside the fence on the right and through another field gate to join a farm track. After passing the grassed-over drive to The Hill Barn, over to the left, the track bends sharp right.

Just before reaching a road, cross a stile next to a gate on the left. Walk with the hedge on your left, descending towards Ilmington. At the bottom of the slope, go left over a stile in the trees, then right alongside a hedge. This path leads to a gate and stile, after which you turn right to follow a hedged track that leads to some buildings. Turn left, through two gates in quick succession, and then double back right, along Ilmington Grange’s tarmac drive.

Go left at the road and then, immediately after the entrance to Ilmington Primary School, turn left through a kissing gate. Go through the gate on the right and cross the field to a kissing gate. Retracing your steps, bear left through another kissing gate and back across the playing fields to the car park.