Heart of England Way
Follow the Heart of England Way through the Midlands of England. The walk starts from Milford Common on Cannock Chase and heads through Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire before finisihing at Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds.
Major towns and cities on the route include:
- Milford Common
- Cannock Chase
- Castle Ring
- Lichfield
- Drayton Bassett
- Shustoke
- Meriden - the geographical centre of England
- Berkswell
- Balsall Common
- Rowington
- Henley in Arden
- Alcester
- Bidford on Avon
- Upper Quinton
- Mickleton
- Chipping Campden
- Longborough
- Bourton on the Water
The walk is well waymarked with a green and white disc.
Please click here for more information
Heart of England Way Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Heart of England Way Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Heart of England Way OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Heart of England Way Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Barley Mow pub is located right next to Milford Common on the trail. It's ideally situated for some post walk refreshments. There's a good menu and an outdoor seating area for warmer days. You can find it at 28 Main Road with a postcode of ST17 0UW for your sat navs.
In Alcester head to the excellent The Moat House Inn for some refreshments on the route. The pub has a lovely large garden area where you can even hire a teepee. It's a lovely place to relax on a warm summer day. The menu is also very good and there's nice cosy fires indoors for colder days. You can find the pub on Birmingham Rd with a postcode of B49 5QF.
The walk passes through the delightful village of Ebrington where you'll find the noteworthy Ebrington Arms, one of the finest pubs in the country. The award winning pub does excellent food and is set in a wonderful village location with fine views of the surrounding Cotswolds countryside. It's a special place and was recently voted the UK's number 1 village pub by The Times. The inn also has an interesting history, with its charming stone building dating all the way back to the 1640s. Inside there's period pieces including wooden fireplaces and beamed ceilings. You can find it in the village on May Lane at a postcode of GL55 6NH for your sat navs. The pub is also very dog friendly and can provide treats for your pet.
Near to the picturesque reservoir in Shustoke you'll find the 18th century Plough Inn for a pit stop. They do a lovely Sunday lunch which you can enjoy in the fine garden area on warmer days. Inside there's a charming interior with low ceilings and nooks and crannies. You can find them on the Green at postcode B46 2AN for your sat navs. They're also dog friendly if you have your canine friend with you.
The village of Berskwell is right on the route and a nice place to stop off at. Here you'll find the noteworthy Berkswell Inn. The Grade II listed inn dates back to the 16th century. The timber framed building has some interesting history such as when it hosted Cromwell’s troops in the English Civil War, and when Blitz-affected Coventry citizens slept on its ancient wooden floors during the second World War. There's a charming interior with ancient oak beams, log fires and private nooks and crannies. Outside there's a lovely garden area for warmer days.
Shakespeare refers to Warwick’s emblem ‘The rampant bear chain’d to the ragged staff’ in Henry VI, and a giant wooden bear climbing a pole can still be seen outside the pub today.
They serve a fine Sunday roast and can be found at Spencer's Lane with postcode CV7 7BB for your sat navs.
The village is also worth exploring with a Norman church, a pretty village green and some picturesque thatched cottages.
In nearby Balsall Common there's Ye Olde Saracens Head. The pub dates back to the 16th century and serves high quality dishes from an extensive menu. You can find them on Balsall Street with a postcode of CV7 7AS for your sat navs.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
The path in Cannock Chase
Heart Of England Way Near Weeford
The Heart of England Way looking towards Curdworth bottom lock with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal on the right and one of the Kingsbury Water Park lakes on the left.
Looking along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal towards Kingsbury. The LDP follows the canal towpath, which is just within the grid square.
At this point the trail runs along the drive to a house (signed 'The Byres'), north from Back Lane near the middle of this square. The rest of the square comprises fields, Back Lane and a few houses along the lane. Meriden transmitter is just visible in the distance
The path at this point is just west of the Dikler river, with Nether-Swell Manor visible in this image facing east.
Drayton Brick Bridge on the the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire. The towpath on this section of the canal is part of the Heart Of England Way.
Beaudesert Old Park. This is near Cannock Wood and the Castle Hill Hill Fort.