Warwickshire country walk ends at canalside pub that 'never disappoints'

Our region has been hit this week with freezing temperatures with frost and ice, but the scenic views are a perfect chance to go on a winter walk and stop by a pub on the way to warm up. There are many woodlands and paths within Warwickshire worth trying out to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.

One walk worth trying, which has an 18th-century canalside pub along the way, is the Heart of England Way countryside walk in Warwickshire. The route starts at manor house Baddlesley Clinton, along country lanes, field paths, and the Grand Union Canal, where you can stop off at Tom O'The Wood pub.

The walk offers pretty views of the Warwickshire countryside and is a dog-friendly trail. According to our friends at the National Trust, the walk takes 90 minutes to 3 hours to complete, whether you take the short or long trail, which is 5km (8 miles). It is advised that there are uneven sections with kissing gates, stiles, and steps, so they may not be suitable for everyone.

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Baddesley Clinton is a moated manor house on a secluded, intimate estate in the Forest of Arden. It was the home of the Ferrers family for 50 years. The estate has stunning parkland and peaceful gardens, including a walled garden, fish pools, a restored vegetable plot, and a lakeside walk. It is home to many types of wildlife.

Along the route, you will come across Tom O'The Wood, a country pub located alongside the Grand Union canal. The pub serves classic British pub dishes within the conservatory restaurant or other areas of the pub and is located in the picturesque village of Rowington. All the dishes are said to be homemade and made fresh and locally sourced from local farms and suppliers.

Tom O'The Wood has a 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor, with a Travellers Choice Award for 2024. Other ratings include food (4.5/5), service (4.5/5), value (4/5), and atmosphere (4.5/5), plus a 4.5* on Google reviews.

One diner said: "Proper country pub with great food. We shared the camembert with pine nuts and pesto with bread, which was excellent. We both had the burgers, which were decent, and the kid's menus were a hit. Excellent chips."

Chrissy M said: "We've been visiting this great country pub for a number of years now and it never disappoints. I had lunch today - french onion soup, which was delicious, and the fish finger sandwich. It is a very welcoming, dog-friendly pub."

The full Heart of England Way walking route, starting at Baddesley Clinton

The route starts at Baddesley Clinton, at the start of Church Walk. Opposite the entrance to visitor reception, follow the path through the churchyard, the kissing gate, and the gravel drive to the road. Turn right along the road with Hay Wood on your left. At a junction, turn right along Rowington Green.

Take the footpath on your left at a sign for the Heart of England Way and walk across the field to a kissing gate. Head straight across the next field and look for a waymarked post at the hedge corner. Follow the field edge to the right and go through a metal gate. Head uphill, going through a kissing gate at the top, and follow a line of mature trees downhill, turning left at the bottom into St Lawrence's Churchyard, Rowington.

Follow the path through the churchyard to the road and turn right. Walk along the pavement through the village to reach a lane on your right, signed Queen's Drive. Follow this past Glebe Farm to reach the road.

Turn right along the road and then immediately left along a waymarked bridleway past Lyons Farm. Crossing a small wooden bridge, follow the bridleway to return to Church Walk and Baddesley Clinton.

The location of Tom O'The Wood pub is Finwood Rd, Rowington, Warwick CV35 7DH. The pub's opening times are 12pm-10pm Tuesday to Thursday, 12-10:30pm Friday, 11:30am-10:30pm Saturday, and 11:30am-7pm Sunday.

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