The English countryside is full of footpaths that carry stories from centuries past, and the Coffin Walk between Princethorpe and Stretton-on-Dunsmore is one such route. More than just a pleasant rural stroll, this path has deep historical roots, once serving as a burial procession way that linked two villages across parish boundaries.
Tradition holds that the path was used to carry the dead from Stretton-on-Dunsmore to St. Mary’s Priory in Princethorpe for burial. At a time when local parishes sometimes lacked consecrated ground or facilities, such cross-faith routes were essential. Today, although the solemn processions are long gone, echoes of history remain for those who follow the trail.
The Coffin Walk offers a rich mix of landscapes that make it a route worth walking in any season. Walkers cross open fields, follow established footpaths, and at points join stretches of the historic Fosse Way, a Roman road that has cut across the Warwickshire countryside for nearly two millennia. Some sections have an option to walk on the road, so care and awareness are advised, but the blend of terrains keeps the route engaging.
Starting Point
A convenient place to begin is the village green at Stretton-on-Dunsmore. From here, the walk sets out into farmland and gently undulating countryside, connecting you with the rhythms of rural life.
A convenient alternative starting point for the Coffin Walk is from Sheep Dip Lane in Princethorpe. This quiet lane quickly leads you out into open countryside, where the path picks up field tracks and hedgerow-lined footpaths.
Beginning here offers a gentle introduction to the route and provides walkers with the chance to trace the historic procession in reverse, heading toward Stretton-on-Dunsmore while enjoying sweeping views across the Warwickshire landscape.
While there is no single “official” published Princethorpe-to-Stretton route, local Ramblers groups often feature versions of the walk, and their websites are a helpful resource for maps and details.
https://www.rugbyramblers.org.uk
Though its origins are solemn, today the Coffin Walk is enjoyed by ramblers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a peaceful countryside experience. It is not only a path through fields and lanes, but also a path through time, linking the present with the lives and customs of past generations.
Whether under winter skies, amongst spring blossoms, in the golden glow of summer, or framed by autumn leaves, the Coffin Walk rewards its travellers with a landscape that is always changing yet rooted in history.
For those who enjoy discovering stories woven into the landscape, this quiet corner of Warwickshire has a walk well worth exploring.
