A walk that's not "old hat": the hat-making history of a short amble by the Atherstone Canal

The route we've chosen this week begins at Hatter's Court, on Terrace Road in Atherstone.

The cute garden is nestled between an old school and some houses, with some steps next to the sign reading 'Hatter's Court'.

Atherstone was famous for its local hat-making industry, with one of the manufacturers photographed by the Warwickshire Museums in the 1950s.

With Coventry famous for cap-making since the medieval times, but Atherstone developing a penchant for hat-manufacturing since the 17th century, the centre truly became our little town.

The space called the 'Atherstone Yards' was utilised a few streets away, behind Long Street - the space of which you can cut through at the end of Hatter's Court, using an alleyway that leads through the back.

Then, take a left and carry on up the road, turning left again at the junction.

Keep walking on Coleshill Road, and take care to cross some way before the canal entrance (on the left) because you may not see cars coming over the brow of the hill.

Once you have taken the route through the canal entrance, take a left and keep walking for five minutes. There are often boats selling freshly-made fudge, that mostly accept cash only.

On the side of the canal, you can see that people's houses and gardens back pleasantly onto the water. Many have chosen to decorate their green spaces with pretty windmills and garden furnishings.

There is always a smile to be found along the Atherstone Canal, particularly in this weather.

Always take good care of where you are walking, especially as (even though it was sunny at the time of publication), the ground can often be uneven or wet.

Please also leave gates as you find them - if you opened it, close it.

Please keep dogs on leads around livestock, or other animals.

If you have a favourite weekly walk, please do send submissions into [email protected].