Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[bluekarin]

Well, we are planning on taking YD and a couple of friends to a gaming event which is being held there. The plan is to drop them off and then me, hubby and the dog go off for the day before picking them up at 6.30 ish.

 

So, does the font of all knowledge, Omleteers, have any suggestions of what to do, in or around the Coventry area? Thank you

[The Dogmother]

you're asking the wrong person - I hate the city with a vengeance (apologies to anyone here who lives there )

 

Good luck though.

[patsylabrador]

I like National Trust properties and there are two roughly 10 miles from Coventry. Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton.

Baddesley Clinton is a beautiful moated property with priest holes and a fascinating history. Catholics vs Protestants and all that. The gardens and walks are very pretty and relaxing. Packwood House is also gorgeous with an amazing Yew Tree garden. Hide and seek seemed to be very popular with family groups and it was a lovely relaxing place.

The atmosphere and guides at both of these places are very friendly and they love to share their knowledge. They might have August events, Baddesley Clinton had a Medieval Market when we visited once.

I've never been into Coventry so I don't know anything at all useful about the city.

[The Dogmother]

Yes, Baddesley Clinton is really lovely.

[bluekarin]

It doesn't need to be Coventry itself, just nearby

[Snowy]

Garden Organic at Ryton, just south of Coventry off the A45 is nice for a visit: http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/ryton

Or nip 15 minutes along the A46 to Warwick - lovely historic town centre, the castle and a big church in the middle (I see it all every day at work but haven't had much chance to explore yet - all looks lovely though!)

[The Dogmother]

I haven't been to Garden Organic for ages Snowy; I heard they'd shut down the organic supermarket

[Charlottechicken]

Not too keen on Coventry itself but as others have said, Packwood and Baddesley, which are about a mile apart, are both beautiful. We go to both a lot and two weeks ago took my mum over to Packwood for a picnic, and a cream tea in their new cafe. I think we visit both properties about four times a year!

 

Having said that, if you like shopping there are plenty of shops in Coventry. There are some medieval properties in the town centre if I remember correctly, and the Cathedral of course.

[gavclojak]

Gosh I wasnt planning a trip to Coventry anytime soon but if I ever was, I don't think I'll bother now!

[bluekarin]

I know! Makes you want to go there, just to see what is so awful about it! I would like to see the cathedral though. I am sure it's the one where it is a modern cathedral but you can see the old part through a huge glass wall. Unless I am thinking of somewhere else I saw it on Flog It I think.

[Charlottechicken]

To be fair, I don't think it's any worse than any other city, I don't really enjoy city centres any more. It was heavily 'remodelled' during WWII, then the planners finished the job by allowing lots of awful shopping centre design in the 1960's. It was undergoing a facelift when I went fairly regularly in the 1990's, at which point I stopped going as there was construction everywhere. The Cathedral is very modern, with the statue of St Michael and the devil on the wall outside, and some amazing modern stained glass and the huge tapestry inside, and is linked to the shell of the old cathedral. It is a marmite building, you either love it or hate it.

 

Wiki link

 

Coventry Cathedral website

[bluekarin]

Having a bit more of a look at what to do this Saturday. Has anyone been to Coombe Abbey Country Park? I was hoping to visit Warwick Castle but they only allow guide dogs Coombe abbey allow dogs, some areas off the lead, but not sure if we'd fill a whole day there. Probably stay there for lunch then head back into Coventry itself and have a look around before meeting the girls for the drive home.

[Purplemaniacs]

I think OH took me there and we stayed in the hotel. If it is the right place we did a lovely walk but I don't think it would fill a whole day, half day yes. But I may have the wrong place OH is out so I can't ask him.

 

Hopefully someone else will be along in a bit with more definite information.

 

Chrissie

[Charlottechicken]

Kenilworth Castle?

 

We've been there a few times, very large so takes ages to go round and dogs are allowed on leads. There is a public footpath between the English Heritage car park and the castle entrance, where locals walk their dogs across the surrounding meadows too. Picnics are encouraged too.

 

I always take too many photos at Kenilworth linky to my last Kenilworth blog post

[bluekarin]

Does look lovely, but I fear the cafe is inside, where dogs aren't allowed. Plus it is a bit of a drive away from where we are dropping the girls off. Coombe Abbey is just outside Coventry and we won't be doing a lot of tooing and froing. I think we will stick to this plan and just hope it doesn't rain like is predicted