Parking at the picturesque village of Thurlaston located just south of Rugby.
A very crisp but bright morning when we set off through the village heading for Draycote Water.
For info: Draycote Water is near the village of Dunchurch in the county of Warwickshire. It is 6km south west of Rugby and 15km east of Coventry. The reservoir itself was named after the nearby hamlet of Draycote. There is a flat five mile road surrounding the reservoir which is ideal for a leisurely stroll, run or cycle. Take in the stunning view from the top of Hensborough Hill and then follow footpath down to the country park where you will find plenty of room for outdoor games, picnics and barbeques. Boasting sailing, fishing and bird watching clubs, the site is a very popular destination for a family day out in Warwickshire.
Out of the village down a concrete track, past a field of grazing sheep.
Over a small bridge in the centre of a copse and out on to the path around the reservoir.
Over to the right was a field of grazing geese.
All the colours of Autumn around the banks of Draycote.
Not far from one of the dams built to make the reservoir.
For info: The reservoir was built to meet the ever increasing demand for water from south and east Warwickshire. It was decided that this was an ideal place for the reservoir as the land was low lying, and had a series of 5 small hills and a ridge which was linked together by 6 dams, it is also in close proximity to the river.
The colours are irresistible to photographers trying to get a great photo for the album.
For info: Draycote is a pumped storage reservoir which means that it has no natural feed. During the winter months it is filled by water being pumped from the river Leam at Eathorpe. At other times it is filled by pumping water from Severn Trent reservoirs at Stanford and Brownsover. In 2012 a pipeline link was added to Draycote Water, this was in response to dryer weather conditions. This pipeline links Draycote Reservoir to the River Leam at Willes meadow near Leamington Spa.
Ducks and geese dropping in for a feed.
Walking party dropping in for a feed and a cuppa.
Scones again, yes and don't they look happy.
Fed and watered we set off for the remainder of the walk around the reservoir.
The boating club a very popular place in the summer and at weekends.
The club is open 364 days a year for dinghy sailing and windsurfing.
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| Fishing on Draycote Water. |
For info: Bank anglers have easy access to the superb bank fishing with 30 anglers cars permitted onto the 6 mile perimeter tarmac road of the reservoir at any one time. All the natural banks are fishable with Toft Shallows, Cornfield, Dunns Bay and Rainbow Corner the most popular areas. We recommend you call the fishery and book one of the 30 available car passes if bank fishing.
32 boats all with outboards are available for the visiting fly angler giving access to Draycote’s 600 acres and its famed shoals (underwater islands). For competitions, group bookings if required extra boats can be moved from our other fisheries increasing the fleet to 50 boats. Anglers fishing from a drifting boat, fishing a team of dries or buzzers over and around these shoals, will experience some, if not the finest top of the water fly fishing any midlands reservoir has to offer.
During the autumn, the abundance of fry and the inevitable superb fly fishing opportunity it brings, is the time of year some of our largest trout are taken, with this food bonanza bringing those large brown and rainbow trout within easy casting
It is renowned as a site for birdwatching and has a bird hide with a feeding station sponsored by the West Midland Bird Club. Severn-Trent also manage an adjacent 20 acre (81,000 m²) country park.
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| Egret |
After a good walk round the reservoir we started looking for the path leading back to the village of Thurlaston.
Guess what !!!! the leading party missed the turn off thinking that the gate was locked.
