Activity Breaks

Bancroft Canal Basin is the start of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, and it’s just across the river from the hotel, so let this be the start of your 50 mile cycle circuit covering 54 locks – don’t forget to count them.

It sounds ambitious but this route is level and pretty easy going, so makes a fantastic day out. The route can take you past the junction with the Grand Union and on to Kings Norton where the canal joins the Worcester & Birmingham and where you can continue all the way to Bournville, home of Cadbury World – so that’s something to reward your efforts, although of course at any point you can double back – you don’t really have to make it all the way to Birmingham!

This 18 mile route follows National Cycle Route 5 and heads north out of the Town using the Stratford-upon-Avon canal towpath to Wilmcote before turning onto quiet roads to Great Alne, Coughton  Sambourne and Studley. From Studley the route takes you through Arrow Valley Park with a traffic free route before ending in Redditch. The National Trust Coughton Court is an imposing Tudor house with beautiful gardens and is just half a mile off the route about half way to Redditch, so this is an ideal stopping off point or destination for a shorter trip (about 10.5 miles from Stratford).

Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club was founded in 1894 and moved to the current site in 1925. The course was designed by J H Taylor, five times winner of the Open, and F G Hawtree. Sam Ryder opened the new course in 1928 with Abe Mitchell (the figure on the top of the Ryder Cup) and three other Open champions playing a demonstration match.