After many months of separation, Kenilworth and Balsall Common are now once again linked by the Kenilworth Greenway, albeit via a modified route.

Ever since the construction of HS2 took over the course of the greenway, the route from Kenilworth has stopped just short of the original access point at Burton Green and users have been obliged to make their way up to Red Lane on a temporary path.

Despite the deposition of large quantities of wood chippings the heavy rainfall over the winter period often made this challenging, particularly by bicycle.

The greenway is an important local amenity used by circa 150,000 people a year, and the loss of a significant section of it has been keenly felt.

The new route turns sharply left and sweeps up a curving track alongside Broadwell Woods Residential Park.

There's respite from the ascent as the track crosses the open space on a level embankment before swinging uphill to meet Red Lane at a new purpose built crossing with traffic light control.

A short stretch alongside the new housing development of Burrow Hill Park takes you to another crossing with Hob Lane.

This is where the new route begins in earnest.

Although described as a temporary measure, it's been designed to permanent infrastructure standards as it's expected to be in use for the next five years while HS2 construction continues.

It will then be replaced by a new route adopting a permanent alignment closer to the original.

The surface is tarmac in the vicinity of the three road junctions, becoming generally hard-packed fine gravel for the bulk of the route.

That said, there is one short slightly looser section between Hob Lane and Waste Lane which could tax those with pushchairs or riding very small wheeled children's bikes.

Links with existing footpaths have been incorporated, mounting steps for horse riders are provided at all three road crossings, and there are a number of benches to sit on along the way.

Clearly this temporary route lacks the tree-lined linear appearance of the original and so provides a stark change of character from the section between Kenilworth and Burton Green.

Those hoping for an improvement in equine or cycle access at the Balsall Common end will be disappointed.

Footpath access is almost as it was before, although arriving a short distance further south west may at first be slightly disorientating.

The footpath which goes pretty much straight ahead, leading you conveniently to The Railway Inn and Berkswell station, is as prone to flooding as ever.

Waders and a sense of determination are recommended during very wet periods!

Turning left takes you across fields to Meeting House Lane, while to the right you cross a stream and quickly find yourself atop the old railway embankment at the original greenway start/finish point.

With the loss of so much vegetation hereabouts everything looks slightly unfamiliar, but having crossed the railway bridge the path alongside the line is still evident (cross the stile and follow the green fencing) to later emerge onto Truggist Lane.

This is the route I would recommend to cyclists when the more direct route is flooded, although both involve negotiating a couple of kissing gates.

An alternative way onto Truggist Lane can be found almost straight ahead having crossed the railway bridge.

The public right of way passes through a new kissing gate and behind the prominent barn in front of you before following the walled edge of the field, which has been known to have some interesting occupants.

Another kissing gate leads to a very narrow path between wall and hedge before meeting the road.

Now all we need is some more good weather in order to get out and make the most of the restored full-length Greenway.

A full gallery of photographs of the reopened greenway can be seen at the top of this page.

All photos supplied by Richard Smith