Easy hikes and walks around Kineton

Jacobs Ladder is a flight of stone steps up to Edge Hill. Great views across Warwickshire from the top.

There are great views of 'Compton Pools' from many vantage points along this route. The pools are really lakes as they were turned into a single expanse of water by Lancelot Capability Brown circa 1769. The hills, the house and the bridges provide a beautiful backdrop to the lakes.

"Combroke Village is also known as Combrook and, less frequently, as Combrooke. Its history is closely linked with that of the nearby Compton Verney estate, for which it once served as the estate village, providing living accommodation for a number of the servants. The village dates from at least the time of Henry I, circa 1086, when a small medieval church was built in the village. There is, however, no separate reference to it in the Domesday book. By 1279, following a stocktaking by Edward I known as the Hundred Rolls, Combrook was identified as located in the Kineton hundred. It remained part of the Kineton parish until 1858, when it was separated from Kineton and united with the ecclesiastical parish of Compton Verney. A number of the buildings in the village have a similar style, most easily seen in the church. The original church was modified in Tudor times, with the chancel being rebuilt again in 1831. The present building was erected in 1866, to a design by John Gibson, paid for by the Dowager Lady Margaret Willoughby de Brook of Compton Verney, keeping the existing chancel. John Gibson went on to design the Victorian neo-Elizabethan estate houses and the horse drinking troughs in the village in the same style as that of the church. A number of the other houses in the village are thatched, with clear signs of original thatched roofs visible on several other dwellings. Until the sale of the Compton Verney estate in 1929, Combrook was a "closed" village, entirely owned by the Lord of the Manor, who could determine who lived there, and Combrook today is still considered to be one of the best-preserved estate villages in the country. The largest house in Combrook once served as the school, and there has been a school on the site since at least 1641. The building which now serves as the village hall was built as the village school in 1855, and seems to have served as a design template for John Gibson's style for the church and estate houses. The village school was closed in 1966." Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combrook

"The church of St Mary & St Margaret at Combrook is an entirely 19th century creation but one of considerable charm and eccentricity. Most of it dates from 1866 to the design of John Gibson, though the chancel remains from a simpler structure of 1831. The church is unusual in both it's shape and detailing, from the wide but low-pitched facade to the multi-gabled aisle walls. The west door and bell turret above are adorned with somewhat over-large demi-figures of angels. The stonework attractively blends white stone with rich golden-brown ironstone details. The interior is dark and largely brick-lined with some small stained glass windows by Willement, Powells and Burlison & Grylls." Source: https://warwickshirechurches.weebly.com/combrook---ss-mary--margaret.html

The path is difficult to see on this section of the walk. It is definitely there and hasn't been obliterated by plants and weeds growing on or through it. However, the foliage on either side of the path has grown over it. Extra care needs to be taken as the path is also very narrow where it runs along the edge of the escarpment and it's difficult to identify the edge. One false step and it would be a steep and dangerous tumble down the hill.

Edgehill Castle (Tower) which is now a rather nice pub/restaurant. The castle was built in the 18th Century as a 'sham' castle reputedly on the exact spot where Charles I raised his standard before the Battle of Edgehill during the first English Civil War. Apparently Cromwell got there too late for the battle.

Info points on interesting features, including civil war battle display in the church

strange 'castle', with nice views.