From the lay-by on the A422, walk east, go left and in 10yds (9m) go right again through a farm gate, following a stone wall. Then, through another gate, bear left towards Home Farm. Pass to the left of the farm buildings, then go left and aim for the far right corner of the field and two kissing gates. Continue ahead via a kissing gate through the National Trust car park to another gate and the A422. Go right along the grass verge of the busy road past the entrance gates to the 17th-century Upton House.

In about 600yds (549m), cross the A422 with care and go left down the lane to Hornton.

In a further 300yds (274m), nearly opposite Quarry Cottage, go left along a signed path. Walk to the left of the field hedge over two fields, then pass to the right of the buildings of Uplands House and Uplands Farm. Continue over a stile into open countryside, bearing right beyond a wire fence down a track to a farm gate and stile, and descend into the valley. Walk by the hedge and pass to the left of an old, dilapidated barn. Cross a stile and ascend to a junction of paths. Go left through a gate and immediately over a stile to continue ahead, descending a farm field to reach another stile in the far right corner. Head steeply half left and descend to a stone stile, to emerge in Ratley village by Manor Farm.

At the main road turn right to explore the village, then retrace your steps past Manor Farm and continue straight ahead on the road towards Edge Hill.

Cross over the road at the T-junction and descend the many steps of Jacobs Ladder into Castle Wood opposite, following the waymarkers of the MacMillan Way, and ignoring the gate into open countryside. Take the footpath along the escarpment of the famous hill. After about 0.25 miles (400m), take a right fork and shortly look right to see the Obelisk. Continue along the path, passing below The Castle Inn. Stay on this path, waymarked Macmillan Way and Centenary Way for about 1.25 miles (2km), sometimes in the edge of the wood and sometimes with the hedge on your left and trees on your right. Keep on the MacMillan Way until you reach the A422, at the top of Sun Rising Hill. Turn left along the road for about 50 paces and go right along the concrete track, initially bearing right at stables, then left before taking the footpath into a copse. Soon pass through a gate to open land with a superb view of Tysoe and the surrounding countryside. Continue through a second gate and follow a path on the edge of the woods for about 300yds (274m).

Go left through a farm gate and diagonally left across the field to reach Sugarswell Lane via a gate. Continue left along the lane to the A422 and the lay-by.