SHN Walks – Whatcote and Idlicote Hill, Wednesday June 8th 2022

Calling all walkers for an early evening walk.

Length of walk approx. 3.5 miles  /  1 ½ hours

Park at The Royal Oak pub in Whatcote (closed on Wednesdays) and meet in St. Peter’s churchyard. Turn right from the pub in the direction of Shipston, Church Lane is first left.

Please note the change of date which is due to the Peacock Inn being temporarily closed on Tuesdays.

Our June walk begins in the churchyard in Whatcote and follows the route of the Centenary Way up past Hellbrake Wood (nothing sinister – the name derives from two old English words meaning a sloping meadow) to Idlicote Hill. This is a gradual climb with a steepish couple of hundred yards at the top.  Once on top of the hill the going is fairly flat as we circle the hill with far reaching views on all sides and then re-trace our steps down to Whatcote.

There are cows and a stile in the first field but no other livestock although we may catch a glimpse of a herd of deer. After the walk it will be back to the Peacock Inn in Oxhill for food or just a drink. A copy of the current menu can be seen below:

Please let me know by Saturday evening 4^th June by email (e_searle@btinternet.com) or text (07876 681846):

1. Whether you intend to come on the walk
2. Whether you wish to stay to eat so that I can let the Peacock Inn know the numbers.

Whatcote and St. Peter’s

There has probably been a settlement in Whatcote since Roman times (apparently the road from Fulready to Brailes runs parallel to a former Roman road) and the Domesday Book records that in 1086 Hugh de Grandmesnil, one of William the Conqueror’s military commanders, owned the manor of Whatcote which consisted of 7 villagers, 19 smallholders and 1 priest, with a total population of  about 170.  The size of Whatcote has changed little since then – there are currently around 80 households with approximately 150 residents.

The parish church of St. Peter was built in the first half of the 12th century and is one of the loveliest small rural churches in the area. Since there is mention of a parish priest in 1086 it appears there was already a church on the site when work on the present building began in around 1150. In December 1940 a German bomber, returning from a raid on Coventry, dropped a stick of bombs on the area, one of which hit the church and caused extensive damage to the porch, nave, roof and tower. Restoration was carried out by local craftsmen in 1947. In 2004 the church was sensitively adapted to also serve as the village community centre with a discreet “kitchen-in-a-cupboard” at the back, the design for which won St. Peter’s the £5,000 second prize in a national competition judged by Sir Roy Strong.  

The Royal Oak pub was originally a shelter for the workmen building St. Peter’s and other local churches and it has been serving ale ever since, making it one of the oldest inns in the country. It is said that Cromwell and his soldiers used it as temporary headquarters before the battle of Edgehill and it is recorded that Cromwell and some of his officers returned to the Royal Oak (so named only after the Restoration) for food and drink after the battle. Although still serving as the village pub, it now houses a fine dining restaurant with a Michelin star.

We hope to see you there!