The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Barcheston

Sutton-under-Brailes is a village and civil parish 17 miles (27 km) south of Warwick, in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The name "Sutton" means 'South farm/settlement', the "Brailes" part referring to being 2 miles south of Brailes. Sutton-under-Brailes was recorded in the Domesday Book as Sudtune. The Church of St Thomas a Becket was originally built during the Medieval period. It was restored and partly rebuilt in the Imperial period. 12th century nave, but the only remaining 12th century architectural feature is the north doorway which was later reset. The Chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century; it seems to have been lengthened at the end of the century, and larger windows provided. The south tower was an addition of c1340, but the top was probably completed later in the century. A large restoration was undertaken in 1879; the west and south west walls of the nave were rebuilt and new roofs provided. The font and other furniture are modern. Source; Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton-under-Brailes Source; https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/church-of-st-thomas-a-becket-sutton-under-brailes

This was a damp, drizzly, mizzly evening so the view was a bit limited. However, I imagine that on a sunny, summer evening or a crisp, clear winters morning the views will be spectacular.

"The small market town of Shipston-on-Stour is situated in South Warwickshire and ideally located for visitors to the North Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon. It is surrounded by places of interest including Chipping Campden, Broadway, and Moreton-in-Marsh. The towns name derives from being known in ancient times as 'Sheep-wash-Town'. Shipston was for a long time an important sheep market town and after the demand for local wool began to diminish the town continued to flourish thanks to the opening in 1836 of a branch line from the horse-powered tramway built a decade before to link Stratford with Moreton-in-Marsh. The line became a modern railway in 1889. The town was also an important coaching town and many of the inns from that era surviving in the area of the High Street. Shipston today is a charming historic and thriving town with interesting and unusual features.. It is becoming increasingly popular with tourists due to its wonderful mixture of shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels. Shipston was a working Wool Town and developed many woolen skills, including those for making tapestries including the famous Sheldon Tapestries in neighbouring farming hamlet of Barcheston. which became central to the history of English tapestry making. It is today officially commemorated by the 'Wool Fair' which takes place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday. In the Tudor period the little hamlet of Barcheston on the outskirts of Shipston was the first manufacturing home in England for the weaving of magnificent woollen tapestries. They are also known as the Sheldon Tapestries. They are profusely decorated with flowers and mythological motifs and often highlighted in silk. Technically, for that period, they were unrivalled throughout the land. Unfortunately very few have survived." Source: https://www.cotswolds.info/places/shipston-on-stour.shtml

Shipston Cemetery Chapel was built and consecrated in the mid 19th century. It is a Grade II Listed Building consisting of two mortuary chapels - one for members of the Church of England and one for Nonconformists. The cemetery itself is also a Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. Source: https://wikimapia.org/23796671/Cemetery-Chapel

"Barcheston church is a delightful largely fifteenth century building in a secluded spot close to Shipston on Stour. It's most distinguishing feature externally is the leaning north west tower, which inclines dramatically to the west (and is sometimes referred to as 'Warwickshire's Pisa'!). The effect is somewhat alarming, but it has been this way for some centuries, having settled soon after it was built, as witnessed by the additional buttress propping up the west face; hopefully it will be staying put for the foreseeable future. The church has more of a Cotswold appearance than one is normally used to seeing in Warwickshire, and would perhaps seem more at home if it stood over the Gloucestershire or Oxfordshire borders, very much a sign of how far south we are in the county. The layout is quite irregular, the chancel is off centre and the south aisle is more of a seperate chapel only half the length of the nave. The first glimpse upon entering via the lean-to south porch is the view looking across to the north aisle, with it's very domestic looking windows (a post Reformation alteration, possibly to admit more light) and an arcade that seems to be leaning even more dramatically than the tower (where the arcade meets the tower wall there is a bracket 'propped up' by a carved 'helping hand', very apt and much needed assitance judging by the angle!)." Copyright: Aidan McRae Thomson 2012 Source: https://warwickshirechurches.weebly.com/barcheston---st-martin.html

This was the start/finish point of this walk. "The Church of St Barnabas and St Nicholas was built in the Imperial period, replacing a Medieval church on the same site. The bell turret was added in the 19th Century, during renovation. The church is situated north east of the Manor House, Burmington. There is a fair amount of Medieval masonry in the church walls perhaps dating from as early as the 13th century, but the only ancient architectural detail surviving is part of the chancel arch of c1200. The church had fallen into decay and the nave was rebuilt in 1693; it formerly had a central tower, 4.9m square, but this was then abolished and the chancel reduced in size. A further very complete restoration was also carried out in the 19th century when all the windows, doorways, and roofs were renewed, the bell-turret added, and other work done. In 1311 Burmington was a chapel annexed to the church at Wolford. The chancel arch has two big re-used late 12th century corbels and the NW tower has a pyramid roof." Source: https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/church-of-st-barnabas-and-st-nicholas-burmington

Bakery serving a range of pastries. Opening hours: Tuesday 9am–1:30pm Wednesday 9am–1:30pm Thursday 9am–1:30pm Friday 9am–1:30pm Saturday 9am–1:30pm Sunday Closed Monday Closed

Great value for money £3 for coffee and cake. Owner very nice and polite.