Warwickshire Adventure

We really mixed it up this year, rather than spending our annual week in ‘The Lakes’, we stopped at a holiday cottage in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire; a village between Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Day One

Check-in wasn’t until 1600h and Wellesbourne being only a 40min drive from my home, I had a leisurely morning, meandering into town and some last minute packing before I met my family at the Stags Head, Wellesbourne. Kicking off our week in Shakespeare Country.

We did well with the accommodation, a converted stable on the grounds of Wellesbourne Hall. Beautifully done up, with 4 bedrooms, three of which en-suite and a hot tub under a covered patio.

A quick trip the local supermarket for supplies and a chippy take-away, we settled in for the night.

Day Two

Straight off the bat we ran the Stratford-upon-Avon Parkrun in the rain – reminiscent of last year! The course is a pretty much flat circular route around a park and along the banks of the Avon. Despite 460 runners I was on track for a sub 27min – the fastest this year for me – only on the last corner, my earbud fell out causing me to stop and search for it.

I couldn’t find it.

Seeing all the runners I’d overtaken, pass me, I sprinted to the finish line. getting 27min 13sec according to my watch.

That’s two adventures and two lost tech so far this year! They say bad things come in threes, worrisome for next week!

We warmed up for breakfast at a local cafe before returning to the cottage, spending the rest of the day relaxing and playing board games – I also got new earbuds delivered.

Day Three

The plan for the day was a walk to Chesterton Windmill. A stroll from the quaint village of Harbury to a 17th century windmill built by Sir Edward Peyto. Unique with a six-arched base overlooking the Warwickshire countryside where a Roman village once resided.

I wanted to get my drone up, but with the wind and my current luck with tech, I opted to keep it packed away.

We returned to Harbury, in time for an annual wheelbarrow race around the town. Participants in costumes pushed their team mate in a barrow along a circuit passing the pubs.

We popped into the crown for lunch then made our way into Warwick for a quick look around, finishing the day with a Chinese takeaway at the cottage.

Day Four

Another energetic start. We tried our hand at padel. The new craze; tennis come squash. After circumnavigating the confusing roadworks outside Stratford, we got the Padel centre. Two hours of retrieving balls from neighbouring courts ensued.

Great fun and plenty of laughs as well as a cardio workout. We had a drink and a snack at the onsite bar then headed into Stratford itself. Spending the afternoon exploring the town and having a drink in the oldest pub, The Garrick.

We had hoped for a Shakespeare play, but when we looked at booking leading up to this holiday, all the tickets had been sold.

Day Five

A day at Bicester Village shopping was on the cards. Dodging heavy rain showers we got some bargains. I got myself a new running shirt and mid-layer for walking in the offers – I love a bargain.

We then made our way back to Warwick for a couple of drinks then returned to the cottage for a dip in the hot tub.

Day Six

We popped into the Cotswolds visiting Burton-on-the-water and Lower Slaughter. Enjoying the picturesque villages, the sunny weather and a couple of beers in the quaint pubs.

The last time I was here, I was a teenager, and nothing really much had changed. I remembered paddling in the stream runs through the village, with my dog at the time.

After exploring the village, we walked along the ‘Monarch Way’ to Lower Slaughter. I looked this route up, and it begins in Worcester and ends at Shoreham-by- Sea. Retracing the retreat of King Charles II after his defeat to Cromwell. 932km through Birmingham, Stratford, Bristol, Lyme Regis and more. One for a later date.

On the way back, I popped into the church of St. Lawrence and spotted a stained glass window; a sign for the week to come.

After some food we returned to our lodgings completing our penultimate day.

Day Seven

Persistent rain defined today, prompting us to do an indoors activity for our last day. We visited the stately home, Charlecote House.

Its origins date back to 1066 with the Norman conquest and the beginnings of the Lucy family. Over the years the stately home was built with the family making their wealth in agriculture for the textile trade. Although the Lucy family still reside here, the building is now owned by the National Trust.

It was rumoured that Shakespeare had poached on the estate.

The rain eased up allowing for us walk around the grounds spotting the deer grazing in the fields.

For the remainder of the afternoon and evening, we spent our time in Stratford. Sheltering from the rain before returning to the cottage, concluding the Warwickshire Adventure.