Heart of England Way

Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, W Midlands

The Way follows a curving route through gently undulating farmland and lowland heath, woodland and riverside paths. It takes in Cannock Chase, Lichfield and Kingsbury Water Park. It travels through the Arden countryside (see Arden Way) passing close to the village of Meriden (officially the centre of England) through the historic town of Henley-in-Arden, to cross the river Avon at Bidford-on-Avon. From here it heads for the northern aspects of the Cotswolds through Chipping Campden, Swell and Lower Slaughter to Bourton-on-the Water.

The European long distance path E2 (Middleton-in-Teesdale to Dover) leaves the Staffordshire Way and joins the Heart of England Way on Cannock Chase very close to its start. It then follows it all the way to Bourton-on-the-Water where it continues on the Oxfordshire Way.

The Heart of England Way Association provides a volunteer warden service who ensure as far as possible that the route is fully waymarked and walkable. They ask walkers to report any issues to secretary@heartofenglandway.org. Their website is kept up to date with details of historical route changes that have been incorporated into their gpx route file and current temporary diversions which they know about (see https://www.heartofenglandway.org/route_changes).

HS2: The Heart of England Way Association reports that there are ongoing temporary diversions associated with work on HS2. These are described on their website but can vary from time to time without them being notified. However, they report that HS2 are usually good at making the alternative route clear and easy to follow.

See also E-Routes (E2).

---

Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Named green and white discs with oak trees
Attributes:	Paths marked on OS mapping Average Gradients Agricultural land Canal Forest/Woodland Heath River Heritage
Start:	SJ974211 - Milford, Staffordshire
Finish:	SP167208 - Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
User Group:	Heart of England Way Association Heart of England Way Association
Web Sites:	Heart of England Way

---

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	The Heart of England Way : 102 miles of linear walks or 225 miles of 32 linked circular walks  (Sigma Press  - 2018 )
Guidebook	The Heart of England Way : Recreational Path Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 1998 )
Guidebook	Heart of England Way  (Walkways  - 2000 )

---