There is plenty to do in this part of Warwickshire and Rowington is lucky to have several major attractions of national importance right on its doorstep.
Outdoor pursuits
Hay Wood, located on the edge of the parish close to Baddesley Clinton, is a protected ancient woodland owned by the Forestry Commission. There is a picnic area together with several marked trails, as well as footpaths to Baddesley Clinton and Wroxall. Hay Wood is a mass of bluebells in late April/early May - a sight well worth seeing.
A long distance footpath, the Heart of England Way, passes through Rowington on its way from Milford Common near Stafford to Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds. The entire walk covers 100 miles but the stretch through Rowington, from Chadwick End to Henley in Arden, is just 7.5 miles long.
Yarningale Common is one of the few commons in Warwickshire and is another excellent walking area. Commons date back to the Middle Ages when 'commoners' were given grazing rights over the lord of the manor's waste land. Yarningale Common is situated close to Holywell and has good views over the surrounding countryside.
There are numerous other footpaths, bridleways and canal towpaths throughout the parish providing pleasant country walking.
Sport
The cricket field is located in Rowington Green and Rowington Cricket Club is always on the look out for new players and supporters. Spectators can make use of the beer garden at Rowington Club.
Lowsonford Badminton Club meets weekly in Lowsonford Village Hall.
The nearest golf courses are Ladbroke Park in Tanworth-in-Arden, Copt Heath in Knowle and Henley and Haven Pastures in Henley-in-Arden. Courses are also located in Warwick and Solihull. There is a popular golf driving range at Four Ashes in Dorridge.
In addition, golf is available at the Ardencote Manor Country Club, as well as a pool, a gym, squash and tennis courts and a number of other activities. There is also a spa and leisure club at Wroxall Abbey near Five Ways.
The famous Belfry golf course, which regularly plays host to major international golf tournaments, is located at Wishaw, within 40 minutes drive of Rowington.
Edgbaston, the home of Warwickshire CCC and of Edgbaston Priory Club (which hosts the annual DFS Classic international tennis festival each June), is also less than 40 minutes away.
Premiership and championship football is available at Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Coventry City and top class rugby can be watched at Moseley RUFC.
Historic Buildings and Towns
The National Trust owns two historic houses in neighbouring Lapworth - Packwood House, a Tudor house renowned for its walled Renaissance garden and ancient yew topiary, and Baddesley Clinton, a medieval moated manor house next to a lovely country church. Also nearby are two National Trust owned Tudor houses, Charlecote Park and Coughton Court, the former with a deer park and the latter with much admired, fairly recently laid out, gardens. A little further afield and a little different, the Birmingham Back to Backs, Birmingham's last remaining 19th century court of back to back houses, have recently been restored and opened to the public by the National Trust.
Warwick Castle, one of the best surviving medieval castles in the country, is located in the centre of Warwick and provides an excellent family day out. Owned by Madam Tussauds, there are a number of indoor exhibitions, including the excellent Kingmaker Experience, as well as the opportunity to climb the ramparts, visit the dungeon and, in the summer months, watch medieval knights take part in jousting tournaments and other ancient pursuits. The gardens were laid out by Capability Brown and outdoor concerts are staged there in summer. If you can't make it to the castle, the website is recommended!
Warwick itself is worth a visit for its historic buildings, including the Lord Leycester Hospital and St Mary's Church, and its small independent shops, whilst neighbouring Leamington Spa is a classic example of a Regency spa town.
Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare and attracts visitors from around the world, not only to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre but also to Shakespeare's birthplace, Mary Arden's House, Ann Hathaway's Cottage and several other buildings with Shakespearian connections. Details are available from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
If you are planning a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon you may be interested to know that on summer Sundays Vintage Trains operates the Shakespeare Express, a steam train service from Birmingham to Stratford which calls at Henley-in-Arden.
Gardens
Packwood House, Baddesley Clinton, Charlecote Park and Coughton Court all have gardens well worth visiting. In addition, close to the centre of Warwick, Hill Close Gardens are a rare survival of a group of Victorian hedged gardens. The gardens were recently restored (although work continues) following a fundraising exercise and with the aid of lottery money.
Ryton Organic Garden is the 10 acre home of Garden Organic, the national charity for organic gardening. Open daily throughout the year, the garden is just off the A45 south of Coventry at Ryton-on-Dunsmore.
Further afield, the world famous Hidcote Manor Garden, owned by the National Trust, and its neighbour, Kiftsgate Court Garden, are within easy driving distance.
Museums and Art Galleries
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the largest museum and art gallery in the area but Warwick Museum and the museum and art gallery at the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa are smaller, more convenient, museums.
Compton Verney is an award winning art gallery located nine miles south of Stratford. The gallery opened in 2004 and is set in a Grade 1 listed Robert Adam mansion surrounded by 120 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown.
Family Days Out
As well as Warwick Castle (see above) Hatton Country World children's farm and shopping village is just up the road and has plenty to entertain both children and adults.
The Royal Showground at nearby Stoneleigh hosts the Royal Agricultural Society's Royal Show in July each year.
As well as caring for over 50 nature reserves, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust operates two nature centres at Brandon Marsh near Coventry and Brueton Park in Solihull, from where it holds regular family events and wildlife workshops for children.
Culture
World class entertainment is available at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Symphony Hall in Birmingham (the home of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), the Birmingham Hippodrome (home to Birmingham Royal Ballet) and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Solihull and the National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, both of which play host to numerous internationally known performers. The NEC also stages many major international shows and trade fairs including Crufts, the Horse of the Year Show and Gardener's World Live.
Live entertainment can also be found at the Birmingham Rep, the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington Spa and at Warwick Arts Centre at Warwick University.
The nearest cinemas are Cineworld in Solihull and the Apollo in Leamington Spa. There is also a cinema at Warwick Arts Centre.
Festivals
Warwick International Festival of arts takes place over two weeks at the end of June/beginning of July each year. The ever popular summer fireworks concert at Warwick Castle is the highlight of the festival. Warwick Folk Festival is also an annual event that takes place over three days at the end of July.
At the Stratford-upon-Avon Music Festival in October each year a number of classical music concerts are staged in and around Stratford.
Shopping
All the towns previously mentioned are good for shopping but for the best shopping, with all major stores represented, a trip to Birmingham is in order. Here Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser can be found as well as numerous designer boutiques and all the usual high street stores. Otherwise, Solihull provides decent high street shopping (as do Leamington Spa and Stratford) with the added advantage of being home to the nearest JohnLewis!
Related Links
Tourist Information
Outdoor pursuits
Sport
Local Sport
Golf
International Sport
Football/Rugby
Racecourses
Historic Buildings
Historic Towns
Gardens
Museums and Art Galleries
Family Days Out
Culture
Cinemas
Festivals
Shops
