WIAS - Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society

Kenilworth Greenway

The former railway line linking Kenilworth Junction to Berkswell has now taken on a new lease of life following a £50 million Lottery grant awarded to the Sustrans Connect 2 Project. Work started quickly in January 2008 and following cutting back and clearing of undergrowth a new technique was used to lay a hard surface. The surface is suitable for walkers and cyclists, who are actively encouraged to use the route, but not motorcyclists. Horse riders are also welcomed but must follow their own bridle path to the side of the hard surface. There are mounting blocks for riders at each of the new access points that have been installed and riders must obtain a permit before using the route. (See below for further information).

The new traffic free walking and cycling route in Kenilworth will provide essential link between the Kenilworth Greenway, the University of Warwick connection and into Kenilworth town centre. This long awaited, new route will prove very popular with local residents as well as many students and staff travelling to and from the university campus, and will be a great new addition to existing walking and cycling networks in this local area. The new route will start opposite Abbey Fields, a popular and much loved park in the heart of Kenilworth, it will then run through Lawrence Gardens alongside Finham Brook, joining some public open space adjacent to The Close next to allotment gardens. The route then briefly follows the quiet cul-de-sac Forge Road and crosses the new cycle bridge onto Kenilworth Common. Continuing through the Common, it will join the greenway and over a new bridge, which will span over the A429 Coventry Road replacing the original rail bridge, enabling a connection to be made to the Kenilworth Common area and the town centre. After which, the route forks and crosses over farmland to join the University of Warwick campus and also runs for several kilometres along the greenway to the village of Berkswell, in Solihull. The new bridge was installed on the night of September 10th 2011 and officially opened on September 29th 2011.

These new walking and cycling links will form part of National Cycle Network 52 linking Coventry to Kenilworth and beyond to Warwick where it joins with route 41 from Rugby to Leamington Spa and Warwick. For more information click here.

Horse Riders Permit - Administered by Warwickshire County Council

In order to ride a horse on the permissive bridleway on the Kenilworth Greenway, you will need to obtain an annual permit from Warwickshire County Council. The permit is free of charge but there is a £10 refundable deposit payable for the key we will send you to access the Greenway. You need to supply two passport sized photographs and proof that you have £2,000,000 Public Liability insurance - a photocopy of either your insurance certificate or your BHS Gold membership.

Click here to visit the WCC Country Parks web site for full details.

Warwickshire County Council, Shire Hall, Warwick CV34 4SA

Telephone: 01926 410410