Around Draycote Water to Dunchurch

This walk offers the opportunity to explore the largest area of open water in Warwickshire and to visit two nearby historic villages. The impressive Draycote Water reservoir is set in more than 600 acres (243ha) of land and attracts large numbers of wildfowl. Owned by Severn Trent Water, it was completed in 1970 as a pumped storage facility. It's refilled during winter months from the nearby River Leam, thus reducing the risk of local flooding.

Gunpowder plot and treason

A private house in Dunchurch is now called Guy Fawkes but was formerly The Falcon Inn. It was here that the Gunpowder Plot conspirators sought refuge from justice in 1605, after their failed attempt to assassinate King James I as he visited Parliament. Dunchurch was once a busy coaching village and The Dun Cow is the old coaching inn, conveniently situated at the village crossroads. The historical perspective continues on the village green, where you will see the old stocks and an ancient cross. By the crossroads is a statue commemorating Lord John Scott, a local landowner and sportsman. At the time of his death, he had recently equipped a new boat to investigate some of the problems of deep-sea fishing.

The 14th-century St Peter's Church has a fine tower, a Norman door and a font to match. Set inside folding doors is a monument to Thomas Newcombe, who was 'a printer to three kings' and founded the 17th-century almshouses. These now add an air of old-world charm to the hotchpotch of thatched properties in this pleasant village, which is full of floral colour in the spring and summer.

There's another fine view over the reservoir as you descend into the next village – Thurlaston. Again, a number of attractive thatched cottages catch your eye as you enter, and you pass near to a sail-less windmill (now converted into a private residence). One intriguing road name here is Pudding Bag Lane. The Church of St Edmund was completed in 1848, originally to house the village school. The site was donated by Lord John Scott (he of the statue by the crossroads). The building was used as a church on Sundays, but accommodation for the schoolmaster was built into the tower. The present bell tower was added later, but the schoolmaster's accommodation remains as a private residence. Bizarrely, the bell rope still passes through one of its rooms.

From Draycote Water car park proceed up to the reservoir past a sign 'Visitors Centre & Reservoir', and then bear right, following the tarmac lane along the top of Farnborough Dam wall to reach the part of the Water known as Toft Bay.

At the end of Toft Bay, go right and leave the reservoir grounds via a gate where the perimeter road goes sharp left. Continue ahead for 50 paces, then go right to a gate and follow the waymarker signs to a footpath that climbs past alpaca pens up towards Toft House. Over a stile, bear left along a lane and through a gate. Past Toft Manor, follow the lane round to the right and continue to the A426 Rugby–Dunchurch road. Go left along the road, cross the road bridge and enter the village of Dunchurch, passing a number of attractive thatched properties. The village square and St Peter's Church are to the right of the crossroads, with The Dun Cow pub immediately opposite.

At the crossroads go left along the pavement of the B4429 past the Dunchurch Social Club. Bear left along School Street past more thatched properties, and follow a path past the infant school down to the Dunchurch Scout Group Hall. Go right and then left along a footpath to the right of playing fields. The path bears left beside more playing fields to a kissing gate. Continue alongside a hedge, through a gate, and proceed on a track. Cross a lane and go through a kissing gate to the right of Ryefield Farm. Go ahead over pastureland, crossing another lane via two kissing gates, then pass beneath the M45 road bridge via two kissing gates before diagonally crossing the next field to a kissing gate and a handgate through a third gate into Thurlaston.

Go to the left by St Edmund's Church and via a gate down a concrete farm track to a kissing gate and a footbridge. Enter the perimeter of Draycote Water via a handgate.

Go right along the walkway by the side of the reservoir around Biggin Bay. To your right Thurlaston Grange can be seen, and then you will pass a golf course. Continue around the end of the reservoir, passing by the treatment works, and then stroll along Draycote Bank. To your right is the spire of Bourton-on-Dunsmore church about a mile (1.6km) away; to its right is Bourton Hall. After passing the sailing club parking area and just before reaching the yachting area, go right through a gate onto a footpath. This leads via a kissing gate up onto Hensborough Hill. Meander past the trig point, some 371ft (113m) above sea level, the head towards the visitor centre, returning to the car park via a kissing gate.