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West Midlands Region
Warwickshire
Rugby

Draycote Water

The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Draycote Water

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3,851

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23

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Dog friendly hiking trails around Draycote Water are characterized by the expansive reservoir, which is the largest body of water in Warwickshire, offering continuous open water views. The area includes a country park with woodland trails and open meadows, providing varied natural settings. Hensborough Hilltop offers elevated perspectives across the reservoir and surrounding rolling Warwickshire countryside. Wetlands within the area contribute to significant bird habitats, making it suitable for wildlife observation.

Best dog friendly hiking trails around Draycote Water

  • The…

Last updated: June 29, 2026

5.0

(1)

19

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#1.

Ashlawn Fields Path – Guy Fawkes House loop from Dunchurch

7.21km

01:53

50m

50m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Easy
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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Easy

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Moderate

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Easy
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Tips from the Community

awestropes
March 28, 2025, Josie's Place Café

Awesome cafe, super friendly staff, dogs welcome, delicious coffee, quality food, huge cakes!

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Small cafe in the corner of the pub car park. Cycle racks. Indoor and outdoor seating. Toilet. Friendly staff. Good choice of cakes and light bites.

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Lovely bridleway passing through green fields.

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A fine example of a Warwickshire town. Lovely old town centre with plenty of options for refreshments.

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Napton Bridge No 110 is a minor waterways place on the Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) between Old Engine House Arm Junction (2 miles and 5¾ furlongs and 7 locks to the south) and Napton Junction (Junction of Grand Union and Oxford Canals) (3¾ furlongs to the east). The nearest place in the direction of Old Engine House Arm Junction is Bridge Inn Winding Hole; 3 furlongs away. The nearest place in the direction of Napton Junction is Coventry Road Bridge No 109; ¾ furlongs away.

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The church of ST. MICHAEL stands in a small churchyard on the south side of the village. It consists of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, west tower, vestry, and north porch. Except for the 15th-century tower and the 14th-century south wall of the chancel the church is modern. The nave and north aisle were built in 1863, the south aisle in 1873, and the chancel was partly rebuilt in 1809. The east end of the chancel is built of squared and coursed brown sandstone with red sandstone dressings, the upper part being rebuilt and the east window renewed in 1809; there is a shield bearing this date above the window. The tracery window has a pointed arch of two splays with three trefoil lights and a hoodmould. The north side is partly covered by a modern vestry and has a modern plain tracery window of two trefoil lights. On the south side to the east there is a two-light window similar to the one on the north, and in the centre there is a narrow doorway of 14th century date with a pointed arch of one splay, with a 15th century square-headed window of two trefoil lights to the west. The south aisle, which has a lowpitched lead-covered roof, is built of squared and coursed limestone with bands of sandstone at the levels of the sills and springers of the window-heads. In the east wall is a two-light window, and on the south side four windows, similar to those to the chancel; and on the west wall is a single pointed trefoil light with a hood-mould. In the clearstory, which has a band of sandstone level with the centres of the windows, there are three circular lights. The nave roof is tiled. The north aisle and clearstory have bands of sandstone as on the south. There are three windows, all alike with two ogee trefoil lights with pointed arches and hoodmoulds, two east of the porch and the other west. The west end has a single pointed trefoil light, and the clearstory three lights, as on the south. The porch has a pointed stone vaulted roof, stone benches, and small rectangular unglazed windows, one on either side. The entrance has a pointed arch with its mouldings continued down to splayed stops, and a hood-mould with return ends. The south doorway is similar but has a segmental-pointed head. The vestry is a continuation of the aisle but with a steep-pitched tiled roof. On the north it has an early 15th century window similar to the one in the south side of the chancel, but with a low-side window under its sill, the sill forming its head, evidently removed from the north wall of the chancel; the low-side window appears to have been reduced in height to suit its new position. On the east there is a window similar to those in the south aisle. The tower, which has a plinth of one splay, is in three stages and built of brown sandstone ashlar to half-way up the first stage, and above of red sandstone ashlar in large blocks, each stage being diminished slightly by weathered offsets. There are buttresses rising in four stages at each corner, those on the west being diagonal, and the tower is finished with an embattled parapet resting on a hollow moulding with gargoyles in the centre, flanked by human heads in the hollow of the moulding, and with similar heads at each of the angles. In each merlon there is a shield, and at the angles pinnacles with trefoil panels and crocketed finials. On the west in the lower stage there is a tracery window in a deep splay, of two trefoil lights with a pointed arch; the tracery and mullions are modern, the arch original. On the south are two loop-lights one each in the first and second stages and a small rectangular window in the second stage. The belfry windows on all four faces are two-light, of two splayed orders, with transoms and four-centred arches, the upper lights trefoiled and the lower cinquefoil, except on the east which has all trefoil lights. On the north there is a clock in the second stage. The chancel (27 ft. 4 in. by 16 ft.) has a modern tiled floor with two steps to the altar, a modern hammerbeam roof, and plastered walls. The modern windows have pointed rear-arches and the south door a segmental. The door to the vestry has a pointed arch and adjoining it on the west there is an arch resting on moulded corbels, under which the organ is placed. On the south wall there is a white marble monument to Ellen Pilkington, died 1689. The nave (53 ft. by 16 ft. 1 in.) has a tiled floor and an open collar-beam roof. The clearstory windows have wide splayed recesses with stop-chamfered pointed rear-arches. The north and south arcades are each of four bays with pointed arches of two splayed orders, the outer one hollow, resting on octagonal pillars with moulded capitals and bases and half-octagon responds at the ends. The font is placed near the west pillar of the north arcade and is modern, on a 14th-century base and probably a copy of the original basin. It is octagonal with moulded trefoil panels on each face and floriated crosses on each of the angles, resting on floriated stops and carried down by a fluted splay to a circular stem having a moulded capital and base. The oak pulpit, placed to the north of the chancel arch, is modern. The chancel arch is pointed, of two splayed orders, with moulded capitals but no visible bases; the responds repeat the arch orders. The tower arch has two splays on the nave side and three on the tower side, the inner resting on moulded capitals, the outer continued down to the floor and on the tower side they die out on the walls of the tower. The north aisle (47 ft. by 11 ft.) is paved with stone and has a lean-to roof with wall brackets on stone corbels. At the east end there is a pointed arched opening to the vestry, of two splayed orders, resting on short shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The windows have pointed rear-arches, stop-chamfered, and the south door a segmental one. The south aisle (47 ft. 10 in. by 11 ft.) is similar to the south but has a mutilated 14th-century piscina built very low into the south wall near the east wall. It has a moulded ogee head with a trefoil traceried panel at the back of the recess; the projecting basin has been broken off. The tower is stone-paved and in the south-west corner the angle is splayed for the tower stair, the doorway of which has a moulded four-centred head with the moulding carried down to stop on a splayed threshold. Below the west window, which has a pointed rear-arch, there is a blocked door opening with a chamfered segmental head which is not visible externally. There are three bells: one by Newcombe of Leicester, 1608, the other two by Hugh Watts, 1620 and 1622. The plate includes a silver chalice and two plated dishes of 1805.

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Napton Bridge No 111 is a place on the waterways on the Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) between Old Engine House Arm Junction (2 miles and 2½ furlongs and 7 locks to the south) and Napton Junction (Junction of Grand Union and Oxford Canals) (7 furlongs to the east). The nearest place in the direction of Old Engine House Arm Junction is Napton Brickyard Bridge No 112; 3½ furlongs away. The nearest place in the direction of Napton Junction is The Bridge PH (Napton) (Closed May 2016); a few yards away.

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Napton Bottom Lock No 8 is a place on the waterways on the Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) between Old Engine House Arm Junction (1 mile and ¾ furlongs and 6 locks to the south) and Napton Junction (Junction of Grand Union and Oxford Canals) (2 miles and ¾ furlongs to the northeast). It is at one end of Napton Locks. The nearest place in the direction of Old Engine House Arm Junction is Napton Lock No 9; 1 furlong away. The nearest place in the direction of Napton Junction is Napton Sanitary Station; ¼ furlongs away. This is a lock with a rise of 5′5″.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many dog-friendly hiking trails are available around Draycote Water?

There are over 20 dog-friendly hiking trails around Draycote Water, offering a variety of distances and difficulties. These routes are perfect for exploring the area with your canine companion.

Are there any easy dog-friendly walks suitable for beginners or those with less active dogs?

Yes, Draycote Water offers several easy dog-friendly walks. For instance, the Ashlawn Fields Path – Guy Fawkes House loop from Dunchurch is an easy option, covering about 7.2 km with minimal elevation gain. The Dam Trail, mentioned in region research, is also a shorter, accessible option for a taste of the reservoir experience.

What kind of terrain can I expect on dog-friendly trails at Draycote Water?

The terrain around Draycote Water is generally varied. You'll find smooth, level tarmac paths, particularly on the popular reservoir loop, which are suitable for all abilities. Other trails, like those through the country park, may feature woodland paths and open meadows. The area is nestled in rolling Warwickshire countryside, so expect gentle undulations rather than steep climbs.

Are there specific rules or permits required for walking dogs at Draycote Water?

While no specific permits are mentioned for dog walking, it's always recommended to keep dogs under control, especially around wildlife habitats and other visitors. Please be mindful of local signage regarding lead requirements, particularly in areas with livestock or sensitive bird nesting sites, as Draycote Water is known for its wetlands and bird populations.

Can I find circular dog walks around Draycote Water?

Yes, many of the dog-friendly routes around Draycote Water are circular, allowing you to start and end at the same point. The most popular is the Draycote Water loop itself, and routes like the Ashlawn Fields Path loop from Barby also offer a circular experience.

Are there any dog-friendly trails that offer good views or natural features?

Absolutely! The trails around Draycote Water offer continuous open water views of the expansive reservoir. The Hensborough Hilltop, accessible via the Hensborough Trail, provides spectacular panoramic views across the water and surrounding countryside. The wetlands also offer opportunities for birdwatching, making for an engaging walk for both you and your dog.

What are the parking options for dog walkers at Draycote Water?

Draycote Water has dedicated parking facilities. While specific details on dog walker parking aren't provided, the main car parks at the reservoir are generally well-equipped for visitors. It's advisable to check the official Draycote Water website for current parking charges and availability before your visit.

Is Draycote Water accessible by public transport for hikers with dogs?

Public transport options to Draycote Water are available, though they might require some planning. While specific bus routes or train stations directly to the reservoir aren't detailed, the region research indicates that it's accessible. It's best to check local bus schedules and train connections to nearby towns like Rugby and then plan onward travel.

What is the best time of year to visit Draycote Water for a dog-friendly hike?

Draycote Water is enjoyable year-round. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures and beautiful scenery, with fewer crowds than peak summer. Summer is great for longer days and enjoying the water views, while winter walks can be crisp and invigorating, though some paths might be muddy. Always check weather conditions before heading out.

Are there any dog-friendly pubs or cafes nearby where I can relax after a walk?

While this guide doesn't list specific dog-friendly establishments, the area around Draycote Water and nearby towns like Rugby and Dunchurch are likely to have pubs and cafes that welcome well-behaved dogs, especially in their outdoor seating areas. A quick search for 'dog friendly pubs near Draycote Water' before your visit should provide current options.

What do other hikers enjoy the most about hiking in Draycote Water with their dogs?

The komoot community highly rates the trails around Draycote Water, with an average score of 4.6 stars. Reviewers often praise the well-maintained paths, the continuous scenic views of the reservoir, and the overall peaceful atmosphere that makes it ideal for dog walking. The variety of routes, from easy strolls to longer loops, is also frequently highlighted.

Most popular routes around Draycote Water

Family-friendly hikes around Draycote Water

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