Draycote Water

Come and join me on this walk at Draycote Water - Warwickshire's largest area of open water. It was built in 1970 to provide water for Coventry, Rugby and surrounding villages. It is a haven for wildlife and a popular sailing venue. From the car park and visitor centre we will walk along the Farnborough Dam alongside the reservoir. Reaching its eastern end we will take the only uphill path to Tofts Alpaca Farm, where hopefully we will see some of those Andean animals. We will then head into the village of Dunchurch, which has a Guy Fawkes connection, for our coffee stop on the village green. From Dunchurch we will take mainly fenced paths on the edge of fields to the village of Thurlaston with its former windmill, now a residence, and a Victorian church, where you will be told about an unusual feature. We will then return to the Water, walking near or along its edge, including along the Woodland Trail. Lunch stop will be by the lake with views over the water and the Warwickshire countryside. The final section will be along Draycote Dam and past the sailing club.

We will use tarmacced, field and woodland paths and some pavements.

There are toilets and a cafe at the Visitor Centre by the car park. Otherwise toilets are rural.

There are no stiles

Hazard warning - there may be a couple of fallen trees to stoop under on part of the Woodland Trail.