Here is a stroll ideally suited to a sharp and sunny day in the heart of winter. Covering just about two miles, across tarmac surfaces, it takes in the best views that the Avon, flowing tranquilly through Stratford, has to offer.

However, it gives a different perspective by starting out of town.

The parking charges at the start point are half of those in the town centre, where the many cafes and restaurants will subsequently offer an opportunity for a warming snack and drink before the return leg.

The walk begins at the car park for Stratford Greenway. This can be found on Stratford’s A4390 Western Link Road, which carries a number of signposts leading to the Greenway. The entrance is found at the roundabout where the highway takes a sharp left turn in order to cross the river.

If you are unfamiliar with it, the Greenway itself is a five mile, traffic free walking and cycle path that leads away from town along the track of a former railway. It leads past the racecourse and across the river as far as Long Marston, but that is a challenge for a warmer summer day.

This walk leads in the other direction from the car park, down to the river and towards the heart of Stratford. A footpath from the corner of the car park, not far from the entrance, leads through woodland towards the river and joins another path onto which you turn left.

This takes you firstly alongside the A4390 and then down to pass underneath it, leading to the delightful Lucy’s Mill footbridge. Cross this bridge, taking in the excellent view up river towards the town.

Turning left on the far bank leads to and through the riverside gardens, with views across the water to, in turn, Lucy’s Mill Weir, Holy Trinity Church (pictured above) and the RSC. On reaching a further footbridge, cross this to the side of the marina basin at which the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal terminates.

From here you can wander into the town itself and enjoy a rejuvinating break. Perhaps you might take the chance to sit and partake of refreshment where you can study the interior of one of the fine old buildings.

You could get few better à la carte lunches than amongst the ancient timbers of the Grade II listed Lamb’s at 12 Sheep Street (not Mondays). Then again, you might seek only a sandwich, or, just try to resist when you see them, the cakes at Hobson’s Patisseries of 1 Henley Street, which is also Grade II listed.

After relaxation, it will be time to get the legs working again and back to the north bank of the river. Turn right, between the water and the theatre, through the gardens to the ferry stop and then inland around Holy Trinity Church and along Mill Lane. A short path then takes you straight to the near end of Lucy’s Mill Bridge and the slight incline back up to the car park.