There’s something rather exciting about packing my bag for a long weekend away! And when the sun and blue sky appeared in the morning when I set off, the excitement went up a notch or two!

After a week of rain and one of the wettest February on record, it was a relief that March ushered in a dry spell for visiting relatives and revisiting some sights in Warwickshire 

Ardencote Hotel

It’s a case of happy return for us at Ardencote. On days when the blue sky plays host to bubbling fluffy clouds vying with verdant trees to admire their own reflections on the mirror-smooth lake, I don’t think I’ll get tired of its beautiful grounds! 

Coughton Court, Alcester B49 5JA

My partner and I had wanted to visit this National Trust property on our previous visit to Alcester. However we were caught out by the restrictive opening times from Thursday to Sunday. 

We made a point of visiting it last Sunday but alas much of the building was shrouded by scaffolding and plastic sheeting, except for the restaurant and part of the building at the far end. Although we could go inside the house it was more akin to a building site.

Much of the grounds was closed due to flooding, but we could still stroll around the path by the river with lovely views of the church in the background. 

We would have felt cheated had we come a long way to visit the place and paid for the entry as there’s no indication, even at the booth at the entrance, that the property is undergoing a major renovation project that lasts for 18 months. As it was, we’re National Trust members and were in the vicinity anyway. Perhaps there should be a suitable warning on the NT website.

Henley-in-arden Guild Hall And Gardens

This venue is rated one of the top destinations in Henley-in-Arden. It’s supposed to be open daily from 10.00 to 17.00 and is located right on High Street. We wondered how we managed to miss it on our last visit. The answer is, easily! The only sign outside the building is a board for “The pain and injury clinic”.  

Upon asking around we found out that the ground floor was rented out as a medical centre and the hall upstairs was open for viewing by appointment. However it seems that the hall is principally for private hire for events, I doubt very much that they’d entertain a request for a couple of people to just have a look around. 

The garden at the back of the building could be accessed through a gate on the side of the building, free of charge. The garden and the caretaker’s cottage next to it looked really charming. I can see how it’s a perfect venue for a reception in the hall and photos on the grounds

Fleur de Lys Inn at Lowsonford

This picturesque white-washed inn is a short distance from Henley-in-Arden. It has cosy interiors, ample outdoor seating and a garden on the banks of Stratford Canal, a perfect place for a memorable lovely meal.

Hatton Locks

This is another old haunt, last visited in 2019. It’s a restful place for a stop.  On our last day in the area, we enjoyed a walk along the canal

At the far end of the path there’s a quaint little café where we had our mid morning refreshment before heading back

Finally, no blog is complete without me getting in the picture!